Castletown, Isle of Man IM9 1TP
10 reasons to choose The Buchan School
Top line
The Buchan School has a Schoolsmith Score® of 83. It is the best independent or state primary school on the Isle of Man.
School fundamentals
The Buchan School is an independent prep day school for boys and girls (50%/50%) between the ages of 2 and 11 years. It is a Church of England school, open to all faiths and none. The school has a non-selective admissions policy. It is the junior division of King William’s College, an all-through school to age 18. The Buchan School fees range from £4,450 (Rec) to £5,920 per term (2025/26). Fees include VAT and lunches.
Average class size
The Buchan School has two classes per year and an average class size of 11 pupils.
Leavers' destinations
At the end of Year 6, most Buchan School pupils move up to King William’s College, the senior school.
The Buchan School curriculum
School curriculum is guided by the English National Curriculum and also includes PSHE, French, Spanish. The school expands the curriculum with the ‘Buchan Badge’ from Year 2, including modules for healthy living, drama, sailing, enterprise, and outdoor pursuits. The ‘Buchan Baccalaureate’ recognises these activities and academic achievement with awards from Year 4. The school offers each child a handful of extra-curricular academic activities or hobby clubs.
More on the curriculum
There are regular educational trips for all year groups, visiting speakers, bushcraft lessons in pre-prep and a residential trip for Year 6.
Specialist teaching
Specialist teachers for sport, music, drama, languages, art, DT and computing throughout, and for all subjects from Year 3.
Sport at The Buchan School
School offers between 10 and 15 different sports over the course of the year. Competitive teams in major sports from Year 3.
The Arts at The Buchan School
Art, music and drama are taught as discrete curricular subjects to all pupils. All pupils learn an instrument in class and up to half take extra-curricular instrument lessons from Year 3. Two choirs and several instrument ensembles. There are some extra-curricular creative and performing arts clubs.
Wraparound care
Wraparound care from 8.00am to 5.30pm. Minibus service.