Sherborne School

About Sherborne School

Sherborne School is an all-boys full boarding school in Dorset. As one of the few genuinely full boarding schools in the UK, they are well placed to fulfil the needs of boys whose parents live abroad, providing a full and varied programme for all our pupils seven days a week. Situated in the attractive Abbey town of Sherborne, the School is easily accessible by train from London, Gatwick and Heathrow.

The school offer a first-class academic education through inspiring teaching which engages and guides each boy to pursue academic excellence. Boys get into top universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, as well as specialist universities in areas like Medicine, Music and Art. Sherbourne School also offers an unrivalled co-curricular programme, balancing wide participation with elite performance, achieving national sporting success and recognition at the country’s top independent school for music.

Sherborne has a unique partnership with Sherborne Girls School and regularly holds joint musical performances, drama productions and social events.

Sherborne School has educated boys for twelve centuries and gives boys lifelong stability in a world of fluctuating values. They support boys in making a positive difference – locally, nationally and internationally. Kindness, integrity and decency are the hallmarks of a Shirburnian.

‘First class boys’ boarding in a spectacular golden setting, which succeeds in combining the best of ancient and modern without diminishing either’

Good Schools Guide 2017

Boarding at Sherborne School

Sherborne School believes every boy has the right to feel safe, happy and valued as an individual. Pastoral care is given the highest priority across the eight boarding Houses and resident House staff and tutors provide guidance and encouragement in all areas of School life.

There is something special about living in a community seven days a week. The boys are with each other for work, study, play and relaxation. Boys form strong bonds across year groups, underpinned by mentoring between the junior and senior boys. They come to value their Houses, seeing them as a place to call home – somewhere they are encouraged to be fully themselves and relish the fellowship of their friends.

Contact

Type of School Single sex boys school
School Address Sherborne School, Abbey Rd, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3LF
Number of Pupils 600
Number of Boarders 550
International Boarders 10%
Age Range 13 to 18 years
Religious Tradition Christian
Distance from Airports

London Heathrow – 200km; London Gatwick – 200km; Bristol – 70km; Southampton – 70km; Exeter – 70km
Distance from London

200km from London. Easily accessible from Sherborne.
Contact
School Links

Boys join Sherborne from over 50 schools each year, mainly from Prep Schools. We have strong links with a wide variety of schools across southern England, London and the Channel Islands. Boys also come to us from schools elsewhere across the UK and internationally.

Educational Programmes

Our curriculum provides a broad education that exposes boys to a range of intellectual challenges in their early years at Sherborne, deepening their knowledge in individual subjects and establishing long-term learning habits.

Variety and balance are key qualities of the curriculum. The curricula for the Third, Fourth and Fifth Forms are designed to support academic variety, allowing boys to explore a wide range of subjects and disciplines so that they each make informed choices at IGCSE and beyond and develop a broad base of skills and knowledge. We continue to offer so-called ‘minority’ subjects which we see as an essential part of a liberal education. In the Sixth Form the boys develop increasingly focused subject interests as part of the A Level programme. In addition to A Levels, we also offer a small number of BTEC courses for those interested in adding a more vocational element to their sixth form curriculum.

Co-Curricular Programmes

We offer a diverse co-curricular programme, which means there is something to suit every taste. Alongside academic societies in every subject area, we provide intellectual and creative pursuits such as bridge, chess, computing, debating, photography, cookery, life drawing, film making, community service, and drama.

Thanks to our easy access to some of the UK’s finest scenery, we provide an extensive range of outdoor activities. In addition to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, we organise regular walking, climbing, kayaking and sailing trips. And when the boys want to explore further afield, we take them to Scotland, the Lake District, Snowdonia and into Europe in search of wild places.

Our boys also take part in the annual “Ten Tors Challenge” on Dartmoor, and the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) provides plenty of opportunities to experience the rough and tumble of the great outdoors.

Shirburnians enjoy a vibrant social scene, with events often being held in collaboration with our local girls’ schools. Regular activities include film evenings, discos, and even the occasional black tie dinner dance.

In addition to school-wide activities, boys often participate in house co-curricular events. These can include paintballing, swimming, football matches – indeed, anything that stimulates, inspires and motivates boys on their path to growth.

Academies Offered

In order to encourage a strong academic ethos, Sherborne offers a number of academic Scholarships for entry at age 13 (Third Form) and 16 (Sixth Form), awarded solely on academic ability. Sports and Music awards are also available at age 13 (Third Form) and 16 (Sixth Form); and Art, Drama and Design-Technology awards at age 13 (Third Form). The School may also may make an All-Round award to a Third Form entrant at the Headmaster’s discretion.

In order to reduce financial barriers to admission, the School provides a number of means tested bursaries which typically support between 50 and 60 pupils in the School at any one time.