A warm welcome to School House. Five years will go by very quickly and soon you will be thinking back on all that you have done during your time with us. Do everything possible to make sure that you have lots of good memories about which you feel proud. Start making them now!
This booklet should answer several questions you have in order to help you settle into House life more comfortably. No doubt there are many more questions that will follow, but hopefully this information will give you a clear idea of the support structure in place to help you. Please feel free to ask when in doubt. There is much to learn about the House and School over the coming weeks. Meanwhile, I wish you the very best of luck with settling into life here at Sherborne. You are the new life-blood of School House and we all look forward to seeing who you want to be and what you want to do.
Above all, be kind to each other so that each one of you will have a happy time at Sherborne.
‘School House is what you are’
Olly
Macdonald
Head of House
Top Tips
• Treat others as you would like to be treated
• Learn the name of the person who cleans your room
• Get involved in lots of things
• Arrive promptly to all your commitments
• Check your emails twice a day
• Go to all School meals
• When playing outside in the bargeyard or in the garden please be considerate to our neighbours
• When using kitchen areas, keep them clean and tidy so that they are ready for others
• Keep your room tidy, do your bedding properly each week and stay on top of your laundry
• Remember to phone home regularly, even just to say ‘hi’
• Please ask the Head of House, Prefects or Dorm Head if you have any questions.
Housemaster
Housemaster
Mr Harris
Mr Harris’ study door is almost always open so please come in for a chat. You will always see him around the House and if you have any problems or concerns then he is one of your first points of contact.
Mr Harris is a member of the Business & Economics Department and teachers Economics, Business and Enterprise. Mr Harris is joined by his wife, Briony who is Senior Deputy Head at Sherborne Prep. They have three sons (Joseph, Stanley and Roddy) and a very soppy labradoodle called Marvel (like the films).
Mr Harris can be contacted via email: Robert.Harris@sherborne.org or call his mobile: 07788 714201 (you should add this to your contacts in your phone).
The House office number is 01935 810411.
House Staff
Matron
Mrs Breddy
After 15 years, there is nothing Mrs Breddy doesn’t know about the House and your well-being. Again, she is an important first point of contact if you need anything.
Mrs Bennett
Both of our Matrons are on a duty timetable. At least one of the Matrons will be here from when you wake up until the lights go out. They leave at 10.00pm and after that time if you need anything, or feel ill when going to bed, then see Mr Harris.
Assistant Matron
Assistant Housemaster
Mr James Crawford
Mr Crawford lives in a flat in the Bell Tower. He will be on duty on Wednesday evenings. He is Head of the Theology Department. He also coaches rugby and cricket. Please do ask him how his golf game is getting on.
Resident Tutor
Mr Adam Hurrell
Mr Hurrell lives in a flat on the top corridor. He will be on duty one night a week and helps with the smooth running of the House. He is a teacher in the Geography Department and Officer Commanding 5th Form CCF. Stuck for conversation? Talk about cars.
Tutors, Domestic Staff and Prefects
Tutors
When you join the School you will be assigned a Personal Tutor who will be there to help and support you. Each Tutor has a duty evening once a week and they come in from 7.00pm until 10.30pm to meet with you on a one to one arrangement.
Domestic Staff
You will learn to appreciate the work of the domestic staff who work hard to keep School House looking immaculate. Not only do they do a superb job of cleaning the House but they are also on hand at House events such as the Christmas supper and the Commem lunch. Remember to respect the work that they do and that they are not there to clean up after you.
Prefects
Upper Sixth Form boys have many years’ experience behind them when it comes to living in School House.
Olly Macdonald (Head of House)
Timmy You (School Prefect)
James Hambly (School Prefect)
James Keeping
Jayden Graham-Douglas
Henry Perry (School Prefect)
Hector Jones
Solomon Macaulay (Deputy Head of School)
Dylan Carr
House Facilities
The main House facilities for new Third Form boys consist of the Dorm, Day Room, downstairs kitchen, TV Room, Games Room, OSR, the Bargeyard, The Courts, the Sixth Form Green, the Junior Common Room and the Surgery.
You will become more familiar with the other areas of the House when you move into the upper year groups. For new Lower Sixth Form boys, you will become familiar with the Sixth Form Common Room which is right by the studies. It is where the senior boys mix and is a great place to socialise.
School Timetable
School periods Monday to Friday (Third Form)
Period 1 8.30 – 9.15am
Period 2 9.20 – 10.05am
Period 3 10.10 – 10.55am
Break 10.55 – 11.25am
Period 4 11.25 – 12.10pm
Period 5 12.15 – 1.00pm
Lunch 1.00 – 1.30pm
Q Time (Period 6) 1.35 – 2.30pm
Period 7 2.35 – 3.20pm (Tues & Fri only)
Period 8 3.25 – 4.10pm (Tues & Fri only)
Period 9 4.15 – 5.00pm (Tues & Fri only)
Games 2.35 – 5.00pm (Mon & Thurs)
Abbey Services
Wednesday 6.30 – 7.00pm Sunday 7.45 – 8.30pm
Saturday
Period 1 8.30 – 9.15am
Period 2 9.20 – 10.05am
Period 3 10.10 – 10.55am
Break 10.55 – 11.25am
Lunch 12.15 – 1.20pm
Games/matches 1.45 – 5.00pm
Assemblies (8.10 – 8.25am)
Monday Whole School Assembly (BSR)
Tuesday Lower School Assembly (Powell Theatre)
Thursday Sixth Form Assembly (Powell Theatre)
Friday Junior Chapel (Chapel)
Meal Times
Breakfast 7.30 – 8.25am
Lunch 1.00 – 1.30pm
Senior Supper 6.00 – 6.25pm
Junior Boys Supper 6.30 – 6.55pm
Your Day
Monday to Friday
7.10am Wake up bell and morning routine check begins
7.15am – 7.45am Breakfast
7.50am House Assembly/Registration in House, dressed and beds made
10.55am – 11.25am Break – snack by Matron’s office
6.00pm – 6.25pm Senior supper
6.30pm – 6.55pm Junior supper
6.55pm Roll Call in the Common Room
7.00pm – 8.45pm Hall
9.15pm Phones in for Third Form
9.30pm Phones in for Fourth Form
9.30pm Third Form up to dormitory and lights out at 10.00pm
9.45pm Phones in for Fifth Form
10.15pm Fourth Form lights out
10.30pm Fifth Form lights out
10.30pm Sixth Form in their studies.
Additional times
Wednesdays: 6.30pm – Abbey Service (Supper from 5.30pm)
Saturdays: 5.30pm – Roll Call and Assembly
Sundays: 10.00am Everyone Up; 11.00am – 12noon Hall
5.30pm Roll Call and Assembly; 7.00pm – 8.00pm Hall
Careers Department 01935 810545
Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England 0800 528 0731
www.childrenscomissioner.gov.uk
Learning Support 01935 810528
Designated Safeguarding Officers
Lead - Mr Sheffield - 01935 810427
Deputies - Mrs Bowerman - 01935 810432
Mrs Hutchings - 01935 810539
Mr McGuire - 07850 653 394
DSL@sherborne.org
Mrs Kershaw - 01935 8 c
Independent perso
SUPPORT, GUIDANCE
are willing to help you. All boys can use these services, but, in some cases, people to check on availability. School Doctors Drs Nickinson, Armitage and Nickinson 01935 872530
House Activities
House Play
House Charity
In town we support Sherborne Food Bank - you can offer to volunteer there for D of E. The House Charity for the year will be decided by the boys when they return. It is important for them to pick something important to them.
Last year we raised money for Cancer Research, something close to many of our hearts.
House Socials and Trips
Most weekends there are social events running for you to take part in. There are year group socials which are run with Sherborne Girls across the year at different venues and locations.
Sherborne Terminology
Many abbreviations and acronyms are used within the School community. You will find the below useful:
• Hall – Homework and prep time. Hall time is between 7.05 – 8.45pm
• Blues – The uniform worn by the Lower School (Third, Fourth and Fifth Form)
• Lists – Whole School presentation of prizes and awards at the end of each term
• Carey’s – The sports fields south of Horsecastles Road
• The Upper – 1st XV Rugby and 1st XI Cricket pitch
• The Lower – 2nd XV Rugby pitch below the Upper
• Upper Astro – Astroturf next to the Upper
• Carrington Building – Geography, Economics and Business Studies
• Hughie Holmes – Astroturf across the road from the Upper and Lower and next to Carey’s
• The Grove – Modern Foreign Languages block and computer rooms (G9 and G11)
• Pilkington Labs – Chemistry and Physics Laboratories
• Turing Block – Biology department
• Health Centre – School medical centre, with full time nurses and visiting doctors
• BSR – Big School Room; function room for whole School assemblies, lectures, lists and musical and drama productions
• OSR – Old School Room; the School’s original school room adjacent to School House
• Courts – The central courtyard of the School containing the English, Classics, Maths and History classrooms as well as the Library and Custos.
• Custos – School Security team based in The Lodge at the main gate to the Courts
• Bow House – Staff Room
• School Shop – You can buy school uniform, sport equipment, stationery, cards and other essential items.
• Abbots Acre – External Relations department and conference room
• Powell Theatre – The majority of School and House plays take place here, also some lectures and year group meetings
• SG – Sherborne Girls
• The Carmen – The School song
• VES – Values, Expectations and Standards: a document that details how we should conduct ourselves
a School House
b Abbey House
c The Green
d Harper House
f Abbeylands
g Lyon House
m The Digby
Frequently Asked Questions
How much homework will I be set in the Third Form?
Usually in the Third Form you will be set one Hall per subject per week. There is a timetable that tells you when Hall should be completed by. It is definitely a good idea to try and complete your Hall on the night they were set in order to avoid getting a backlog of Hall.
Can I bring things from home to make my room feel my own?
Yes — please do. The boarding House is your home, and we'd strongly encourage you to bring along the things that make your space feel comfortable and personal, whether that's posters, photographs or a few favourite belongings from home.
How much money do I need in Third Form?
Generally speaking in Third Form you don’t need that much money at all. You should have a bank account with a debit card attached to it and about £10 will be sufficient as an allowance each week. You shouldn’t have large amounts of money simply in your wallet or in an unsecure place.
When can I phone or message my parents, and how does my phone work in the House?
You'll have your phone for 30 minutes each evening, which gives you a good chance to call or message home. This is the same right through the junior school, from Third to Fifth Form. At weekends you'll have your device for a little longer, within clear, set time frames. Of course, if you ever need to speak to your parents or family outside those times, you'll always be able to — just have a word with a member of the House team. And if your family live in a different time zone, we'll make sure suitable arrangements are in place so that staying in touch is never a problem..
When can I visit friends in other Houses, and at Sherborne Girls?
You can visit friends in other Houses, and over at Sherborne Girls, outside of lesson times — at break, lunch, after School and at weekends. This is something we really encourage and value, and boys from other Houses are just as welcome to come and see you. When you visit, simply sign in and out and make yourself known to the Matron or Housemaster; the same applies when friends come to your House. You'll get to know more of the girls over the course of the year through socials, and you can visit them in their Boarding House Common Room in your free time outside the normal working day. Wherever you go, you're expected to display the highest standard of conduct.
When do I get to go home?
Generally there is an Exeat either side of half term in each of the three School terms, the dates of these are published on the School website. For an Exeat boys are free to go home after their last school commitment on a Friday afternoon and return to the House by 9.00pm on Sunday
night. Boys can also be granted leave to go home on a weekend if they have an important commitment to make or family occasions e.g. birthdays and weddings.
How do I know when my team practices, fixtures and other commitments are?
Everything appears on your School 'Socs' calendar, which you'll have access to in your first week. It brings your whole timetable together in one place — lessons, team practices, fixtures and all your other cocurricular commitments — so you'll always know where you need to be and when.
What is there to do at the weekend?
There's always plenty going on. On Saturday, lessons finish at 11am and the afternoon is given over to a full sporting programme, followed in the evening by a social programme with Sherborne Girls — discos, house swaps and a range of other activities. Sunday is more relaxed: you get a lie-in, and there's usually a trip on offer, whether that's a water park, a sports fixture or somewhere further
afield. The 'Sherborne menu' is available too. You'll also have full access to the Sports Centre, Music and Art, as well as plenty of time to relax and see your friends, either in town or over in another House.
What do I do if I feel homesick, unwell, or I'm finding things hard?
The most important thing to know is that you are never on your own. Our boarding Houses are hugely supportive places, with help on hand 24 hours a day. Whatever you're facing — feeling homesick, feeling unwell, or simply finding something difficult — there is always someone to turn to.
If you're homesick, it's really important not to bottle it up. It's nothing to be embarrassed about and it happens to far more boys than you'd think — and it almost always passes. If you're feeling unwell, go and see Matron, who will give you the care you need or send you on to the Health Centre, where a doctor visits every weekday morning. And if something else is on your mind, however big or small, you can always talk it through.There are
so many people here to look after you and for you to lean on: your Housemaster, Matron, your Tutor, the House Prefects, the staff at the Health Centre and the School Counsellor are all here to support and nurture you.
Whatever it is, please do speak to someone — that is exactly what we are here for.
How do I find out about, and sign up for, clubs, sport, music and drama?
The House staff are there to help you with this and oversee the sign-up process, so you'll always know where to start. There's a huge range on offer — clubs, activities, sport, drama, music and outward-bound opportunities — and you won't be disappointed. The key thing is to get involved and give things a go. Your Tutor is on hand to help you strike the right balance, so that you make the most of everything the School has to offer.
School House
School House
Abbey Road
Sherborne
Dorset DT9 3AR
United Kingdom
+44 (0)1935 810411
sherborneboys.group
PART OF THE SHERBORNE SCHOOLS 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
