Admissions Enquiries: 01656 789966
School Office: 01656 782509

Welcome to St Clare's School

Welcome to St Clare’s, a leading independent school for children aged 2 ½ to 18 years of age, carrying a very strong academic profile.

Located in the historic village of Newton, we are close to the coast on the outskirts of Porthcawl, South Wales. St Clare's has a rich tradition of providing exceptional education for over 85 years to pupils from Nursery all the way through to Sixth Form.

The St Clare’s approach reaps rewards, with results from academic yearly progress tests exceeding the national average in all core subjects. We are particularly proud to be in the top 5% of top-performing A-Level schools in the UK for ALPS (A-Level Performance System) since 2018.

Our Nursery has won the Daynurseries UK "Top 20" Award (Wales) for 4 years in a row, based purely on our parents' 10/10 reviews scores.

St Clare's independent school is structured to provide your child with the best education and life skills and you can feel confident your child will be nurtured to realise their full potential.

Achievement

We provide a supportive and caring environment where every child feels a sense of belonging. Pupils are championed as individuals to develop their own talents and potential within a safe learning space.

Challenge

A culture of aspiration is entwined with our curriculum, delivered by our teaching staff and reflected in our academic outcomes. No two children are the same, and our personalised approach allows for more tailored teaching and learning at every stage of school.

Excellence

Our data has shown over many years that a child who joins us in Y7 on leaving the school in Year 13 will attain a grade higher per subject than a child of a similar ability in another school.

Book a Visit

Every day is an Open Day here at St Clare's

We are delighted that you are considering a place at St Clare's for your child and would like to welcome you to our wonderful school.

Whether you are looking for an immediate start, or for the 2026/27 academic year, please do book a personal tour and see for yourself what makes St Clare's such an exciting, welcoming place to send your child.

Meet our Headteacher, Mrs Helen Hier

Mrs Hier became Head at St Clare’s School in June 2018 after 5 years as Deputy Headteacher and 15 years as a Spanish Teacher. She has a passion for modern foreign languages, and introduced the impactful Enrichment Programme at St Clare’s.

“In order for a child to be successful academically, it is extremely important that they are happy.”

- Helen Hier, Headteacher

5 min watch

St Clare's Nursery

  • Specialist teaching in Spanish, French, Forest School

  • Top 20 Nursery in Wales (DayNurseries.co.uk) for past 4 years

  • From as little as £48.89 per day (or £37.75 with the Bridgend Early Years Funding applied), our surprisingly competitive fees include early drop off from 08:00, healthy hot home-cooked lunch and after school care from 3:30 - 5:30.

  • Bridgend Early Years Funding Grant offered (10 hours)

Join us for a Personal Tour

We warmly welcome families throughout the year, offering tailored personal tours on a day that suits you, including school holidays.

Enjoy a guided tour around the school by a member of our friendly Admissions Team who can answer any questions you may have.

FACILITIES & LOCATION

Nestled in 11 acres of magnificent grounds.

Our pupils learn and discover in a beautiful setting within walking distance of the coast, easily accessible from the M4 motorway.

Extensively refurbished, our beautiful buildings, sports grounds, Early Years centre, Sixth Form Hub and calm outdoor space provide pupils with the inspiration to achieve and excel.

The school exceeds its reputation. We knew it was good but for us, it is even better in real life.

 – Parent, St Clare’s School

Follow St Clare's on Social Media

Please note that there just 4 weeks left to submit your application for September 2025 entry to St Clare’s School & Nursery.

Please contact Mrs Holly Fowlkes, our Admissions Registrar, on 01656 789966 to find out more about the tailored educational experience we offer our pupils, empowering them to take ownership of their learning. 

We encourage pupils to develop critical thinking and leadership skills within a supportive but challenging environment. 

Part of the Cognita global schools family, our unique culture of belonging inspires academic success and a sense of social responsibility. 

Every pupil has unlimited potential for growth and to “Be You. Brilliantly!”

#myfutureschool #wearecognita #stclaresfamily #stretchandchallenge #beyoubrilliantly #independenteducation #independentschool #porthcawl #bridgend #margam #neath #swansea #cowbridge #valeofglamorgan
What better way to break up for autumn half term than a Halloween Disco for our Senior School 🎃 🕺

We had an afternoon crawling with fun 🕷️ with some fang-tasting karaoke hosted by our Sixth Form.

A massive thank you to our pupils and our staff for your efforts and for making it an unforgettable day💫

We hope you all have a spooktacular Halloween! 🧙‍♀️

#wearecognita #beyoubrilliantly #achievementchallengeexcellence #stclaresporthcawl #family #friends #porthcawl #bridgend #margam #neath #swansea #penyfai #tondu #maesteg #cowbridge #valeofglamorgan #independenteducation #independentschool #privateeducation #privateschool #halloween #halloweenmakeup #halloweendecor #fancydress
Looking for some inspiration for Halloween or wondering what to do with your leftover pumpkin?

Our Thomas Franks Catering team produce fresh healthy and nutritious meals for our pupils and are always thinking of ways to encourage them to try new things.

What better way than a "Pumpkin Tasting Day" in October?!

Their yummy recipes included pumpkin hummus with a crunchy nacho, curried pumpkin soup, crusty pumpkin loaf, pumpkin frittata and a delicious pumpkin cake! 

The pupils and staff loved it! We are so lucky!! Thank you Sian and your amazing team. Happy Halloween eve!

#pumpkin #halloween #wearecognita #schooldinners #beyoubrilliantly #stclaresporthcawl #stclaresfamily #halloweenrecipes #pumpkinrecipes
Still looking for a Nursery place for January? Join us for a tour of our Nursery and Early Years department and discover why we are a Daynurseries UK ‘Top 20 Nursery’ 4 years in a row, with 10/10 parent reviews.

Your child’s early years are the crucial years, shaping their development and future success. 

Our smaller class sizes offer far more opportunity for individualised learning.

Our Nursery is the perfect balance of quality teaching and education as well as opportunities for free and guided play experiences where the children choose and lead their learning.

If you're seeking a full or part time place with a full-time qualified teacher, weekly Spanish/French, Outdoor Learning and Forest School, then call us on 01656 789966 or email info@stclares-school.co.uk 

From as little as £48.89 per day, our fees are surprisingly competitive. 

#nursery2024 #earlyyearseducation #nursery #porthcawl #bridgend #cowbridge #valeofglamorgan #specialistteaching #beyoubrilliantly #forestschool #achivementchallengeexcellence #wearecognita #stclaresporthcawl
The autumn half-term may have begun, but our Admissions department will remain open for the whole two weeks.

Whether you're looking for an excellent start to your child's future education, or maybe your child hasn't settled or is not currently reaching their full potential in their current school, please get in touch today.
💻info@stclares-school.co.uk
📞 01656 789966
Visit our website (link in our bio)

#wearecognita #myfutureschool #independentschool #independenteducation #earlyyears #privateschool #privateeducation #beyoubrilliantly #stclaresporthcawl #stclaresfamily #nursery #infants #juniors #seniors #sixthform #porthcawl #bridgend #tythegston #bridgend #laleston #margam #neath #swansea #penyfai #cowbridge #valeofglamorgan
At St Clare's School & Nursery, our goal is to maximise the benefits of technology by focusing on screen use over screen time. 

To do this we assign every school child an iPad as well as having dedicated PC time, we then focus on interactive, varied activities, and, in doing so, prepare children to thrive in our rapidly evolving world.

#wearecognita #digitallearning #stclaresporthcawl #beyoubrilliantly #independenteducation #porthcawlschools #bridgendschools #valeofglamorganschools #independentschool #happyandhighachieving
Our Year 7 Discovery Day is all about the discovery of self, new interests, new skills and new friendships. 

It's designed to encourage our future Year 7 pupils to feel confident about starting senior school at St Clare's and allay any nerves they may have.

Call us on 01656 789966 to find out more and book one of the last few remaining places but don't delay. Visit our website for more info! 🌟 (link in our bio).

#myfutureschool #wearecognita #seniorschool #porthcawl #year7 #cowbridge #margam #swansea #bridgend #valeofglamorgan #stclaresporthcawl #stclaresfamily #independentschool #independenteducation #achievementchallengeexcellence #stretchandchallenge
Today is #WorldMentalHealthAwarenessDay 🧠💚

It is always okay to talk about how we are feeling, and nobody should ever be scared to open up about anything that is on their mind.

So whether it's anxiety, friendship issues or exam stress, always seek support from friends, family, or a member of our pastoral team. Remember you are never alone 🥍

#worldmentalhealthawarenessday #stclaresfamily #stclaresporthcawl #wellbeing #wellbeingmatters #mentalhealthawareneness #happyandhighachieving #mentalhealthmatters #wearecognita

Begin an unforgettable adventure.

Children who join St Clare’s private school develop their confidence and gain a genuine love for learning, putting them on the path to success.
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2 ½ - 4 yrs old

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4 - 5 yrs old

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5 - 11 yrs old

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11 - 16 yrs old

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16 - 18 yrs old

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6 easy steps

Learn more. Request your bespoke prospectus.

St Clares School

Enquiries :01656 789966

Office :01656 782509