A very warm welcome to Reader Harris
We feel so lucky to have you joining us in Reader Harris. First and foremost, we want to extend to you the warmest of welcomes to your new home from home! New starts, or just a new academic year, often offer a mix of emotions - from apprehension to huge excitement. I am thrilled that I get to share this wonderful time in your life and will be here every step of the way with you.
Reader Harris is a vibrant, exciting and hugely caring community that is fiercely proud of each and every one of its sisters. We cannot wait to find out about all the wonderful things that make you, you! We respect, support and appreciate one another in a place where you can always be assured of someone who is happy to talk. I truly believe in the power of a smile and promise you lots on a daily basis; kindness is at the root of everything we strive to do at SG and that is certainly at the very foundation of this special House. Your happiness is of paramount importance to me and all the staff and we will always be there to celebrate your triumphs and support the more difficult moments –together we can find our way through any situation.
We want you to make wonderful memories in your time at SG; and time,
of course, goes quickly when you are having fun. Let me urge you to throw yourself into the many opportunities available to represent Reader Harris, as part of a House team, in the variety of inter-house competitions offered, or in the smaller (but equally fabulous!) inhouse activities over the course of the week. Make the most of this incredibly special time in your life.
I hope you will find this handbook a useful guide for informing you of some of the key things you will need to know about living in Reader Harris. You will undoubtedly have lots of questions in your first few days and weeks and please be assured that we are all here to help –no issue is too big or small! I know that in no time at all you will feel completely at home and all the new systems and routines will become second nature.
I am so thrilled that we will be sharing this amazing journey together and welcome you, with my husband Mr Mark Cracknell (who is Director of Music at SG), our daughter Clemmie, Noodle the Labradoodle and the totally amazing staff and girls of RH, to the Reader Harris family!
With best wishes
Mrs Fee Cracknell - Housemistress
Important contact details
House
Mrs Cracknell (Housemistress) fiona.cracknell@sherbornegirls.group
House email: readerharris@sherbornegirls.group
House landline: 01935 818244
House mobile: 07808 775581
School
Ms Leonie Cole
Designated Safeguarding Lead 01935 818305 / 07581 047402
leonie.cole@sherbornegirls.group
Please add these details to your phone. It is important that you can get in touch with the House at all times. The House phone is answered by the Matron during the day, and the Tutor on duty in the evening.
House ethos
• Everyone has the right to enjoy living and working in our community, and each individual should feel valued and proud to be in our House
• It is important that we respect each other’s views and feelings
• We need to care for each other and our home, we should respect each other’s property, space and time
• We should treat others as we wish to be treated ourselves
• Everyone should try to set a good example
• We need to think of the House as being part of a bigger community
• We should support each other, particularly when others feel unhappy, homesick or alone
• We recognise and celebrate everyone’s achievements in all areas of their School life
‘Quo Modo Tibi Sic Alis’
‘Do unto others as you would have done unto yourself’ House Motto
House family
When you join us in Reader you become an important part of our big family where together we support and care for each other. In addition to this big group of sisters, you will be placed into a smaller ‘family’ group made up of eight girls from various year groups who you will get to know very well over the course of the year and become a special support-group for each other.
You will sit together every Monday for lunch. While you eat you will have the chance to discuss how things are going and occasionally do a quiz or plan a social activity. In addition to this this you will sometimes be asked to meet as ‘families’ as this is a useful way of canvassing opinions on a variety of matters.
Reader is your House, and we value enormously your opinion and views on how we function and remain the brilliant home-fromhome we are. When we have House meetings, ‘families’ offer everyone the opportunity to feed back their opinions. We can then use these views to change or improve things in Reader Harris meaning that systems are fair and work for everyone.
You will be informed of your family group at the beginning of the Michaelmas term and they are also displayed in the dining room. .
The House staff
There are several members of staff in House. From our matrons to resident staff, the duty tutors to the Assistant House Parent. You will get to know us all very well.
The HM is supported by a residential Assistant who runs the Boarding House during the HM’s time off in the week. The wider House pastoral team includes day matrons who are in the House from 8.00am-6.15pm and a team of residential staff who perform evening and weekend duties. All the pastoral staff work tirelessly to support the girls in making the House feel like a home-fromhome and they are all looking forward to meeting you in September.
The Matrons’ job is to look after the practical aspects of you living here. For example, they will make you appointments at the Health Centre. They organise train tickets and taxis when you need them and liaise with your parents about your travel arrangements for exeats and the end of term. Matrons also check that your rooms are tidy and will help you with laundry if needed.
Everyone is allocated a Tutor and a small tutor group which is made up of 8-10 pupils in your year group, across the Houses. Your Tutor will help you organise your schoolwork, answer any academic queries and support you in getting the balance right between your studies and your co-curricular opportunities. You can talk to your tutor about absolutely any aspect of school and life. Your tutor will also come into house to eat with you regularly and will work closely with your HM to ensure you are fully supported at SG.
Ms Donnellan, Assistant HM
Support in House and in the School
There are lots of people to talk to. All the House staff are here for you, and we are all good at giving hugs!
New girls to the House are allocated a buddy. Please use your buddy as a useful source of information.
In addition, the L6 girls are here to help you. The Head and Vice Head of House have been appointed to these important roles as they really do care about the House and the girls who live here. They will listen to you and help you.
We also have a team of L6 Supporters and Listeners. These girls have been trained and will offer a listening ear if you are worried about anything and you would prefer to speak to someone nearer your own age. Look on the noticeboards for information about our Supporters and Listeners. They all have a sign on their bedroom door that says ‘Supporter and Listener’. Just knock on their bedroom door if you want to talk.
We have three School Counsellors who come into School to talk to girls. You can also speak to the Chaplain if you want a chat. The Chaplain can be found in the Ark in Main School.
If you would like to speak to someone independent of school, then do look at the noticeboards, where there are lots of helpful telephone numbers on display.
Dealing with homesickness
For some of you, this may be your first time away from home, and you may not find the first few days easy. That’s okay. It doesn’t matter how old you are when you first move away from home, it is always tricky getting used to different routines and getting to know new people. The important thing to remember is that if you are feeling homesick, it will pass.
However, you can make things a little easier for yourself if you follow the tips below:
• Make sure you are not on your own. If you are feeling sad, then you are just going to make things worse if you isolate yourself
• You will not be the only person struggling – lots of other girls will be, too. Look at the other girls around you and think, ‘If they can do it, then so can I’
• Remember: you will get over your homesickness in no time at all
• Try not to make contact with home unless you feel strong enough to handle it. Hearing Mum or Dad’s voice may set you off, so don’t phone unless you feel up to it
• Don’t phone home just before bedtime. It’s the worst time of day to speak to parents, as you are likely to be feeling most wobbly at bedtime
• When you do speak to your parents at home, talk about everything you have been doing. Avoid talking about how you are feeling, as this is likely to make you feel more emotional
• Don’t encourage your parents to keep texting you to ask how you are. Again, it just reminds you that you aren’t at home, and this may upset you
• Come and get a hug from one of the members of staff on duty
• Keep yourself busy – don’t give yourself time to think about missing home
The Health Centre and medicine
All boarders are registered with the local GP surgery, and a GP comes to the Health Centre every Monday to Friday at 8.00am to run a clinic. You can easily get an appointment to see the school GP either by asking the Health Centre to book you an appointment, or by asking Matron who will organise an appointment for you.
If you feel unwell, the House staff may suggest that you go to the Health Centre to see a nurse for advice (or we will phone from Reader Harris to get advice). There is always a nurse on duty in the Health Centre.
If you want to see someone in the Health Centre but do not want to let anyone know that you are going, either Teams message ‘Health Care Reception’ or email health@sherbornegirls.group to arrange an appointment.
You are not allowed to keep any medicine or tablets in your room. All medicines are kept in the medicine cabinet in the House office. If you need to take medicine regularly then usually this is done at breakfast.
SHERBORNE GIRLS - READER HARRIS
Who can I talk to?
AROUND THE CLOCK SUPPORT
Everybody has worries or problems at some time in their lives. Although there may be times when you do not want to talk about worries, it is usually sensible and helpful to talk to someone else about them and to try to help sort them out. You could talk to one of the other girls in your year group or the older girls in House – your Head of House or a Prefect. However, there are occasions when an adult may be a more appropriate person to talk to and there are a very large number to choose from at school, as well as your parents and relations.
All members of staff would be pleased to talk to you and try to help. This includes Dr Sullivan and Mrs Briggs. If you need to see the Head quickly, see her Executive Assistant. They will listen to you in confidence, but there may be times when they have to tell someone what you have told them, if they think you or others are at serious risk of harm.
Doctors
health@sherbornegirls.group
Independent Listener
Mrs Ann Simon | 07890 549135
Mrs Isabel Burke | 07989 527888
Nurses
health@sherbornegirls.group | 07977 469663
Chaplain
Revd. Katie Windle chaplain@sherbornegirls.group
Safeguarding Leads
Lead: Ms Cole | 01935 818305 / 07581 047402 leonie.cole@sherbornegirls.group
Deputies: Mrs Miller | Mr McClary | Dr Stone Mrs Beard | Mrs Briggs | Mrs Dart (Oxley)
LGBTQ+
Miss Brown (bex.brown@sherbornegirls.group)
Mr Greed (george.greed@sherbornegirls.group)
Mr McClary (ian.mcclary@sherbornegirls.group)
Counsellors
Mrs Heddy Smith 07970 843359
heddy.smith@sherbornegirls.group Ms Lauenna Luddington
Children’s Commissioner for England 020 7783 8330 www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk
Learning Support
kat.mcgreal@sherborneschools.group
Samaritans 116 123 | jo@samaritans.org
Tootoot
Senior Staff
Teachers
Meals
All meals in House are compulsory. We always take a register, and we use this as a roll call. Please be prompt to mealtimes. If you have specific dietary requirements, please let the House staff know as soon as possible, so that arrangements can be made with our Chef.
Mealtimes are as follows:
Breakfast
Monday – Friday 7.30am/7.45am
Saturday – 7.30am
Sunday – 9.30am (if there is a morning service) or
Sunday – 11.00am brunch (if there is an evening service)
Lunch
Monday – Friday 1.00pm
Saturday – A rolling lunch to make sure you can eat before or after your sport
Sunday – A rolling brunch served between 9.30 – 11.00am
Light lunch at 1.00pm
Supper
Monday – Friday 6.15pm
Saturday 6.00pm
Sunday 6.00pm (unless there is an evening Abbey Service, in which case it is at 5.30pm)
When arriving for meals, please queue up in the corridor until the member of staff on duty says you can come through. You must wear something on your feet and your hair must be tied back. At breakfast and supper, girls tend to sit with their year groups. Supper times (and all meals on Sundays) tend to be very relaxed – PJs are perfectly acceptable!
On Mondays you will sit in family groups across the year groups so you get to know the whole House really quickly. You must wait until everyone has finished eating their main course on your table before you are dismissed to clear your plates.
Please remember table manners in the dining room. For example, no elbows on tables, don’t talk with your mouth full, etc.
If your Tutor is in for lunch, remember to be a good host: please chat to them – they have made an effort to come and spend lunch with you.
The dining room is a mobile-free zone. Please do not take your phone out in the dining room –expect it to be confiscated if it is seen!
Takeaways
You may order takeaways on Saturday evenings. However, you need to get permission from the member of staff on duty beforehand. You must also wait downstairs so that you can watch for the delivery driver and your takeaway must arrive before 9.00pm.
House routines
Signing in and out
If you are in L5 – U5, there is no need to sign in and out during the day as you are all out of the House at lessons. If you do return to House, for whatever reason, you must inform Matron. If you leave site, you need to seek permission from a member of house staff and sign out.
L6 are permitted to work in House at certain times of the day and must sign in and out to ensure that matron knows who is in the House and fire regulations are adhered to.
After 5pm (end of the school day) and at weekends, everyone must sign in and out of the House, using the signing out book. Before leaving the school site you always need to seek permission from a member of House staff. It is vital that we have an accurate picture of who is in the House at all times; this helps us to keep you safe. We can show you exactly how the
signing in and out system works once you have joined the House.
House meetings
These are either House briefings in the mornings, as previously mentioned, House prayers for the whole House in the common room, or year group meetings.
House duties
All girls in the House are expected, just as they would at home, to contribute to helping keep the House tidy and a pleasant place to be. We believe in everyone ‘doing their bit’, from cleaning tables after supper to bringing mugs down from upstairs.
Different year groups will have different levels of responsibility. The L6, as leaders of the House, take responsibility for supporting the younger pupils during supervised prep, collecting devices at bedtime and wishing the girls goodnight.
In addition to this our House Prefects are responsible for a number of different areas, including House Spirit, Wellbeing, Sport, Music and Food (to name but a few!) and lead important initiatives in these areas.
Daily routines
8.10-8.25am
Monday: Assembly
Wednesday: Prayers
Friday: Hymn Practice
8.30-9.15am Period 1
9.20-10.05am Period 2
10.10-10.55am Period 3
10.55-11.25am Break – in House *
11.25-12.10pm Period 4
12.15-1.00pm Period 5
1.00-1.45pm Lunch – in House
1.45pm Activities or Period 6 (for some pupils)
2.35-3.20pm Period 7
3.25-4.10pm Period 8
4.15-5.00pm Period 9
5.10-6.10pm Activities / free time
6.15-7.00pm Supper and Roll Call – in House
7.00-8.45pm Prep – in House (varies for each year group): L5 and M5 work in the dining room
9.30-10.00pm Bedtime (varies for each year group)
*There are only three lessons on a Saturday.
Prep and evening routines
L5
7.00-8.00pm Prep
8.00-8.45pm Free time
8.45pm Hand in tech
8.45-9.15pm House meeting/downtime
9.15-9.30pm Side lights/reading
9.30pm Lights out
M5
7.00-8.30pm Prep
8.30-8.45pm Free time
8.45-9.15pm House meeting/downtime
9.00pm Hand in tech
9.30pm Side lights/reading
9.45pm Lights out
U5
7.00-9.00pm Prep
9.00-9.15pm House meeting/downtime
9.15pm Hand in tech
9.45pm Side lights/reading
10.00pm Lights out
L6
7.00-9.00pm Prep
9.00-9.30pm House meeting/downtime
9.30pm Hand in tech
10.00pm Side lights/reading
10.30pm Lights out
Going out and welcoming visitors to the House
Going out
After lessons you are allowed to go to Morrisons. You must sign in and out of the House and you must be back in House by 6.15pm, ready for supper. You must be in casual clothes, not uniform.
L5 are allowed into town on Saturday afternoons after either match commitments or Saturday Sport, and on Sundays when other commitments allow.
M5, U5 and L6 can go into town after lessons. Again, you must be back in House by 6.15pm.
Going outside Sherborne M5 upwards may go to Yeovil at the weekend but permission must be sought from the HM or the member of staff on duty. A taxi must be ordered by the person on duty and you must be in a group of at least three (L6 can go in pairs).
L6 can go to Bath, Salisbury or Bristol but this must be organised with the HM.
If it is your birthday or a special occasion, your parents may take you out for supper. However, unless this is a weekend, you may not invite any friends. This is because going out midweek is disruptive to prep routines. This is a School rule (not just a House rule). If you would like to celebrate your birthday with friends, it is best to wait until Saturday evening or Sunday lunch.
L6 can go out to a restaurant for supper on Saturday or lunch on Sunday in groups of no more than six. This also needs to be arranged in advance with the HM.
Please be aware that even if you do not have a match on a Saturday and you are in L5 or M5, you still have a commitment to Saturday Sport and so you are not available to meet with parents until after this time.
Your behaviour and dress when out and about must be exemplary, as you are representing the School. Please create a good impression. The School boundaries are published on the House noticeboards: you must be aware of where you are and are not allowed to go.
Exeats/weekends out
There are usually two exeats every term normally from Friday lunchtime to Sunday evening. You may not leave School before this time.
All girls need to leave promptly for exeat, after which time the House will be locked up. It will not reopen again until 6.00pm on the Sunday evening, so please do not return before this time as you will not be able to get in. However, if you do need to arrive back to School earlier than 6.00pm, a selected House will be open and a Matron will be on duty there. All girls must return by 9.00pm after an exeat weekend. Pupils who require accommodation in School during exeats should ask House staff for further information.
As a full boarding school the weekends are just as important and busy as the weekdays. All boarders remain in school at weekends and there is a wideranging activity programme on offer.
Queenie’s and The Coffee Pod
There is a café in the Upper Foyer of The Merritt Centre, called Queenie’s, which is open after lunch and after school. There is also a café in the reception of the Oxley Sports Centre called The Coffee Pod which you may use after school and at weekends. These are good places to meet up with your friends.
Visitors
Girls from other Houses and boys from Sherborne Boys are very welcome to visit us here in the House. There is a visitor signing-in book that everyone must sign. Please let the member of staff on duty know that a visitor has arrived. It is very important that they are introduced to the member of staff on duty. Boys are not allowed upstairs. You must stay in the drawing or dining rooms.
Family members are always welcome to the House, but nobody is allowed upstairs including parents (unless it is the start or end of term). If you have friends from outside the School visiting, please let the duty member of staff know when they arrive and introduce them.
Keeping personal items safe
All rooms and ‘cubies’ are equipped with a lockable drawer or cupboard. You are advised to keep any precious items locked away. You will need to see Matron if you wish to have the key for your lockable drawer, and she will sign it out for you. Please be aware that you need to return the key at the end of term. If you lose it, you will be charged £15 for a replacement.
Money and passports
Passports must be handed in. If you require a Visa to study in England, your passport is kept locked in the House office. Anyone who has any cash is advised to hand this in to us for safekeeping. You may use us as a House bank, and sign out money as you wish to use it.
Day Girls
Day girls are welcome to come into school for breakfast and stay for supper and prep, as well as any evening activities.
At weekends they are welcome to remain in school until the end of evening activities (approximately 9.30pm). We want to encourage day girls to be part of the House and to feel integrated and wellsupported. Day girls have their own day space within the house where they can study and relax during the day, as well as store their books and get changed for activities such as sport, CCF, and co-curricular clubs. We encourage the day girls to decorate their space with photos, bunting and other personal items, just like the boarders decorate their rooms.
Day girls are always welcome to attend Sunday evening prayers and are expected to be present at the following whole school events:
• Remembrance Sunday Abbey Service
• Carol Service
• Candlemas (a mid-week early evening service in Sherborne Abbey)
Day boarders
You have set nights that you stay and you need to let the HM or a Matron know which nights these are. You need to give 48 hours’ notice if you would like to stay on any other nights (or go home when you would normally sleep over).
House and School facilities
Laundry
Each House has a laundry room with industrial washing machines and tumble dryers. Everyone can use these machines and must manage their own washing. They are automated and dispense detergent and fabric conditioner for you. To help you get into the routine of doing your own laundry in the first term you will get plenty of assistance from Matron, and anyone who needs to use specific washing powder for allergy reasons (or because you like the smell of ‘home washing’!) can use this as well.
If you do not name your clothes, they are likely to get lost or mixed up with someone else’s laundry and it can become difficult to identify whose washing is whose. If you buy new clothes during term, then borrow a Sharpie from Matron’s office and label them with it. It will save Matron a lot of time trying to sort through unclaimed, unlabelled washing. Bedding and towels can be washed centrally each week if you wish. This washing is collected on Monday morning and is brought back to House on Thursday. Each House has a laundry cupboard where spare bedding is stored.
Hygiene
This is really important, especially living as communally as we do. Please make time to shower every day. Get yourself into a good routine. Use shower gel and deodorant. It is equally important that you wash your clothes regularly, as it is pointless washing your body and then putting dirty clothes back on.
It is a good idea to organise your clothes in your room. A small ‘pop-up’ laundry basket is a really good idea. If you put dirty laundry into one of these, it is less likely to get muddled up with clean clothes. If you put your clothes away (instead of using your floor as a ‘floordrobe’), you will be able to separate clean from dirty clothes more easily.
Social spaces
Galley
The Galley is our snug on the first floor which is a smaller space for groups of girls to get together, watch a movie, or chat. It is where we store most of our arts and crafts and, with two big tables and a big window, is the place to go if you fancy getting a bit creative!
Library
This is a quiet workspace where you can go to get some work done away from your room. It is packed full of lovely books and anyone is welcome to use it.
Dining Room
The hub of the home! The place where you will gather for your three main meals, break time and the supper trolley. We all like to use this space to catch up over a hot chocolate or play a board game or two. It is also where L5 do their prep.
Drawing Room
This is our super cosy and welcoming ‘common room for all’ where everyone is welcome to hang-out and share stories of their day and where house meetings and ‘tea and chat’ with particular year groups are held.
Oxley Sports Centre
All girls are automatically members of the Oxley Sports Centre. Many make use of its wellequipped gym. In order to use this, you need to go to the front desk and register. The staff will organise an induction session with one of the Personal Trainers, following which you are free to use the facilities. If you are under 16, you may sign up for the Junior Gym activity that happens several days each week from 5.00pm to 6.00pm. If you are 16 or over, then you are able to use the gym whenever it is convenient, but you must check with the House staff first.
School Shop
The School Shop is open 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday during term time (closed at 12.30 – 1.00pm for lunch).
Girls can visit the shop during break, lunch and after school but not during lesson time. Parents and staff can visit during the shop’s opening hours, all day. You will find school uniform in the shop, along with a range of stationery items, as well as toiletries and tuck. Your access card doubles as a shop card and is needed when you pop in to make purchases. Parents will have authorised a termly allowance for you which enables purchases to be made without using cash or debit cards. However, cash and debit cards are also accepted. You can also order items to be delivered to the House.
Uniform items to the value of £30 may be purchased when replacements are required. The shop staff will require parental permission for any item you wish to purchase above this amount. This can be shown as a text message, completion of a uniform chit signed by House Matron, or an email from parents to schoolshop@sherbornegirls.group. Parents can also order uniform direct via phone, email or website.
Uniform expectations/dress
All girls are required to uphold the uniform expectations as listed in the School Dress Code at all times during the school day, including time spent moving between lessons. When in academic lessons, Sixth Form pupils should wear their jackets at all times unless permission to remove them is requested and granted. Any pupils who have been given permission to visit Sherborne during lesson times should be in school uniform. School trips will require either full uniform (or suits for Sixth Form), or smart casual.
Appearance during lesson times (8.30am – 5.00pm)
You must look clean, neat and tidy at all times. Hair should be neatly tied back if it is below the shoulders and jewellery should be limited to one pair of stud earrings. Piercings halfway up the ears are not allowed, nor are nose piercings. Bracelets are not allowed and just one simple necklace is permitted.
L5 – U5 must wear their uniform (kilt/trousers, blouse, jumper, black tights, black shoes) for all lessons. If you have PE or games, for example, during Period 3, then you are allowed to wear sports kit during Periods 1 and 2. You must, however, get changed into uniform at break time. In the same way, if you have games after break, then you must wear uniform until break and then get changed into sports kit. You only need to wear your blazer on formal occasions, such as Abbey Services or when showing visitors around School. You do not need to wear uniform for School Services on Sundays – jeans are fine for these.
L6 wear a School suit. You can wear your own collared shirt and jumper but this must not have a logo on the front, nor can it be hooded and it must fit neatly under your jacket. Alternatively you can wear a School shirt. You need to look smart and businesslike.
Labelling
Everything brought to School must be clearly marked with name tapes, with at least the pupil’s surname in full followed by House initials.
Appearance out of School hours
Outside of the school day (i.e. after timetabled lessons, or during evenings and weekends), pupils may wear casual clothes on the School site but they are still expected to look tidy and presentable. Casual clothes may be worn at the weekends from midday on Saturdays (if not involved in sport) and Sundays (except for official School activities such as Tour Mornings and Abbey Services). Casual clothes may sometimes be worn on trips out of School (e.g. to the theatre). Pupils should dress appropriately for the destination of the trip and respect the instructions given by the supervising staff.
Sherborne Girls terminology
Year-groups
U4 – Year 8
L5 – Year 9
M5 – Year 10
U5 – Year 11
L6 – Year 12
U6 – Year 13
The Houses and their colours
Aldhelmsted West – Purple
Dun Holme – Light Blue
Kenelm – Red
Mulliner – Black
Reader Harris – Green
Wingfield Digby – Yellow
General
Ark – the Ark is a quiet space where the Chaplain is based. It is in the main School building and all pupils may use it as a space for quiet reflection
BLT – Beddington Lecture Theatre, a room in the Beddington Building
Cubie – Cubicle (bedroom)
Drawing Room – as well as the room itself, meetings that take place there are called ‘Drawing Rooms’
Exeat – when School closes for the weekend (usually from Friday lunchtime to Sunday evening)
Family dining – when year groups are mixed up to sit together for lunch
Granny Patch – The housing area opposite the pitches
Gransden Hall – The main hall inside The Merritt Centre
Hanford – Hanford Preparatory Girls’ School
Main School – The Main School building, containing the School Hall
The Merritt Centre – The Music School and the Wirth Gallery
Morrisons – A shop in the BP Garage
Oxley – The Oxley Sports Centre and Coffee Pod Café
Pantry/Supper Trolley – snacks after prep
Prep – Homework (also the name given to study periods during the School day)
Prayers – Services that take place in the School Hall or Gransden Hall before school on certain days
Queenie’s – The café in The Merritt Centre
Socials – Saturday night social events
SPS – Sherborne Prep School
SB – Sherborne Boys
SSG – Sherborne Schools Group
Packing list
Please make sure all belongings are clearly and robustly named.
• School uniform and games kit, all details are listed online*
• One duvet
• Two duvet covers (sheets, pillows and pillowcases can be provided but please bring your own if you prefer). Where possible, please do not bring any plain white bedding as this can get mixed up easily, even if named.
• Two bath towels (with loops sewn in for hanging them up)
• Wash bag with toiletries (including brush, toothbrush and Nitty Gritty nit comb)
• Dressing gown/onesie
• Pair of slippers
• Trunk/suitcase
• Small rucksack for day trips/outings
• Laundry bag/box for storing dirty laundry, the pop-up kind works well
• Small mesh laundry bag (named, for smaller laundry items)
• Tuckbox (lockable and named) not to exceed 55cm x 40cm x 35cm
• Pair of wellingtons or walking boots
• Waterproof coat
• Music case for girls who have additional Music lessons
• Casual clothes and shoes (all named please)
• Nightwear
• Underwear
• Swimming costume and goggles
• Coat hangers
• Hairdryer
• Batteries
• Toothbrush charger and adaptor (if required)
• Bits and bobs to decorate dorm: e.g. photos, posters, cushions, teddies, bunting, fairy lights (battery-operated only)
• A pencil case containing protractor, pair of compasses, green biro, purple brio, pencil, pen, easer, sharpener, glue stick, highlighter pens and 30cm clear ruler
• Alarm clock
• One set of slightly smarter home clothes suitable to wear for an evening with Dr Sullivan in White Lodge (skirt, dress, trousers and top)
Safety
Personal
Our school site is monitored by security guards. However, we have a responsibility to look after each other and ensure we are all safe. If you see a stranger (without a lanyard or not accompanied by a staff member) on site, alert a member of staff immediately. Do not leave the school grounds without letting a member of your House team know where you are going and who with. Sherborne is a small and safe town but it’s important to stay alert and follow our rules regarding out of bounds areas and visiting the town or the Boys’ School. Look out for your friends and always tell a member of staff if you are worried about anyone for any reason.
Physical
You must be aware of your physical safety around the School. Be mindful of car traffic on and around the site, avoid trips and spills by being alert, and notify a member of staff if you see a hazard on the grounds (this could be debris, loose tiles, broken tree branches etc). It is everyone’s
responsibility to help avoid accidents so be aware of your surroundings and any physical dangers which may arise.
Fire
It is very important that you all know where the fire exits are in House. Please walk around and work out where your nearest escape routes are, so you can get out in the event of a fire. If the alarm sounds you must make your way as quickly and quietly as possible out of the House. We will ensure you receive a full fire safety briefing and also execute regular fire and safety drills during your time at school.
Faults
If you notice a fault in the House, e.g. a dripping tap or broken lightbulb, please let Matron or House staff know and they will arrange for items to be fixed.
Driving lessons
You may choose to take driving lessons in your Lower Sixth year. Please remember that your academic studies take priority and you are not allowed to miss school commitments for driving lessons. Driving lessons can be arranged during study periods, after school or during free time at the weekend.
The sourcing and arranging of driving lessons is a private arrangement between parents/guardians and the driving school. We recommend that parents ask driving schools about appropriate checks for their drivers, such as a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.
Once driving lessons have been arranged, please email readerharris@sherbornegirls.group to provide: the name of the instructor, the name of the company and the instructor’s contact details and your parents’ permission. Matron keeps a record with the time and date of all driving lessons so that you can be signed out correctly. If your lesson time changes, please let matron know.
Pupils are not permitted to bring, or drive, their cars onto school site, or to drive themselves, or others, to and/or from school.
Key contacts
Head, Dr Ruth Sullivan: head@sherbornegirls.group
Head’s EA, Jane Raven: jane.raven@sherbornegirls.group 01935 818 203
Designated Safeguarding Lead, Leonie Cole: leonie.cole@sherbornegirls.group
Senior Deputy, Jessica Briggs: seniordeputy@sherbornegirls.group
Deputy Head Academic, Dr Rebecca Stone: deputyacademic@sherbornegirls.group
Health Centre: health@sherbornegirls.group
School Shop: schoolshop@sherbornegirls.group
Caretaker (24 hours): 07881 580279
IT Support: 07766 016150 (Sat 12.30-9.00pm, Sun 09.00am-6.00pm. If you need IT support, please speak with matron or a member of house staff in the first instance).
SHERBORNE GIRLS - READER HARRIS
Sherborne Girls
Bradford Road
Sherborne
Dorset DT9 3QN
United Kingdom
office@sherbornegirls.group
+44 (0)1935 812245
sherbornegirls.group
Sherborne Schools Group is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales, No. 4002575 and registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, No. 1081228
House contact details: Mrs Cracknell
fiona.cracknell@sherbornegirls.group 01935 818244 | 07808 775581
readerharris@sherbornegirls.group