Durlston School Becton Lane, Barton-on-Sea, New Milton, BH25 7AQ, Hampshire 01425 610010

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School type	Co-educational Day & Nursery
Founded	1903
Headmaster	Mr Richard May
Date Appointed	2015
Co-ed Age Range	2-16 years
Number of pupils	260
Please see website
Average Class Size	15
Associations	IAPS, ISC

When the children walk into our school, Headmaster Mr May greets them by name and asks about recent endeavours. He knows the children well; all the staff know them. Durlston is renowned for its family feel: children, staff, parents, grandparents and alumni are all proud to be part of 'The Durlston Family'.

Durlston is a school where everyone is someone. The children are nurtured, encouraged, supported and challenged to find their own interests and talents and to be the best that they can be. Our smaller size means that everyone can - and does - get involved in all aspects of school life: ukulele busking to raise money for charity, becoming published poets, being part of ambitious productions, creating an artistic backdrop for the town fete, representing the school in a national sporting arena, and generally enjoying each other's company. Our staff are able to select and plan teaching and learning opportunities which tap into the unique personalities of each cohort. From academic excellence to extracurricular achievements, our children consistently demonstrate outstanding performance and resilience.

We are a small school with big aspirations. Last year we welcomed our first Year 9 pupils in the expansion to GCSE. The transition has, as its number one priority, the need to keep our family school ethos. With our innovative LE@D programme (Life Experiences at Durlston) teaching the Year 9 to iron shirts, change tyres and giving them the chance to listen to inspirational entrepreneurs, as well as our Sport for Life programme (clay pigeon shooting or climbing anyone?), there is much on offer for our new 'seniors'. They are also very much part of school wide initiatives like the Big Gig, where the steering committee of pupils are running the show: charities to support; marketing; the running order of the afternoon - all under their control.

The 'family' ethos extends across our community. Our youngest children in Pre-Prep enjoy the benefits of being part of this wonderful family, joining the specialist teachers for ceramics workshops, swimming, sport and music as well as regular interactions with older children acting as 'Pre-Prep Prefects'. The 'community' also extends to beyond the school gates with Pre-Prep children bringing joy to residents of local care homes as they visit to share music, games and gardening and we also enjoy video calls with song and chat to our partnership school in Uganda.

With kindness and consideration at the heart of what we do and challenge and resilience promoted as key values, we aim to prepare children fully for life beyond school. We encourage them to develop as good citizens and to develop a positive mind-set in order to face life's vicissitudes with charm and a steely resolve. Our school motto is "Proud but not Boastful", and we are proud (and secretly boastful) of what our children are, what they achieve and what they will become. Our whole community is invested in giving our children the foundation that they need to become the role models of tomorrow.