A UNIQUE BLEND OF OPPORTUNITY + BELONGING
Sixth Form - Information Booklet
Welcome to the Sixth Form
The vision for the Sixth Form is to develop every pupil’s character, fulfil every pupil’s potential and guide each pupil to their own path. The Sixth Form is an extremely formative period, which is why, at Sherborne Girls, we aim to maximise everyone’s achievements in a caring and supportive environment.
The Sixth Form prepares pupils for life, and the decisions at this stage are made in consultation with teachers, who are experts in their fields, and with parents. Pupils have autonomy in their subject choices and co-curricular activities, but at all times are fully supported and advised by dedicated staff. The Sixth Form Team fosters ambition, leadership, independence and fun. We are globally minded and provide pupils with the qualifications, skills and character traits to succeed in an ever more competitive and challenging world.
We were delighted to launch the Sixth Form Baccalaureate (SFB) to L6 in September 2024. The SFB is a bespoke internal programme that provides an opportunity for pupils to record every achievement beyond the core curriculum. Pupils complete a digital Record of Achievement and regularly reflect on their experiences, and this enables them to take ownership of and pride in their holistic progression.
The SFB is delivered through year group meetings, tutorials, group tutor time and dropdown mornings and is assessed at the end of the U6 Michaelmas Term. We are proud to offer such an all-encompassing programme that consolidates the entire range of educational opportunities at Sherborne Girls.
We offer an extensive range of academic subjects including some lessons taught across Sherborne Girls and Sherborne Boys to increase the choice of courses available. We also provide a wealth of academic enrichment activities and societies as part of our cocurricular programme, many of which are offered jointly with Sherborne Boys and The Gryphon School. We continue to review and expand the joint opportunities with Sherborne Boys and actively encourage pupil-led initiatives.
In the Sixth Form, the transition to more independent work and study is managed with care and attention. Each pupil has the opportunity to start an Extended Project Qualification, the physical manifestation of the skills they have learned and fantastic preparation for their first-year university work, as well as many other qualifications that bridge the gap between school and life beyond school.
There are weekly Year Group Meetings at which many of the L6 relish the opportunity to present their own ideas
Mr David Banks Director of Sixth Form
– with topics ranging from an explanation of Schrödinger’s Cat to the influence of the Roman poet Ovid on later English literature. The U6 attend a weekly Pathways lesson, which supports their UCAS, apprenticeship and job applications as well as keeping them informed on wider issues, such as the gender pay gap. Sherborne Girls continues to send pupils to some of the world’s most prestigious universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, Exeter, Bristol, University College London, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Durham as well as overseas universities. In addition, many pupils come to us to make post-A Level applications and seek guidance years after they have received their A Level results.
Our pupils are a diverse group and apply for a wide range of degrees such as Art History, Classics, Linguistics, Mathematics, Medicine and Psychology. Central St Martins is a popular successful destination for Art and Design courses. We take great pride in the consistent success of our Sixth Form pupils who perform well at university having developed a range of essential life-skills at Sherborne Girls.
Year groups in the Sixth Form are larger than lower down the School, which enables us to welcome approximately 20 new pupils into the L6 each year. Both the new and current pupils are excited by the challenging and engaging opportunities afforded to them, consolidated within the SFB.
The L6 pupils are in mixed-age Houses to ensure they can experience camaraderie with the younger years, supervising their prep, saying ‘goodnights’, directing and acting in House Drama, and organising Sports Day. Our U6 pupils enjoy the privilege of being in Mulliner, an U6 only House. We see our Sixth Form pupils as leaders who represent the School’s Core Values.
This year, we are proud to share that The Week has named us Best of the Best for Sixth Form. We are especially delighted to be recognised for our leadership programme, academic enrichment, and community engagement—hallmarks of a Sherborne Girls education that ensure our pupils leave not only with outstanding results, but also with a confident voice and a genuine drive to make a difference.
Sixth Form Admissions Process
Registrations to join the Sixth Form should be received by mid October of Year 11. Candidates will then be invited to join us for assessment at Sherborne Girls in November. Although we recommend attending in person, online assessment and interview can be arranged for candidates applying from abroad.
Our general entry assessment process involves a CAT4 online cognitive test, two interviews and a supportive reference from the girl’s current school. Sherborne Girls also invites talented and enthusiastic girls to apply for up to two of our Sixth Form scholarships (Sport, Music or Academic).
Please note that owing to the levels of commitment required of successful candidates, girls are not able to apply for both a Music and a Sports Scholarship. Place decisions are announced on 1 December, with place offers to be accepted a week later by payment of a non- refundable deposit and a signed parent contract. After this date, unaccepted offers will be released to those on the waiting list.
Applications after the November Assessment Day are subject to places being available. We understand you may be considering Sixth Form options if your daughter is currently in Year 10, and welcome you to visit us at any stage by booking onto one of our Tour Mornings or an individual visit.
For further information about the admissions process, please contact admissions@ sherbornegirls.group or call the Admissions Team on 01935 818224
Year 11 Timeline for Sixth Form Admissions Process
SEPTEMBER
Sixth Form Tour Afternoon
OCTOBER
Registration deadline
NOVEMBER
Sixth Form Assessments and Scholarships
1 DECEMBER
Place decisions (offers to be accepted within 7 days)
FEBRUARY
Subject choices confirmed
APRIL
House Allocations confirmed
JUNE
Post-GCSE programme
AUGUST
GCSE results (forward to Sherborne for verification)
Co-Curricular
Sport, Health and Fitness
Our Vision
At Sherborne Girls, sport is more than just competition—it’s a journey of maximising participation, performance, and partnerships through a female-focused approach. Our mission is to inspire lifelong engagement in physical activity while empowering every girl to strive for excellence, regardless of her aspirations or ability.
Whether aiming for elite-level performance or seeking a fun and active outlet, our students are encouraged to explore movement in ways that promote enjoyment, fitness, and personal growth. We foster a vibrant and supportive sporting environment that prioritises teamwork, collaboration, and the strong partnership we share within the Sherborne Schools Group.
By empowering girls through sport, we equip them with the leadership skills, teamwork, and resilience needed to break barriers and make a lasting impact. Our students don’t just develop athletic ability—they grow into confident, well-rounded individuals, ready to lead, inspire, and shape the world.
Provision
Sherborne Girls has an excellent tradition of sport, with full fixture lists and regular tours both at home and abroad. Sport plays a large role in school life, with staff who are dedicated to the girls’ achievements and girls who are both enthusiastic and highly knowledgeable. The School has the benefit of excellent sporting facilities onsite, in addition to sharing Sherborne Boys facilities too.
Our pupils have many opportunities to engage themselves in a wide range of sports, ranging from performance to participation level, including both individual and team activities. Spread over three terms, our major sports are: Hockey, Netball, Lacrosse, Cross Country, Football, Badminton, Tennis, Cricket, Athletics and Swimming. Girls will have the chance to compete in school teams across these disciplines, and we endeavour to cater for girls at all ability levels in these areas.
Sherborne Girls also offers a range of sports outside of this as part of the co-curricular programme, including: dance, trampolining, volleyball, basketball, indoor hockey and spinning. We are very proud of our strength and conditioning programme, where all girls are able to access through the PE programme, in addition to the Junior and Senior Gym opportunities MondaySaturday, where specialist input from two staff is given. This enables girls to also access rehabilitation and injury prevention as part of their athletic development, where bespoke training programmes are provided to support their needs.
All Sherborne Girls are enrolled as members of the Oxley Sports Centre, which alongside the Gym opportunities, they are able to access swimming and other fitness classes such as circuits, yoga and zumba. As the girls progress through the school into their Senior years, they access more options for the ways in which they can engage in Sport and from Sixth Form age, they will have up to 14 choices available to them in the Games programme.
We are confident that there is something for everyone and we are passionate about ensuring that each girl is catered for and is able to find a love of movement, whatever this looks like. By exposing the girls to such a variety of sporting experiences, we foster habits which stay with the girls post school, encouraging a lifelong love of physical activity.
As you can see, there is something for everyone and we encourage all pupils to maintain a healthy level of physical activity while at Sherborne Girls. By involving them in a variety of sports and physical activities throughout their time at School, we establish habits that stay with the girls for life. We are passionate about ensuring each girl develops her sporting talent to the fullest and leaves us with a love of sport and movement.
Mrs Dart Deputy Head, Co-curricular and Operations
‘Inspiring lifelong participation, encouraging performance and developing partnerships in sport within the Sherborne Schools Group and beyond’
Co-Curricular
Creative and Performing Arts
Even if pupils do not study Drama at A Level, there are plenty of opportunities at Sherborne Girls to get on stage and perform or help behind the scenes.
Our thriving Drama Department puts on productions throughout the year, with a major joint production at the end of the Michaelmas Term with Sherborne Boys. The L6 can enjoy the opportunity of the joint L6 play at the end of Trinity term which is often a small-scale outdoor production or similar. Girls also have the chance to write or direct their own plays, attend drama lectures and screenings or run workshops for younger years.
House plays are very important too, and as a Sixth Form pupil, they will have the opportunity to produce, act, or work backstage for both their House or School productions, at both Sherborne Girls and Sherborne Boys.
There are plenty of volunteering opportunities as part of the Drama department including running workshops with local primary school children, running lunchtime activities with younger students in the School and helping with the West production backstage. These offer great opportunities to build leadership skills and links across the community. You can also do a Drama based artefact EPQ where you might choose to write a monologue, design and make a costume or stage your own production - a great way to build a portfolio of work for the future.
Speech and Drama
Speech and Drama supports life skills, bringing with it confidence, self-expression, and an ability to empathise with a wide variety of personality types. In addition, the higher medal grades of Trinity Guildhall carry UCAS points for some Higher Education courses.
It ties in with Drama as a curriculum subject since, in the process of working on a variety of scripted pieces, we discuss issues such as theatrical style, specific playwrights, theatre practitioners, and periods in theatrical history. Above all, Speech and Drama is fun! Lessons for juniors are in groups and as girls progress they have the opportunity to work in pairs or solo.
Dance
Dance is a growing and popular creative pursuit at Sherborne Girls. The annual House Dance competition showcases a breadth of talent and L6 girls take the lead in choreographing and teaching their House. Girls can also sign up to dance lessons: either Ballet (which is taught both in Yeovil and on site) Contemporary/Jazz or Street Dance. These weekly lessons are a chance to let off steam, learn a variety of routines and numbers and prepare for annual showcases of their work. Girls interested in dance can also help choreograph routines for school shows.
Mrs Scott katy.scott@sherbornegirls.group
The Music never stops
Music is in the lifeblood of Sherborne Girls. There are so many chances for girls to immerse themselves in music: whatever their level, they will find challenges, rewards and expert teaching.
From Senior Choir to chamber music, String Orchestra to Big Band, there are opportunities to make music every day. We have many joint activities with the boys of Sherborne Boys, including Symphony Orchestra and Choral Society. If singing is what matters most, the renowned Madrigal Society is the perfect ensemble. There are regular performance opportunities, both in School and beyond, as well as overseas tours every two years.
Co-Curricular opportunities
There are many opportunities for pupils to stretch themselves in ways that are fun and enriching outside lessons. The list below is representative of the range of activities that take place each year, but there are plenty of options for Sixth Formers to form new societies, with as much support from staff as they need.
Academic Enrichment
Where curiosity thrives, critical thinking blossoms and intellectual boundaries are stretched.
Advanced Maths Challenge
Advanced Life Sciences
Astronomy
Beginners’ Classical Greek
Cecil Society
Chemistry Olympiad
English Speaking Board
History of Art Club
Japanese Language and Culture Club
Joint Thinkers
Philosophy Society
Politics and International Relations Club
Senior History Society
The Cambridge Chemistry Challenge UK Linguistics Olympiad
Personal Skills and Development
Where self-discovery grows, collaboration prospers and life skills are honed.
Ceramics Club
Creative Writing Club
Diverse Voices
Leiths Cookery
Model United Nations (MUN)
Self Defence
Community, Environment and Outreach
Where care, kindness and compassion foster a culture of generosity, empathy and benevolence.
Charitable Fund-raising
EDCLUB
KSAR Charity Group
Nature Club
Supporters & Listeners
Volunteering
Residential care home visitors
Youth Club helpers
Primary School Debating Workshops
STEM Ambassadors
Youth Ambassadors
Patient Participation Group
Language Volunteers
Adventure and Leadership
Where risk-taking builds courage, courage builds inner confidence and then determination and resilience ensue.
Adventurous activities
Archery
Climbing
Cycling
Kayaking
Parachuting
Riding
Sailing
Shooting
Skiing
Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Expeditions
Brecon Beacons
Dartmoor
Kenya
Scottish Highlands
Snowdonia
Combined Cadet Force (CCF)
Ten Tors
Warriors Programme
Some highlights:
Joint Thinkers
Joint Thinkers is a dynamic, academically enriching society that meets fortnightly with pupils from the Gryphon Academy. Working in subject based groups, they prepare presentations, complete Oxbridge entrance exams, and listen to a series of short lectures about applying for the most competitive university courses. All L6 students are welcome; we expect the most able to attend.
Chemistry Olympiad
The Chemistry Olympiad is a highly regarded national competition aimed at U6 Chemistry students. The Chemistry Olympiad consists of a two-hour examination that tests topics that are beyond the demands of the A Level specification. If a student successfully progresses beyond Round 1 by achieving a high enough score in the test, they will be invited to the regional and national stages of this competition. Students will be required to attend additional support and coaching lessons to enhance their Chemistry knowledge and understanding. This is a wonderful opportunity to explore and study chemistry to a level beyond the confines of A Level specifications. This is a definite ‘must’ for any Chemistry pupil wishing to apply for a Science-based undergraduate course.
Diverse Voices
It is extremely important to us here at Sherborne Girls that every pupil has regular opportunities for their voice to be heard; whether that is to express their views about issues important to them or to contribute ideas about what the School offers and how it is run. This is especially important in the Sixth Form, when pupils can be positive influences on and role models for the younger girls.
U6 prefects regularly visit the Boarding Houses to gather views and feedback on a wide range of topics, which they then discuss with the Head and Deputy Heads. They then communicate outcomes and decisions at whole school assemblies. Moreover, groups of Sixth Form pupils regularly meet with their counterparts from Sherborne Boys at the Joint Schools Pupil Pastoral Forum, to discuss issues and topics important to them, in a way that enables them to explore different perspectives and views. We also want to ensure that our pupils are fully aware of the diversity that exists in our community, and there are regular opportunities, through our Diverse Voices group, for them to review and consider how to make Sherborne Girls as inclusive and welcoming as possible.
Advanced Life Sciences
Advanced Life Sciences is an opportunity for any senior pupils interested in biological or medical issues to meet and discuss current topics of interest. Activities include discussion, research, presentations, sharing knowledge and experiences, preparing for interviews, watching documentaries and discussing ethical issues. The group is always open to new ideas and there is a potential to get involved in leadership and organisation.
Senior History Society
Senior History Society runs several events during the term that help enrich pupils’ understanding of this field. Activities include outside speakers, trips to local historical sites, cinema trips, local lectures, and joint meetings with Sherborne Boys.
Plays and Musicals
Everyone is welcome to audition for the School productions - they don’t have to be studying Drama. There’s always a mix of musicals, classic and contemporary plays, with both large and small casts. It’s a great way to do something fun and creative in the evenings and make friends across the year groups and at Sherborne Boys. There is also House Drama, House Dance and House Singing across the year to be involved with.
Who can I talk to about activities?
More information about the co-curricular opportunities available in the Sixth Form can be found in our guide ‘Beyond the Classroom’.
Mrs Dart deputyoperations@sherbornegirls.group
Co-Curricular
Adventure & Leadership
Adventure & Leadership is integral to the development of pupils at Sherborne Girls. Alongside our excellent academic provision, all Sixth Form girls are encouraged to develop attributes that enable them to become effective decisionmakers and responsible leaders.
Adventure
The ethos behind all of our adventures is to promote a healthy respect for, and enjoyment of, the outdoors, alongside equipping girls to be confident in dealing with real and challenging situations. This engenders adaptability, courage and resourcefulness. The foundation of all trips is an invaluable shared experience in which strong bonds are developed. Girls gain a huge amount of independence and quickly learn how to remain positive in adverse circumstances. All of these skills are transferable, and the experiences give them real perspective when it comes to the pressures of School life and beyond. Furthermore, all of these attributes are critical to human flourishing and the development of good character.
Combined Cadet Force (CCF)
Girls in the Sixth Form, with previous experience of the cadets, have the option of joining the Sherborne Boys CCF where they will be expected to take a leading role in instructing junior cadets as part of the joint CCF cadre. They will deliver a military syllabus alongside their contemporaries at Sherborne Boys with the support of committed staff, many of whom have previous military experience. They can look forward to instructing in activities such as navigation, field craft, drill, weapons training, first aid, military history and seamanship, or representing the School in military competitions such as the Rifles Cup (Army) or Pringle Trophy (RM).
Other CCF highlights include field trips that provide memorable experiences including sleeping under ponchos, cooking rations, putting fieldcraft skills into practice, and sailing aboard Royal Navy vessels. The girls can also look forward to an annual black-tie dinner and opportunities to lead the junior cadets in high profile events in the community such as the Sherborne Remembrance Parade or Biennial Review.
Adventurous Activities
We have our own fantastic climbing wall, coupled with a bouldering facility. As one of the many physical activities on offer, the girls can take up climbing as a competitive sport or as part of a wider
and more social climbing club. Sailing is a regular weekly activity: we have four dinghies on nearby Sutton Bingham reservoir suitable for beginners.
For more advanced sailors, we team up with Sherborne Boys to race against other schools in the Southwest.
Our 25m pool is ideal for teaching the basics of paddling and we have eight canoes in which girls can learn the basic skills. This is often a stepping-stone for pupils who go on to take up the challenge of kayaking in open water. For those who prefer dry land, cycling is an increasingly popular activity and girls can develop their stamina in our spin zone before progressing to the outdoors on one of our touring bikes. Girls in the CCF also have the opportunity to take part in adventure training abroad in countries such as Norway.
DofE Gold Award & L6 Expeditions
All girls have the opportunity to enrol in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award when they start in L6. There will be interviews as part of this process and spaces on certain expeditions are limited.
The award at Gold level has five sections: volunteering, physical, skills, residential and the expeditions. Some of these sections recognise activities in which many are already involved, while others encourage them to take up something new. The award requires weekly commitment to many of the above sections for a period of up to 18 months, and all girls are required to undertake a training programme during which they prepare for and complete their expeditions.
Expedition options are varied and exciting, with walking, cycling and canoeing on offer. Girls travel to various parts of the UK and further afield in conjunction with the award. Recent final expeditions include conquering The Great Glen in Canadian canoes, and a superb mountaineering expedition to Snowdonia. We do not limit all of our trips to DofE girls, and offer some of the more exciting trips as a one-off experience, enabling as many girls as possible to gain the benefits of these adventures.
Leadership
Alongside a clear thirst for adventure, Sixth Form girls are encouraged to take on many leading roles at School. When girls enter L6, they are the eldest in their Houses and are expected to set an example and encouraged to take on the responsibilities of a House Prefect. As they
The Friday Series
Sherborne Girls is committed to offering a rich and stimulating education to all of our pupils. At the centre of this is the Friday Lecture Programme: a schedule that has the ambition of presenting our pupils with extraordinary people who will challenge, inspire and motivate.
A good speaker is worth so much more than the hour they spend with the girls. The value they bring transcends the lecture theatre and demands that those in the audience look beyond themselves to fresh possibilities and other worlds. Recent speakers have fulfilled this ambition admirably. Major Jules Ward, Hannah Beecham MBE, Syria Croud and Paul Robbens have all given our pupils the clear message: “You too can achieve whatever you set your mind to.”
We frequently invite speakers, very often eminent women, who have professional lives in areas of interest to the girls, as well as areas in which they have less experience.
enter their final year, the opportunities to become a full School Prefect and even Head of School are open to all.
Leadership attributes are promoted within academic and co-curricular groups, with examples including the opportunity to train as a ‘Supporter and Listener’ or to take a leading role in organising clubs and societies. Some girls apply for specialist roles like Head of CCF, Head of Choir, Sports Captains or Subject Ambassadors.
Not everyone aspires to high-profile leadership roles within the School, but the development of character traits such as intellectual enquiry, self-motivation and effective communication are critical to building the self-confidence and independence required for pupils to flourish beyond school and in in society at large. Many Sixth Form pupils engage with the local community representing the School as youth advisors on the Sherborne Town Council or in local surgeries through the Patient Participation Groups. There are a wealth of opportunities to assist with outreach projects in primary schools, care homes and support groups in the town which provide invaluable opportunities for girls to widen their awareness of the value of serving others and the need for responsible citizenship.
Whatever their ambitions, Sherborne Girls aims to develop young women of character and promote leadership qualities that will stay with them for life.
Mrs Armstrong adventure@sherbornegirls.group
The Library
The Library is a fantastic environment in which to study at Sixth Form level. The space is split into two key areas: a large, traditional Library that offers the opportunity for focused, quiet study as well as a second space in which pupils can relax with the daily newspapers, magazines and subject-specific journals, and work on group projects. The Library holds an excellent collection of academic material in every subject – essential texts as well as secondary and tertiary sources. We have subscriptions to online resources such as The Economist online and JSTOR. The Librarian and Assistant Librarian can offer personalised help with finding high-quality, reliable information for A Level work, as well as study skills and referencing advice. The book collection also includes a great selection of fresh and prize- winning fiction. Staff are always available to recommend top reads. We also stock DVDs, both to support pupils’ academic work and just for entertainment and fun. Wi-Fi, PCs, colour printing and photocopying are all available throughout the day and evening and the Library catalogue can be accessed remotely from any computer in school, and from home 24/7 during holiday time.
Boarding life
In L6, pupils are in one of our five mixed-age Boarding Houses, where they will be one of the most senior girls. In U6, they transfer to Mulliner House, an U6-only house that accommodates the entire year group. There are so many advantages to this: the sense of purpose that Mulliner engenders in all pupils, as well as greater freedom and a heightened sense of independence.
“Mulliner stands for independence and personal responsibility. You get to know the whole year group better than before. It prepares you for university by promoting a mature approach to school life and study.”
New to Sherborne Girls?
“Everyone here is really friendly and open and the Houses make you feel at home.”
If pupils are new to Sherborne Girls or considering coming here for their Sixth Form study, don’t worry, they won’t be alone! Each year we welcome around 25 new girls to L6. Out of a year group of around 100, that is quite a high proportion, so they will by no means be the only newcomer. We invite them to spend some time with us in late June when GCSEs are complete: our post-exams activity programme provides an excellent opportunity to meet their new classmates well in advance of the Michaelmas Term. That way, when September comes, they will already have established strong friendships.
Social life
Our relationship with our brother school is very important to us. We work very closely with Sherborne Boys, through some joint teaching in the Sixth Form, through a wide range of co-curricular activities and, of course, our joint weekend programme.
Pupils will never be bored at the weekend. The vast majority of Sixth Form Saturday socials are held jointly with Sherborne Boys. Girls in the Lower Sixth will socialise on a regular basis with each other and their boys’ school counterparts in ‘Queenie’s’, the café in our Merritt Centre. These events will sometimes have a live band or other entertainment such as a magician. There will also be trips to the cinema, formal suppers and open mic. nights. In the Upper Sixth, pupils from both schools gather each week at The Stick, Sherborne Boys social club, or they might decide on a quiet supper with friends in a local restaurant.
Leiths
Leiths Introduction to Confident Cooking
This course gives pupils one of the most important life skills anyone can have. Not only does it teach them how to cook good, healthy food, but it also gives a step up on the employment ladder should they wish to put their skills to use cooking for families, working in restaurants, delis or ski chalets, or any other related cooking work during a gap year, holidays or beyond.
Leiths School of Food and Wine is the most prestigious and respected cookery school in the country and enjoys a reputation for producing practical, professional and well-rounded cooks. This course has been specifically designed to teach the basic skills necessary to become a confident, capable and efficient cook. The dishes prepared are interesting, with an increasing degree of skill required, providing a balance between classical methods and modern recipes.
This course runs for a total of five terms over the Sixth Form. Pupils are required to complete a set number of practical sessions (3 hours per week) as well as a piece of menu planning coursework. Preparation for each practical session involves studying the theory of the practical skills being taught as well as producing a time plan. This would normally take around 1½ - 2 hours work outside the classroom each week. The course culminates in an externally assessed practical examination during Lent term of the U6.
The dishes range from family-style meals to those of dinner party standard. Along with all of these wonderful cooking skills, the course teaches neat presentation, efficient kitchen method and correct food hygiene.
Assessment
To gain the Leiths Introduction to Confident Cooking certificate, pupils must pass the practical examination, which is administered and moderated by Leiths. Added to these marks is a system of continual assessment that encompasses food tasting, kitchen method, time plans, tests and one piece of written coursework in the form of a menu-planning exercise. Girls also take the most basic of hygiene examinations: a qualification required for any type of cooking-related employment. The Certificate carries three levels of Pass: Pass, Merit and Distinction.
Course fees are divided into four equal payments and collected over the first four terms of the Sixth Form. Course fees are paid to Leiths in full at the beginning of the first term, which means no refund is possible if your daughter decides to withdraw from the course during any of the five terms. Fees for the September 2025 course are £2,700.
Leiths Course Trainer
Ms Charlotte Archer charlotte.archer@sherbornegirls.group
Courses on offer: A Level or BTEC
Pupils study two different types of qualification in the Sixth Form: BTECs and A Levels. All pupils choose three options for their Sixth Form studies and you can pick either a programme that contains only A Levels, one that just incorporates BTECs, or a combination of both types of course. A Levels offer the ‘traditional’ route into university and, from that respect, are tried and tested. However, as with A Levels, BTECs have been extensively reformed over recent years and are now a very popular and well-respected alternative to A Level study. Where A Levels tend to focus on the academic subject itself, BTECs are much more applied, focusing more on actually doing that subject in a work environment. As such, they emphasise skills, especially those needed for work, or to progress to university: indeed, UCAS highlights that over a third of pupils enrolling on undergraduate courses in September 2021 had studied either BTECs only, or a mixture of BTECs and A Levels in the Sixth Form. Because of this focus on applied knowledge, a number of employers have begun to express keen support for BTECs (e.g. the Army) and their popularity has grown rapidly.
Similar to the EPQ, BTECs can be studied at different ‘levels’. However, we are only offering BTECs at level 3 national extended certificate level because this is exactly equivalent to A Level, both in terms of the time required to complete the course and the ‘value’ of the grade achieved at the end.
Key elements of the A Level and BTEC courses are listed below:
A Level
° Terminally examined – i.e. all of your exams happen at the end of your Upper Sixth
° Graded A* - U
° No re-takes available
° Large syllabus content
° Emphasis on comprehension, and theoretical application of concepts
° Assessment is predominantly through written examination/s, although practical subjects have some internally assessed components
° Accepted by all universities
° 360hrs of teaching per year
BTEC
° Exams available in Lower and Upper Sixth and some units are available both in winter and summer exam seasons
° Graded Pass, Merit or Distinction
° Re-takes available
° Smaller syllabus content
° Emphasis on skills and practical applications of concepts
° Assessment is a mixture of written examination/s, and internally assessed components, including coursework, presentations etc
° Accepted by the majority of universities
° 360hrs of teaching per year.
Example Sixth Form Subjects:
Art and Design
Biology
Business
Chemistry
Classical Civilisation
Computer Science
BTEC Creative Media TV and Film
Design and Technology: Product
Design
Drama and Theatre
Economics
English Literature
BTEC Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
French Geography
German History
History of Art
Latin Mathematics
Further Mathematics
CTEC Media TV and Film Pathway
Music
Music Technology
Physical Education
Physics
Politics & International Relations
Psychology
Religious Studies
Sociology
Spanish
BTEC Sport
Examined Enrichment
Though enrichment is not mandatory, all pupils are strongly encouraged to consider taking either an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) or one of the examined courses below. The option you pick is up to you. Most pupils choose to pick one enrichment course though, where the timetable allows it, you may be able to pick two. You’ll be asked to choose your enrichment option/s alongside your subject choices in February. However, you can change your mind at the start of September.
Options include:
° Core Maths AS
° Beginners Japanese
° Modern Foreign Languages
Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
It is possible to take an EPQ and an examined course, so please don’t worry if you would like to do both. The EPQ project is a fantastic opportunity to research something you are interested in: your EPQ can literally be about anything you like. Doing the EPQ also helps you to develop project management, communication, and analytical and evaluative research skills that are essential for success at university and in most forms of employment.
The EPQ is a stand-alone qualification completed during the Lower Sixth. It is worth more than half an A Level and you’ll finish up with a grade somewhere between A*-E (hopefully the former). The EPQ project itself usually takes the form of a 5000-word essay exploring a question of your choosing, but could also be an experiment, writing a piece of music, or producing some other artefact. That’s exciting because it means you can base your EPQ on any topic you like (as long as it is suitably different from something you’ve been taught in lessons).
Post-18 Prep
In the Upper Sixth, pupils receive lectures covering a range of topics, with a primary focus on preparing pupils for the next stage of their lives. We recognise that the academic demands will intensify significantly, whether pupils are studying A Levels, BTEC qualifications, or a hybrid of both courses.
Post-18 Applications and Support
Pupils will be completing their Post-18 applications during this crucial year and will receive comprehensive support from multiple sources:
° Their Houseparent
° Their Matron
° Their Tutor
° The Sixth Form Team
° All subject teachers
We are committed to ensuring that pupils have absolute clarity about the entry requirements for their chosen Post-18 pathway, and that they receive the appropriate level of support to achieve these requirements.
At this level and age range, it is essential that pupils take ownership of their learning journey. While comprehensive support surrounds them, the work must ultimately be completed by the pupils themselves. They need to be leading themselves towards meeting their entry requirements.
Embracing School Life and Independence
We want our pupils to fully enjoy their final year at school - participating in clubs, societies, music, and sport, while maintaining an active social life. This includes interactions with pupils from Sherborne Boys going to the gym, trips into town, and enjoying coffees with friends.
Our Commitment as a School
We aim to provide our Sixth Form pupils with:
1. Accountability - Ensuring pupils remain on track through regular monitoring and check-ins
2. Self-Regulation Skills - Developing the ability to manage their own learning and progress independently
3. Self-Belief - Fostering confidence in their abilities and potential
4. Peer Support - Encouraging pupils to support one another, creating a collaborative environment where they help their friends and peers make good choices and hold themselves accountable to deliver on those choices
5. Independence and Future-Facing SkillsHelping pupils develop the independence and skills they need to thrive in the world beyond, preparing them for the demands and opportunities of the mid-21st century
This holistic approach ensures that our Sixth Form pupils are not only academically prepared but also equipped with the personal skills, independence, and well-rounded experiences necessary for success in their chosen Post-18 pathways and beyond.
Careers
Education
The aim of Careers Education for the Sixth Form at Sherborne Girls is to broaden the pupils’ horizons and expose them to a wide range of potential careers. As a result, they are well-informed and confident when making important decisions about their future.
Our provision includes a number of exciting events, including: networking evenings with contacts from a wide range of industries, a Careers Fair attended by representatives from universities, gap year.
providers and employers, additional support for pupils applying for Medicine, Veterinary or Dentistry (in the form of practice interviews with experienced professionals and mock ‘minimultiple interviews’), assistance in arranging work experience and subject-related talks and seminars. These events run throughout the year and are underpinned by one-to-one support and advice for every pupil.
Post-18 Pathway Destinations
As well as choosing a range of courses at UK colleges and universities as their Post-18 pathways, many Old Girls also experience exciting gap year opportunities, apprenticeships, degree apprenticeships and higher education courses overseas. Global universities currently attended by Old Girls include the following institutions:
• University of Amsterdam
• Bard College, New York
• Calgary, Canada
• Columbia, New York
• Coppenhagen Business School
• Parsons, Paris
UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS 2025
The University of Edinburgh
Applied Sport Science
International Business
Linguistics and English Language
Philosophy & Theology x 2
Cardiff University
English Literature x 2
Mechanical & Electrical Engineering
Bristol University
Classical Studies
Economics
History & Innovation
International Business
Law and French
Bath University
Aerospace Engineering
Social Studies
Manchester Metropolitan
Fashion Marketing
Fashion Buying
Sports Marketing
Oxford University
English Language & Literature
French
University of Exeter
Art History x 2
Biological Sciences
Business & Management
Criminology
Economics
English
Law
Liberal Arts
Marketing & Management
Philosophy & Sociology
Politics
Sport & Exercise
Medical Science
Newcastle University International Business Marketing & Management x 2 Psychology x 2 Sport & Exercise Science Zoology
Northumbria University Fashion
Durham University Criminology History
University of York Sociology & Criminology Psychology
Roehampton Biological Sciences
Oxford Brookes University Motorsport Engineering Philosophy Biomedical Sciences
Bus School
University of Sussex Computer Science
University of Leeds Fashion Marketing International Relations
University of Nottingham Psychology & Cognitive Neuroscience Veterinary Medicine
University of Cambridge Natural Sciences Land Economy
Royal Holloway Biomedical Science
University of Reading Law International Business & Management
King's College London, University of London General Engineering Law
Guildhall Film & Music Production
Kingston 3D Design & Innovation Civil Engineering
UCL Bioprocessing Civil Engineering Pharmacology
Escape Studios (London) Art of Video Games
Sherborne Girls
Bradford Road
Sherborne Dorset DT9 3QN United Kingdom
admissions@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