a headstart
An introduction to 11-13 education at Sherborne Girls
www.sherborne.com
Contents 14
Growing Together There’s never a dull moment for girls in West, with plenty to keep them occupied throughout the week.
A Sporting Chance Everyone in West is encouraged to find a sport they love and play it to the best of their ability. It’s our way of ensuring a healthy way of life for all.
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Meet the Housemistress As Housemistress of Aldhelmsted West and PE teacher, Hayley Vanstone is a key figure in the girls’ lives. She tells us more about the house.
Take Arts We all have a creative streak and in West there will be countless opportunities for your daughter to find hers.
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West Friends Who better to give you the lowdown on life in West than the girls themselves? We catch up with a group of them in West’s common room.
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Next Steps Some helpful information about what you can do next.
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Welcome to West Headmistress Jenny Dwyer introduces our boarding house for 11-13s.
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Ready for Take-Off Our vibrant and exciting curriculum is delivered by specialist teachers in tailor-made classrooms and laboratories, all without the constraints of external examinations. Rising to the Challenge There’s a wealth of extra-curricular activities available to girls in West. The only hard part is choosing what you’ll do!
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Welcome to
West
Our new boarding house for 11-13s was opened in June 2013 by former pupil Camila Batmanghelidjh CBE. Aldhelmsted West is the boarding house for 11-13s at Sherborne Girls. It recently moved into brand-new accommodation, offering the highest levels of comfort and convenience along with great facilities. Girls join West at the age of 11 and stay for two years. Then at 13, they enter one of the school’s five mixed aged main
boarding houses, where they remain until moving to the upper sixth boarding house for their final year. West provides a welcoming place for girls to become accustomed to life as a boarder. It helps them become established in the hectic, stimulating and highly enjoyable context of our fullboarding environment.
Headmistress Jenny Dwyer introduces Aldhelmsted West At Sherborne Girls, we recognise the value of an allgirls boarding environment from 11+. But we also know that the youngest members of our community need very particular care and nurture, and a place to be themselves. Aldhelmsted West, known as ‘West’ by everyone in the school, provides just that place. It has recently moved to brand-new, purpose-built accommodation, meaning that girls living in the house have access to the very best facilities. In addition, they are looked after by a committed team of staff, all of whom are devoted to their wellbeing. With the introduction of the Junior Diploma we have created a very exciting curriculum. We instil academic aspiration and active participation in all our students, and West is no exception. Amidst the busy environment of our full boarding school, West creates a sense of home, where girls from a variety of backgrounds with a huge range of interests find their feet. We encourage parents to maintain regular contact with their daughters and the school staff, so that we can work together to ensure West provides a happy, rewarding and stimulating environment in which girls can grow. I believe West contributes to the flourishing not just of the girls who live there, but of our whole school. To find out how, please come and visit us – you will be very welcome.
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Growing
together
There’s never a dull moment for girls in West, with plenty to keep them occupied throughout the week. At Sherborne Girls, we believe that education is about more than the achievement of academic success. We want our girls to be challenged and succeed in the classroom, but we recognise that it’s their whole person that matters. In West the focus is very firmly on helping the youngest members of our school community to
thrive. That means providing the support they need to make their mark on the school, while giving them the independence to make decisions and grow more fully into the mature, well-rounded people they will become. As with our other boarding houses, girls in West eat together every day, in a cosy dining room that has a welcoming atmosphere.
There’s always plenty of chatter at mealtimes, and this warmth is carried over to every other aspect of house life. That’s why the common rooms and ensuite bedrooms are so lively. And, in fine weather, the large garden is a place of great activity, too. What’s more, there is no shortage of things to do, including sport, trips out and numerous clubs and societies to join. We encourage girls to take responsibility for West’s common life, and operate a prefect and mentoring system. Life for girls in West is full, exciting and rich. And that’s exactly how it should be as they embark upon a lifetime of learning and growth.
student profile
Fun and friendship Emilie has certainly made the most of life in West. When she arrived from her London prep school, she was new to boarding but she quickly made friends and became immersed in a variety of activities. Being an Art Scholar, Emilie loves the opportunities to be creative in the Art Studio. “My other favourite things are Maths, because it is really interesting, and Sport, because it is fun.” says Emilie. “And I really enjoyed taking part in the school play last term.”
“Weekends are great as there is always so much to do and you can spend time with your friends.”
“Good fun.” is how Emilie sums up life in West.
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Meet the
housemistress
As Housemistress of Aldhelmsted West and PE teacher, Hayley Vanstone is a key figure in the girls’ lives. She tells us more ... Visit West and you’ll most likely encounter Mrs Vanstone sooner rather than later. She is usually surrounded by a throng of girls, all of whom rely on her for guidance, support and, when the need arises, discipline. “Girls come to us at an important moment in their lives,” says Mrs Vanstone. “It’s my job to make their time in the house happy, productive and fulfilling.” Supported by two matrons, resident tutors and a team of personal tutors, Mrs Vanstone works hard to ensure the girls in her charge flourish. “Coming to boarding school at the age of 11 is a big step,” she opines. “But it’s impossible to feel alone and the girls living here foster very real friendships, which last
throughout their time at school, and into life beyond. That,” says Mrs Vanstone, “is what makes West such a special place to be.” As it happens, Mrs Vanstone regards this as one of the biggest advantages of coming to West.
“When girls leave this house, they are prepared to make the most of life in the main school.” Not that Mrs Vanstone is ever in a hurry for girls to go. “While it’s great to see them progress to their senior houses,” she reflects, “It’s also a bit sad to see them move on from the West community.
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Ready for
take-off
Our vibrant and exciting curriculum is delivered by specialist teachers, in tailor-made classrooms and laboratories, all without the constraints of external examinations. Girls study English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, French, Religious Studies, Latin, Music, Art, Design Technology, Home Economics, IT and Computing, Games and Physical Education. There is also a strand of Personal and Social Education. In addition, girls in the Lower Fourth follow the Leiths School of Food Junior Certificate. And alongside French, a
carousel of languages is offered across both years, including German, Spanish and Russian. All curriculum subjects are assessed individually, as well as being included in our unique Junior Diploma portfolio, which is explained over the page. That way, we can bring a girl’s learning together, helping her make connections across her entire education.
student profile
The first steps to success Every journey starts with a small step, and that’s never more the case than with former West resident Pip. She is just about to embark upon a veterinary training course at the Royal Veterinary College, but she remembers her time in West with affection.
the culture at Sherborne Girls – so although West is a separate house, it’s very much a part the whole life of the school.”
“West gave me a chance to find my feet at boarding school, and really prepared me for life. The older girls in the school made a real effort to get to know us. This remains part of
year at senior school. But they are also given ample opportunity to foster links with their older peers, helping prepare them for the next phase of school life.
The beauty of this, thinks Pip, is that girls living in West have a secure and very caring environment for their first two
“My time in West has stayed with me throughout life at Sherborne Girls.”
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West girls work towards the Junior Diploma during their time in the house. It’s a broad programme, designed to help their learning take flight.
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The Junior Diploma helps girls take full advantage of all the opportunities on offer, by providing a wealth of ways to develop their skills, aptitudes and enthusiasms. It helps them integrate the various aspects of school life, and focuses on four key areas:
knowledge, learning skills, personal attributes and community. With advice and guidance from their personal tutor, the girls compile a portfolio that
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charts their progress through the Junior Diploma, bringing together the threads of academic study, personal growth and their relationships with others. They are asked to reflect on the learning process both in writing and in a summative interview with a senior member of staff at the end of the year. We help them to understand how to assess their own development at this important time in their lives. 11
Rising to the
challenge
There’s a wealth of extra-curricular activities available to girls in West. The only hard part is choosing which ones to do! The girls in West are encouraged to explore new interests and pick up lifelong passions during their crucial first years at Sherborne Girls.
But we also help girls develop a variety of other enthusiasms, both intellectual and practical, to contribute to their formation.
complete their Cycling Proficiency Test, and get involved in activities as diverse as yoga, gardening, community work and photography.
Our extra-curricular programme offers something for everyone. There are sporting and outward bound activities, of course, as well as art music, dance and drama.
For example, the Mind Matters programme and academic societies provide a welcome space to think about life’s big issues. Meanwhile, girls in West have the chance to
Whatever hobbies your daughter chooses to pursue at Sherborne Girls, we help ensure they will stay with her forever.
action packed weekends Fridays are a time of great anticipation in West, as the girls ready themselves for the action-packed couple of days ahead. There are weekend sporting fixtures, of course, in which every girl is encouraged to participate, but there is so much more. Once each term we invite parents to take part in sport too.
Academic enrichment Debating Environmentalists Focus Grand Designs Hot Potato International Club Mathletics Pins and Needles Soap Box Scholars Society (by invitation) Speak Out! What Happens If?
There are the outward bound adventures, such as rock climbing, kayaking or walking on Dartmoor, camping and cycling, raftbuilding and skating. In addition, West girls have opportunities to visit local towns and cities, or places of historic interest. And we regularly arrange visits to the theatre and cinema, or stay in West organising our own parties and celebrations. Life in West provides an opportunity to discover new passions and develop existing talents. It’s all part of our commitment to providing an all-round education that stays with our girls for life.
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A Sporting
Chance
Everyone in West is encouraged to find a sport they love, and play it to the best of their ability. It’s our way of ensuring a healthy way of life for all.
Stand in the foyer of West on an average afternoon, and pretty soon you’ll lose count of the number of hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, tennis racquets and swimming goggles that move past you. That’s a sign of the importance of sport in the house, where every single girl is given the chance to develop her sporting ability, including representing her school in a team. Timetabled sports include hockey, lacrosse netball, tennis, rounders and swimming. And there is also a plethora of extra-curricular sporting activities, such as cricket, athletics, dance and gymnastics. Indeed, if a girl shows an aptitude for a particular sporting discipline, we’ll do everything we can to tease out her talent. Involvement in sport isn’t just about honing performance, though. It’s not even focused merely on keeping fit. The habits acquired through team and individual sports stay with our girls forever, helping prepare them for whatever life throws their way. Sport is also a part of the fabric of our common life; it’s the glue that binds us together. By supporting each other and playing alongside each other, the members of West form deep relationships of trust, respect and reciprocity.
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keep it in the family
student/ parent profile
Mother and daughter Louise and Sophie have a strong connection with Sherborne Girls. Louise, an investment banker, is a former pupil at the school and now sits on the council of governors. Sports Scholar Sophie, meanwhile, says the experience has more than lived up to expectations. “I didn’t think I wanted to board when I was 11,” she explains. “But when I visited I saw how friendly and smiley everyone was and I knew I wanted to be a part of this place.” Sophie has flourished in her first two years at Sherborne Girls and has relished the chance to pick up new skills and develop her existing ability in sport. Despite living in London, Louise regularly comes to watch Sophie in sports fixtures, because access to the town is so straightforward.
“Sophie has really flourished with the school’s encouragement, in sport and other areas, and the cosy atmosphere in West has provided an excellent transition from prep school to senior school.The ability to get here so easily by train has allowed me to remain involved even from a distance.”
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If your daughter has a talent for writing, directing, performing, composing, designing, painting, making, singing, dancing or even talking, we’ll nurture it. Whether she wants to be upfront performing or behind the scenes, there’s a wealth of occasions to join in and shine. Each girl has the chance to explore and develop her musical ability while in West, and we encourage this enthusiasm to continue throughout her time at school. We timetable a music lesson every week and every girl sings in the West choir. For instrumentalists, there is a wide choice of specialisms to pursue. Our 26-strong team of peripatetic teachers offers instruction in instruments as diverse as the harp, guitar, saxophone and piano. We’ve even helped a girl learn the bagpipes. If treading the boards is more your daughter’s cup of tea, our drama studio is likely to be a hit. We view acting as a great way to build confidence and express creativity, and give girls in West every opportunity to perform in front of an audience.
take Arts For those who prefer to focus on the creative arts, weekend activities include jewellery making and pottery and our drama and music productions offer a chance to practise skills such as lighting, set and costume design and make-up. Whatever inspires our girls in the realm of the arts, we’ll provide an avenue for them to follow – including the chance to compete against other houses in music, dance and drama.
From the Junior Play “The Wind in The Willows”
“I try to give girls the language of music, in the hope that they will take it away, and feel inspired by it.”
striking a chord
Staff profile
John Jenkins, Director of Music, brings a deep passion for music to every facet of school life – and West girls are doubly privileged because Mr Jenkins is also a tutor in their house. “One of the great pleasures of life at Sherborne Girls is the chance it offers to get involved in a vibrant music scene,” he says. “In the school alone, we have four different choirs, two symphony orchestras and an array of ensembles and bands.”
It’s also worth noting the inspiration he draws from his pupils. “We have some extraordinarily talented musicians at Sherborne Girls,” he remarks, “and I think everyone here agrees that it’s an absolute pleasure to be alongside them as their skills progress.”
West
friends There’s something of a hubbub emanating from the comfy common room at the front of West. A group of girls has gathered to talk about life in the house, and it’s fair to say they’re excited. Charlotte, Jemima, Phoebe, Char, Emma and Grace are squeezed onto one squidgy sofa, pushed up against each other in a physical expression of their solidarity. “We’re like sisters,” they say, by way of an opening gambit. “Everyone knows everyone in West, and we’re all really good friends.” “There’s a great spirit in West,” says one of the group, as the others nod enthusiastically. “We support each other in every aspect of school life, and mix easily between the two years. That’s just what it’s like in West – we’re one big family.”
Who better to give you the lowdown on life in West than the girls themselves? We catch up with a group of them in West’s common room. It’s a multi-talented family, to say the least. Thanks to the great opportunities for sport, music and drama, the girls have plenty of extra-curricular enthusiasms. And they take delight in one another’s achievements, believing the success of one reflects on the house as a whole. “There’s always something to do well at,” they agree, “because there are so many activities on offer. Some of us are sporty, some are good at academic work, some are brilliant actors or musicians, and some enjoy things like cookery, art or outdoor activities. But the key thing is that we spend loads of time together, and never have a chance to feel bored.”
“Come to West and it will change your life forever,” one of the girls says, to summarise their collective thoughts. “You’ll form friendships that last a lifetime, and have experiences that will never leave you. Plus, you’ll have an awful lot of fun…!”
“There’s a great atmosphere here, and the staff team is exceptionally strong. I think it would be difficult to find a better school for girls of this age.” Parent
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next steps
Some helpful information about what you can do next.
Visiting Sherborne Girls If you would like to find out more about Sherborne Girls and entry at 11+ into West, we would like to invite you to visit us. We hold regular Open Mornings and Tour Mornings – details are on the website www.sherborne.com. Alternatively we would be delighted to welcome you for an individual visit to meet the Headmistress, the Houseparents and the girls. Please contact the Admissions team on 01935 818224 or email enquiry@sherborne.com
Registering for a place at Sherborne Girls Places at Sherborne Girls are awarded on the basis of an entrance examination and a school reference, and are reserved by registration. Registration will ensure that you are kept up-to-date with news, information and invitations to events. Registration forms can be completed online: visit www.sherborne.com for details or submit by post to Sherborne Girls, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 3QN.
scholarships 11+ Scholarship exams are held in January and February; scholarships are offered in the categories of Academic, Music, Art, Sport and All Rounder.
“I enjoy waking up in the morning and knowing that whatever happens, I will have a good day.�
Photography by Neil Munns, Martin Crabtree, Rick Crane, Gillman & Soame and staff
Sherborne Girls, Bradford Road Sherborne, Dorset, UK, DT9 3QN +44(0)1935 818224 enquiry@sherborne.com www.sherborne.com
Shelleys 01935 815364