It is both a day and boarding school and is a member of The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC).

For centuries the land on which Clayesmore now stands was held by Shaftesbury Abbey.

Their family home was built in 1796 roughly on the site of the existing main building.

On Ismay's death in January 1930 the estate was put up for sale in a number of separate lots.

[1] These holidays, aimed at boys from the top thirty British public schools, were highly influential on British evangelicalism, with attendees including theologian John Stott, bishops David Sheppard, Maurice Wood and Timothy Dudley-Smith, Archbishop Justin Welby and Alpha course founder Nicky Gumbel.