What year groups does Sunninghill Preparatory School teach?

Sunninghill Preparatory School teaches children aged 2 to 13. It is an independent school in Dorchester.

Who is the headmaster of Sunninghill Preparatory School?

The headmaster of Sunninghill Preparatory School is Mr David Newberry, as recorded in the Department for Education's register of schools.

Has Sunninghill Preparatory School been inspected?

Ofsted has not inspected Sunninghill Preparatory School under its current framework, so no current judgement is shown. That is common for newer schools and is not a mark against a school.

How big is Sunninghill Preparatory School?

Sunninghill Preparatory School has 167 pupils on roll, teaching children aged 2 to 13.

Is Sunninghill Preparatory School full?

Sunninghill Preparatory School has capacity for 200 pupils and 167 on roll (84%), so it has space against its published capacity. Places are allocated through the local authority's admissions process, so capacity alone does not tell you whether a place is available.

Is Sunninghill Preparatory School a faith school?

No. Sunninghill Preparatory School has no designated religious character.

Is Sunninghill Preparatory School a selective school?

No. Sunninghill Preparatory School is recorded as non-selective in the schools register.

Does Sunninghill Preparatory School publish exam results?

OfferDay shows exam results for a school only where the Department for Education has published them, and none are shown for Sunninghill Preparatory School. That is usual for infant, nursery, special and independent schools, and for schools without recent published results.

Home
Dorset
Dorchester
Sunninghill Preparatory School

Sunninghill Preparatory School

South Court, South Walks Road, Dorchester, DT1 1EB

Phase: Independent schools
School type: Other independent school
Ages: 2 to 13
Gender: Mixed
Religious character: None
Headmaster: Mr David Newberry
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Nursery provision: Has Nursery Classes
Constituency: West Dorset
Setting: Urban: Further from a major town or city
Capacity: 200
Pupils on roll: 167
URN: 113927
Local authority: Dorset
Website: School website
Telephone: 01305262306

About this school

Sunninghill Preparatory School is an independent school in Dorchester. It teaches children aged 2 to 13 and has 167 pupils on roll.

Ofsted has not yet inspected Sunninghill Preparatory School under its current framework. Where the Department for Education has published them, its results and pupil characteristics appear below. Numbers and a report only go so far, so visit in person before you apply.

Ofsted judgement

Sunninghill Preparatory School has not been inspected by Ofsted yet. It opened in its current form in October 1957, and new or converted schools usually wait a few years for their first inspection.

Trends over time

How Sunninghill Preparatory School has moved over recent years against the local and national picture. Every figure is shown in the table beneath its chart.

Pupils on roll

Year	This school
2022/23	130
2023/24	131
2024/25	171

School census, spring count each academic year.

School context

From the 2024/25 school census and absence figures.

Free school meals (last 6 years): 0%
Pupils with an EHC plan: 0
Pupils on SEN support: 26

Location

Nearby schools

Dorchester Learning Centre
Local authority maintained schools · Dorchester

1.6 miles
Westfield Arts College
Special schools · Weymouth

4.6 miles
Wyvern Academy
Academies · Weymouth

5.2 miles
Arbour House School
Special schools

6.4 miles
Employ My Ability (EMA) Ltd
Other types · Dorchester

6.9 miles

Other schools in Dorchester

Broadmayne First School Primary
Buckland Newton Church of England Primary School Primary
Cerne Abbas CofE VC First School Primary
Cheselbourne Village School Primary
Damers First School Primary
Frome Valley CofE First School Primary
Maiden Newton, Greenford Church of England Primary School Primary
Manor Park Church of England First School Primary
Piddle Valley Church of England First School Primary
Puddletown Church of England First School Primary
St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester Primary
St Mary's Church of England First School, Charminster Primary

Common questions

What year groups does Sunninghill Preparatory School teach?: Sunninghill Preparatory School teaches children aged 2 to 13. It is an independent school in Dorchester.
Who is the headmaster of Sunninghill Preparatory School?: The headmaster of Sunninghill Preparatory School is Mr David Newberry, as recorded in the Department for Education's register of schools.
Has Sunninghill Preparatory School been inspected?: Ofsted has not inspected Sunninghill Preparatory School under its current framework, so no current judgement is shown. That is common for newer schools and is not a mark against a school.
How big is Sunninghill Preparatory School?: Sunninghill Preparatory School has 167 pupils on roll, teaching children aged 2 to 13.
Is Sunninghill Preparatory School full?: Sunninghill Preparatory School has capacity for 200 pupils and 167 on roll (84%), so it has space against its published capacity. Places are allocated through the local authority's admissions process, so capacity alone does not tell you whether a place is available.
Is Sunninghill Preparatory School a faith school?: No. Sunninghill Preparatory School has no designated religious character.
Is Sunninghill Preparatory School a selective school?: No. Sunninghill Preparatory School is recorded as non-selective in the schools register.
Does Sunninghill Preparatory School publish exam results?: OfferDay shows exam results for a school only where the Department for Education has published them, and none are shown for Sunninghill Preparatory School. That is usual for infant, nursery, special and independent schools, and for schools without recent published results.

School details come from the Department for Education's Get Information About Schools register. Inspection outcomes come from Ofsted, and exam results from the Department for Education's school performance service. This page was last updated on 24 July 2026.