Dorset House School, Pulborough
Dorset House School is an independent school for pupils aged 4 to 13 in Pulborough. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in February 2026.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Dorset House School in detail
Dorset House School in its own words
In its own words: "Dorset House School is a vibrant and welcoming preparatory school set in the beautiful village of Bury, near Pulborough in West Sussex. As one of the oldest prep schools in the country (Founded in 1784), Dorset House enjoys a rich heritage and a reputation for developing confident, well-rounded children who love learning and embrace challenge."
Coming up: an open day on Friday 13 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in West Sussex
Vision and values (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Dorset House School are Slindon College (4.5 miles) and Seaford College (4.8 miles).
Who goes there
In 2026, 23 pupils (18.3%) received SEN support and 1 (0.8%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Amberley Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Coombe Crescent (adjacent), 380 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 4 crimes within a mile of the school, most often other theft, criminal damage and arson and violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in West Sussex (103).
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted.
Routine Inspection
3 February 2026
Regulatory Compliance
15 March 2023
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
18 September 2018
Intermediate (Boarding)
10 November 2015
Integrated
13 November 2012
About
Dorset House School is a co-educational preparatory school near Pulborough in West Sussex, England.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Fees for 2026/27
Day fees, per year
£14,355 to £28,485
depending on year group
| Reception & Year 1: | £14,355 a year |
| Year 2: | £15,630 a year |
| Year 3: | £22,305 a year |
| Year 4: | £24,225 a year |
| Year 5: | £26,085 a year |
| Year 6: | £26,985 a year |
| Year 7: | £28,110 a year |
| Year 8: | £28,485 a year |
From the school's own fee schedule; check with the school before you rely on it.
Private school fees in West Sussex - 4 schools' published fees side by side
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 1 nearby independent school
Keep up with Dorset House School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in West Sussex is 11 (the median across 337 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
70%
Available places
126 pupils
180 places
54 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Pulborough
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Pulborough
Across West Sussex council
Places available
9,806
Applications
8,765
Got 1st preference
87.5%
Got preferred school
97.6%
All secondary applications across West Sussex council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
23
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
19.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
126
Total Pupils
70
Boys
56
Girls
2026 academic year
Questions parents ask about Dorset House School
When was Dorset House School last inspected?
Dorset House School is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in February 2026.
How many pupils go to Dorset House School?
Dorset House School has around 126 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Dorset House School?
Dorset House School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Dorset House School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in West Sussex is 11 (the median across 337 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Dorset House School?
Dorset House School is at The Manor, Church Lane, Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 1PB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)