The bell tower at Bargate House strikes the hour, echoing across the Gothic Victorian architecture where Dominican Sisters first opened their convent school in 1920. Today, St. Dominic's occupies that same Grade II listed building in rural Brewood, Staffordshire, serving 410 pupils from nursery through sixth form as a fully co-educational independent day school. St. Dominic's Grammar School in Brewood, Stafford has a clear sense of identity shaped by its setting and community. Despite its traditional heritage, this is a school moving decisively forward. GCSE results rank it in the top 20% of independent schools in England (FindMySchool ranking), with A-level performance climbing even higher at 38% achieving grades A* to A in summer 2025, well above the England average of 23%. With small class sizes and fees from £2,766 per term for Reception through to £4,200 for senior years, it positions itself as an accessible independent option for families across Staffordshire, Shropshire, and the West Midlands.
The transition from girls-only to fully mixed education (completed in 2017) has fundamentally reshaped the school's personality while preserving its Dominican values. Peter McNabb, who took the headmaster role at this moment of transition, has steered the school through significant institutional evolution. The physical campus blends different eras seamlessly: the Victorian main building houses senior years, while the preparatory school occupies a modern, purpose-built wing with dedicated ICT suites, food technology rooms, and art studios. The sixth form centre, described as "award-winning," provides independent study spaces, research libraries with laptop access, and recreational facilities designed to treat students as young adults preparing for university life.
The pastoral structure emphasises connection. Peer mentoring schemes pair younger pupils with sixth formers, while vertical tutoring systems encourage cross-year-group support. The school council operates through four distinct committees, anti-bullying, food, learning, and charity, giving students genuine agency in school governance. Parents report that the transition from girls-only to mixed education has created a more inclusive atmosphere while maintaining academic rigour. The Christian ethos, retained from Dominican roots, manifests through chapel services and religious education, but the inter-denominational approach (formalized in 1974 when the school became the St Dominic's Brewood Trust) means families of all faiths and none feel welcomed.
The 2025 GCSE cohort achieved 93% of grades in the 4-9 range, compared to the England average of 67%, a 26-percentage-point advantage. One student, Frank Ragan, earned 10 Grade 9s and 2 Grade 8s, a result placing him among the highest achievers in England. The school ranks 903rd in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool data), placing it in the top 25% of schools. In the local Stafford area, it holds the second rank among independent options. This represents solid performance for an independent day school, though not in the absolute elite tier. The consistent 100% pass rate across subjects reflects meticulous tracking and individualised teaching, according to the school's own description. However, when compared strictly to metrics, only 35% achieved grades 9-7, below the England average of 54%, suggesting the school's own presentation emphasizes grade 4-9 passes while FindMySchool's rankings reflect the harder-to-achieve top grades. This dual narrative matters: the school genuinely delivers strong results for most pupils, but does not consistently produce the stratospheric top-grade counts seen in selective grammar schools.
A-level results tell a different story entirely. Summer 2025 saw 38% of all grades awarded at A* to A, against the England average of 24%, a 14-point advantage. The full grade distribution shows 50% achieving A* to B, 73% achieving A* to C, and a 100% pass rate. The sixth form notably ranks 820th in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool data), placing it in the middle band, but when examined against independent sixth forms specifically, the performance shines. Students leave predominantly to their first-choice universities, with named destinations including Warwick, Bath, Cardiff, Birmingham, Durham, and Liverpool. The headmaster Peter McNabb publicly celebrated individual successes, including Thandi securing law study at Warwick and Bella heading to Bath for Spanish and Business, signalling a school that tracks individual achievement and celebrates diverse pathways beyond the Russell Group.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
60.87%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
GCSE 9–7
34.92%
% of students achieving grades 9-7
Subject specialists lead teaching in the senior school from Year 7 onwards. The curriculum blends traditional academics with practical options: A-level offerings span from Art, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics to Psychology, Sociology, Business Studies, and Modern Foreign Languages, nearly two dozen subjects in total. The school emphasises STEM integration. Pupils engage in hands-on projects including go-kart building, visits to high-tech establishments, CREST awards (internationally recognized), and clubs focused on coding, robotics, stop-motion animation, and green screen technology. A dedicated medical pathway includes annual trips to observe live operations for students interested in healthcare careers.
In the preparatory school, specialist teachers deliver art, design technology, computing, and history from Year 3 onwards. All pupils learn an instrument in class, with approximately half pursuing instrumental lessons with peripatetic teachers from Year 3 upwards. The 11+ programme offered in Years 6-7 is tailored to individual ability, not high-intensity grammar school coaching. Learning is structured through a "combined imaginative curriculum" from Year 3, where science, history, and geography are taught as thematic topics rather than isolated subjects. Cognitive Ability Tests and benchmarking allow the school to track individual progress and flag where additional tutoring might help. Revision and study skills programmes run from Year 6 through Year 13, recognizing that examination success requires both subject mastery and examination technique.
The sixth form's leavers' destinations in recent years demonstrate breadth. Named universities include Cardiff, Hull, Birmingham, Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores, Reading, Aston, Nottingham Trent, Wolverhampton, York, Aberystwyth, Keele, Kingston, and Harper Adams. Specialisms span architecture, chemistry, fashion retail management, geography, pharmacy, childhood studies, accounting and finance, nursing, English, environmental biology, theology and sociology, drama psychology, and equine science. Non-university pathways include LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art) Foundation courses in Performing Arts and Stafford College BTEC Diploma in Health & Social Care, indicating the school supports applied vocational routes alongside traditional universities.
While specific Oxbridge numbers are not disclosed, the sixth form ranks 2,049th in England for Oxbridge applications (FindMySchool ranking), a middle-tier position suggesting some Oxbridge interest but not the concentrated Oxbridge focus of selective schools. Leavers' data from 2023-24 shows 67% progressing to university and 33% entering employment, from a cohort of only 15 students, meaning data is anecdotal given the small sixth form size. The school's recent introduction of four sixth form scholarships worth 50% fee reduction (conditional on Grade 7s in core subjects) aims to broaden sixth form access, starting from £4,700 per year for scholarship holders.
The school's educational philosophy emerges in specific programmes. The Extended Day programme in both preparatory and senior years offers flexible wraparound care, recognizing working families' needs. Peripatetic music lessons cover individual instrumental and vocal tuition across brass, strings, woodwind, and voice. Duke of Edinburgh expeditions operate through Gold level, building resilience and outdoor skills. Young Enterprise in the sixth form encourages entrepreneurship; World Challenge expeditions broaden cultural horizons. Mock interview panels and business networking sessions prepare sixth formers for competitive university applications in law, medicine, and other professional pathways.
The ICT provision extends beyond computing lessons to integrated learning: senior students can bring personal laptops with WiFi and printer access, while the school provides iPad suites throughout. Food technology is taught discretely in dedicated facilities, supporting practical cookery skills and nutrition understanding.
Music provision extends through all phases. In the preparatory school, classroom instrument learning forms part of the core curriculum from Year 3, with peripatetic lessons available from that age. Whole-school ensembles include chapel choir, orchestra, and smaller chamber ensembles. The school mentions choir and instrumental ensemble opportunities but does not publicly name individual groups (such as "Cantamus" or similar), limiting detailed insight into the scale and prestige of music performance. Performing Arts scholarships are offered alongside academic ones, attracting students with musical aptitude.
The performing arts curriculum integrates drama as part of the co-curriculum throughout the preparatory school, with discrete drama teaching in the senior school. A dedicated performing arts department leads school productions; one sixth form student, Bella, achieved an A* in Drama A-level and progressed to Kingston University to study Drama with Psychology. The school highlights performing arts as an enrichment pillar, with scholarships available and students described as "excelling in Performing Arts" within sixth form. However, the website does not name specific productions, venues, or drama societies, suggesting performances are tied to the formal curriculum rather than showcased as signature events.
STEM emerges as a defined pillar, with explicit integration across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Pupils participate in STEM-focused days and workshops as timetabled learning. Specific named clubs include: CREST awards (internationally recognized), coding and robotics clubs, stop-motion animation workshops, and green screen technology projects. Go-kart design and building features prominently as a hands-on engineering project. Visits to high-tech IT establishments provide real-world context. An annual trip for medicine-interested students to observe live operations bridges science classroom to clinical practice. Computer Science at A-level attracts sufficient uptake to be scheduled in the sixth form option blocks.
The school emphasizes that sports pupils represent both county and country in their chosen disciplines, with teams crowned county champions in various sports. The Sir Jack Hayward Sports Hall provides a purpose-built facility. Netball and tennis courts have been "recently refurbished and extended." Extensive playing fields and an athletics track serve cross-country, field events, and outdoor pursuits. The preparatory school offers between 10 and 15 different sports annually, suggesting rotating provision rather than identical annual offerings. Named sports in prep include hockey, netball, volleyball, badminton, and tennis; senior school mentions rugby, football, cricket, tennis, hockey, and netball. Swimming features in the leisure curriculum. Two double lessons of PE per week are compulsory; before-school clubs, lunchtime sessions, and extended day activities allow further participation.
Sports scholarships are offered, indicating identified talent pathways. However, the school does not name specific teams achieving national or international recognition (unlike traditional boarding schools that might reference rowing Henley finalists or rugby academies), suggesting competitive success is strong locally and regionally but not marked by signature national achievements.
The preparatory school offers "a handful of extra-curricular academic or hobby clubs," a deliberately vague characterization. Named opportunities include regular educational trips, visiting speakers, and a residential trip in Year 6 (location not specified, though Italian and French trips are mentioned separately). The senior school's structured enrichment includes Young Enterprise (entrepreneurship), World Challenge expeditions, a variety of work experience placements, and the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme running to Gold level. School council serves four functional committees addressing bullying, food, learning, and charity, giving students voice in school governance. A prefect system offers senior students leadership positions.
The preparatory school houses a fully refurbished ICT suite alongside dedicated Food Technology and Art & Design Technology rooms. Pupils access iPads to support learning. The senior school operates a separate ICT Suite and provides iPad provision, though students are encouraged to bring personal laptops with WiFi and printer access. The sixth form centre provides study and library areas with internet access and "a bank of laptops." This infrastructure, while not cutting-edge, supports independent research and blended learning pathways.
The preparatory school maintains a dedicated library; the senior school and sixth form each access library and research facilities. The sixth form benefits from enhanced independent study resources and dedicated research areas described as supporting productive use of study time.
Educational trips form part of enrichment across all phases. Preparatory school trips include visits to Condover Hall (a local historic property), Italy, and France, suggesting cultural and historical enrichment rather than purely recreational visits. Year 6 pupils undertake a residential experience (location unspecified on the website). Senior school trips are mentioned but not detailed publicly. Sixth form students undertake World Challenge expeditions and work experience placements as part of enrichment.
Annual fees for 2025-26 range from £8,298 per year for Reception (charged at £2,766 per term over three terms) to £12,600 for Years 7-11 (charged at £4,200 per term). Sixth form fees drop to £11,484 annually (£3,828 per term), acknowledging that A-level students' study patterns differ from GCSE years. Textbooks, exercise books, teaching materials, and extended day activities are included in fees, a notable inclusion reducing hidden costs. GCSE and A-level examination fees are charged separately.
Optional costs include breakfast at £1 per day (Year 1 and above) and lunch at £4.80 per day (prepaid) or £5.40 daily rate for Years 3-13. Transport is available at £6.00 per single journey or £8.60 for return journeys. Families with multiple children receive sibling discounts: the eldest child pays full fees, the second child receives 10% discount, and the third child receives 15% discount. This recognizes multi-child family affordability, common in independent schools.
Non-financial scholarships are offered for Academic, Performing Arts (Drama, Music, Dance), Art, and Sport. These are percentage-based reductions but specific values are not disclosed (likely ranging from 10-25% based on merit, though the school does not confirm this). Sixth form scholarships are explicitly 50% reduction for Grade 7 achievers across core subjects.
The registration fee is £50 (non-returnable), and the acceptance deposit is £400 (non-returnable if a place is not taken). Late payment charges accrue at 3% per month if fees are not paid on the first day of term or via direct debit arrangement.
Fees data coming soon.
The school operates three distinct entry points. Reception entry follows standard local authority coordinated admissions if pupils come from state primaries; internal pupils from the preparatory school transition automatically unless places are oversubscribed (no evidence suggests oversubscription at this level). The main secondary entry is Year 7, where both internal and external pupils sit an 11+ entrance assessment covering English, Mathematics, and Verbal Reasoning. The school explicitly states candidates must demonstrate "sufficient proficiency in the majority of tests" to access the curriculum offered. Internal pupils progressing from Year 6 prep to Year 7 senior still sit this test, normalizing assessment as a transition mechanism rather than gatekeeping.
Scholarships at Year 7 entry are academic scholarships (awarded on examination performance) and Performing Arts scholarships. The latter requires audition after the examination date, indicating separate pathways for musicians and performers. Sport and Art scholarships are also mentioned. Academic scholarships are percentage-based reductions; the school does not specify amounts publicly on the main admissions page.
Sixth form entry requires a minimum of 8 GCSEs at grade 4 or above, with grade 6 (A level standard) required in subjects studied at A-level. External candidates face day visits to experience subject options and interviews. From September 2024, four sixth form scholarships worth 50% fee reduction are available to internal and external candidates achieving Grade 7 in 7 GCSEs (including core subjects). A £50 administration charge applies to registration; a £400 joining fee secures entry. References are requested from the previous school. Admissions assessments are customized for entry year groups beyond Year 7.
The admissions timeline runs on a standard academic calendar: registration opens in the autumn term, examinations typically occur in January, offers are released in February, and acceptance deadlines fall in March, with school starting in September. However, the website does not publish specific calendar dates, advising prospective parents to contact admissions for exact timings. Contact the school directly for enquiries.
The pastoral structure operates through form tutors and a designated head of lower school and head of senior school. Peer mentoring pairs junior pupils with sixth form mentors, explicitly positioned as older pupils "taking younger pupils under their wing." A vertical tutoring system encourages mixed-year-group interactions and mutual support. The school council's four committees, anti-bullying, food, learning, and charity, embed student voice into welfare and community issues.
The school emphasizes that "it is not only teachers and support staff who care for our children, but older pupils." This statement reflects a deliberate culture-building effort to move beyond top-down pastoral care toward peer support networks. The independent study and mentor guidance offered to sixth formers is designed to treat them as young adults preparing for university independence.
While specific mental health or counselling provision is not detailed on the website, the pastoral care section notes the school's "exceptionally high standards" in this area. No school counselor is named. Safeguarding is a named priority, with a Designated Safeguarding Lead identified in staff roles, though the individual's name is not publicly disclosed.
The school day for preparatory pupils runs from standard opening (exact times not specified on the main website, though wraparound care from 8:00am is available, with buses departing 5:00pm). Senior school timings are similarly not publicly stated. The school advises contacting admissions for specific daily schedules.
Extended Day provision is explicitly available for both preparatory and senior pupils, with breakfast club from 8:00am and after-school provision until 6:00pm (based on preparatory school details), suggesting flexibility for working parents. Holiday clubs are operated during main school breaks.
Transport is centrally arranged via the school's transport team, with published costs for single and return journeys. The school is located just five minutes' drive from the M54, M6, and A5 motorways, placing it within 30-45 minute commute of Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury, Telford, and Cannock. This accessibility explains the wide catchment drawing from Staffordshire, Shropshire, and the West Midlands.
Uniform is required and details are published on the school website; cost is separate from tuition. Catering is managed in-house; menus are published, and lunch charges are detailed above. A full catering terms and conditions statement is available on the school website.
Mixed-gender transition not yet consolidated. The school converted to co-education only in September 2017, making this relatively recent. While the move appears successful (no negative reports surface in research), families should note the school is still in its integration phase. Some traditional girls' school features may persist in culture or facilities; similarly, the competitive male peer group is relatively new. Families should visit to assess whether the current gender balance and atmosphere suits their child.
Sixth form size limits specialisation. With only 15 leavers in recent cohorts, the sixth form is genuinely small. This offers benefits (close mentoring, personal attention) but constraints (fewer option blocks, reduced competition for university places, smaller peer group for independent study). Families seeking a large, competitive sixth form environment with extensive peer challenge may find this limiting. However, for pupils thriving in intimate settings, it's ideal.
Regional reputation outweighs national prestige. While GCSE and A-level results are solid and above average, the school ranks around 900th in England for GCSEs and 800th for A-levels, strong but not in the absolute elite tier of independent schools. Families comparing to selective grammar schools or traditional boarding schools should expect this school to outperform comprehensives but not to match the top-tier independent schools in terms of university destinations or Oxbridge concentration. It is an excellent regional choice but not a in England prominent name.
Fees are modest by independent school standards but still a significant commitment. At £12,600 annually for senior years (before extras), the school sits in the mid-tier of independent schools. This is notably less expensive than traditional boarding schools or elite urban independents (which often exceed £20,000 per year) but represents a substantial family investment. The sibling discounts help multi-child families, and non-financial scholarships are available, but transparent bursary information is absent from the website (unlike some schools that explicitly publish percentage receiving assistance). Families should enquire directly about means-tested assistance.
Dominican heritage is preserved but diluted. The school's Dominican roots are explicit (founded 1920 by Dominican Sisters, the historic logo features the Dominican cross), but the institutional identity shifted significantly in 1974 to become inter-denominational and again in 2017 to co-educational. While this broadened the appeal and modernized the school, families seeking a deeply integrated Catholic or specifically female educational community will find a different offer than the historical legacy suggests. The Christian ethos remains; denominational intensity does not.
St. Dominic's offers a thoughtful, personalised independent day school education rooted in a 104-year heritage but actively modernized. The school sits at the intersection of tradition and reform: the Gothic Victorian building signals history, but the award-winning sixth form centre signals ambition. Results are consistently strong, particularly at A-level (38% A*-A), and the school ranks in the top 25% in England for GCSEs (FindMySchool ranking). The all-through structure from nursery to sixth form permits seamless progression, while the recent co-educational transition has broadened the peer group without compromising academic rigour.
This school is best suited to families seeking solid academic grounding combined with individual attention and diverse extracurricular pathways. It excels for pupils who respond well to small class sizes and mentoring systems. The STEM, music, and drama provision is genuine (though not signature-level like some specialist schools). The cost is mid-range for independents, making it accessible to solidly middle-class families without requiring boarding school budgets.
The main limitation is scale and prestige: the sixth form is small, limiting some options; the school's regional rather than national reputation means fewer Oxbridge pipelines than selective schools; and the recent institutional transitions (gender and denominational) mean the school is still establishing its contemporary identity. For families across Staffordshire and nearby counties seeking a quality independent day option without boarding costs, this is an excellent choice. For families seeking a in England prominent name or extensive boarding community, look elsewhere.
Yes. The school achieved an ISI Routine Inspection in November 2023 (inspection report available on ISI.net). GCSE results in 2025 saw 93% of grades at 4-9, well above the England average of 67%. A-level performance is stronger still, with 38% at A* to A, compared to the England average of 23%. The school ranks 903rd in England for GCSEs (FindMySchool ranking, top 25% tier) and 820th for A-levels (middle tier, but strong for independent day schools). Individual successes include Frank Ragan's 10 Grade 9s at GCSE and multiple sixth formers progressing to universities including Warwick, Bath, Birmingham, and Durham.
Fees for 2025-26 range from £2,766 per term (£8,298 annually) for Reception to £4,200 per term (£12,600 annually) for Years 7-11. Sixth form fees are £3,828 per term (£11,484 annually). Textbooks, exercise books, teaching materials, and extended day activities are included. GCSE and A-level examination fees are separate. Optional costs include breakfast (£1 per day), lunch (£4.80-£5.40 per day), and transport (£6.00 single, £8.60 return). Sibling discounts of 10% and 15% apply. Scholarships are available for academic, performing arts, art, and sport achievement but are non-financial (percentage reductions rather than bursaries).
Entry at Year 7 requires passing the school's own entrance assessment covering English, Mathematics, and Verbal Reasoning. The school does not publish pass rates or competition levels, but states that candidates must demonstrate "sufficient proficiency in the majority of tests." This suggests the school is selective but not fiercely oversubscribed like selective grammar schools. Sixth form entry requires 8 GCSEs at grade 4+, with grade 6 preferred in A-level subjects. Four scholarships worth 50% fee reduction are available for Grade 7 achievers. Contact the school directly for enquiries.
The preparatory school offers 10-15 different sports annually, including hockey, netball, volleyball, badminton, and tennis. The senior school includes rugby, football, cricket, tennis, hockey, and netball. Two double lessons of PE are compulsory weekly, with before-school, lunchtime, and extended day sports clubs available. The school has the Sir Jack Hayward Sports Hall, recently refurbished netball and tennis courts, extensive playing fields, and an athletics track. Pupils compete at county and country levels; teams are crowned county champions in various sports. Non-sports enrichment includes Duke of Edinburgh (Gold level), Young Enterprise, World Challenge expeditions, STEM clubs (coding, robotics, CREST awards), music ensembles, and performing arts opportunities.
All preparatory pupils learn a classroom instrument from Year 3. Up to half undertake peripatetic instrumental lessons from Year 3 onwards. The school offers chapel choir, orchestra, and chamber ensembles (specific ensemble names are not published). Performing arts scholarships are available. Drama is integrated into the co-curriculum in preparatory years and taught discretely in senior school. Sixth form students can study A-level Music or Performing Arts, with students described as excelling in these areas. Specific named productions or drama venues are not detailed on the website, suggesting performances are curricular rather than signature school events.
The main school building is a Grade II listed Victorian structure housing the senior school. The preparatory school occupies a modern, purpose-built wing with refurbished ICT suites, Food Technology rooms, Art & Design Technology studios, dedicated library, and enclosed outdoor areas. The sixth form centre is described as "award-winning" and provides study areas, research libraries, laptop access, and recreational spaces. Facilities include the Sir Jack Hayward Sports Hall, recently extended netball and tennis courts, extensive playing fields, and an athletics track. An on-site chapel supports Christian worship; religious education and chapel services are part of the curriculum. The school is located five minutes from the M54, M6, and A5 motorways.
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