Dr Ruth Sullivan Head
I believe that each of our pupils has a unique journey through Sherborne Girls. But they also share a common culture, underpinned by values like compassion, courage, and adaptability. And that is what we are proud of. It is what makes us whole.
Meet one of our girls and you will instantly discern the way our distinctive ethos is embodied. You will encounter someone who is thoughtful, engaged, courteous and generous; someone possessing a rare blend of self-belief and humility, who is ready to thrive in the modern world.
Through this, our girls become inquisitive, aspirational, curious and kind. They are made ready for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, with a clear sense of ambition and the personal qualities to succeed in whatever path they choose to follow.
We are a school in which girls are given roots to grow and wings to fly. I am proud to be head of such a special community. Together, I believe we can continue to build on our distinctive culture, ensuring many more generations of girls grow into empowered learners who will be an influence for good in an exciting, challenging and changing world.
Welcome to Sherborne Girls
We don’t believe in hothousing at Sherborne Girls. But we do believe in giving every girl an opportunity to find her niche. So we provide plentiful, diverse and challenging opportunities across every facet of education, including rigorous academic study, an array of co-curricular activities, sport for everyone, and a shared commitment to pastoral care and personal flourishing.
What is life without learning? At Sherborne Girls, we believe that education forms our habits. It shapes our values and our beliefs, preparing us for the future and steering us through life. That is why we are committed to providing an outstanding education to every girl in our community. From the moment she joins us, your daughter is welcomed into a friendly, compassionate and caring full-boarding environment where her individual strengths, talents and interests are identified, nurtured, and given wings to take flight.
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This is what it means to help our pupils realise their potential. It is what it means to take girls out of their comfort zones and encourage them to try new things. It is what it means to foster a spirit of adventure, leadership and perseverance, to promote personal development in the context of a vibrant community, and to celebrate our achievements, both as individuals and as a school.
We are committed to ensuring every pupil understands the importance of developing leadership qualities and skills, and this will be achieved through a holistic programme of activities and opportunities which will enable them to explore what it means to be an effective leader.
Our strategic direction
Since 1899 Sherborne Girls has had a tradition of being an outward looking, socially responsible and charitably minded school. We will continue to build partnerships, locally, nationally and internationally, for the benefit of the girls, the School, the community, the environment and our position in a global society.
Women of the future
We are privileged to be educating future generations of women. We will equip them with the skills, moral courage, humility and confidence to seize opportunities, make wise choices, be true to themselves and make a positive difference in the life they live.
We are committed to maintaining our leading position among the handful of true single-sex, full-boarding schools in the UK. Full boarding at Sherborne Girls means the girls live, dine and work as valued members of a diverse house community. All boarders stay in each weekend, except for exeats and school holidays, benefiting from the wide range of activities, socials and opportunities.
We have mapped the strategic direction of Sherborne Girls for the next five years. This is expressed in five pillars, signposting areas of focus when it comes to the formation of our community and all those who come here to learn, grow and develop.
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Aspiration and ambition
We believe in a culture of individual aspiration and ambition, closely supported by exceptional practitioners. We will develop the self-confidence and independence that allows girls to hold themselves to the highest standards in all they do. They will learn to seek continually to improve themselves and approach the world around them with a questioning mind.
The five pillars are:
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Community
Women in leadership
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Meet the Housemistress
The girls never fail to amaze me with their energy, creativity, care for each other and loyalty to their houses. Feeling part of the house community is so important in engendering a sense of belonging, of being valued. Wingfield Digby is a warm, supportive and accepting house where our ethos is one of family and home. From my fabulous team of experienced staff to Pickle the dog, we are all here to offer a warm welcome and to support the girls in finding their own way, in feeling valued and in striving to be the best that they can be.
Katy Scott - Wingfield Digby
The majority of girls join at 13 (Year 9) and go into one of the five mixed-age boarding houses, accommodating every year group up to the lower sixth. We believe this creates the ideal conditions for girls to develop habits of leadership, with older pupils, particularly L6 (Year 12) as leaders of the house, taking direct responsibility for the wellbeing of their younger housemates
Full boarding
A smaller number of girls join us aged 11 or 12 (Years 7 & 8) and they live in Aldhelmsted West. This provides a wonderful grounding for life in our mixed-age boarding houses, while ensuring the girls live in a secure and supportive environment that encourages their flourishing during their first years at school.
In the U6 (Year 13), girls move to their own house, Mulliner, where the opportunities for leadership are extended further. They are also given greater independence, helping prepare them for life beyond school by developing their timemanagement skills and encouraging self-reliance and Girlsresilience.developdeep bonds of affection with their housemates. They eat together in house, giving them valuable time each day to interact. There is also an extensive house activities programme, especially at weekends, helping build community and establish connections across year groups.
When you spend so much time away from home, it is important to feel rooted.
At Sherborne Girls, our house system provides a deep sense of belonging. As a result, our pupils have the confidence to be themselves, building lifelong friendships through which they grow, learn and are formed.
The most wonderful part of being a Housemistress at Sherborne Girls is helping each of the girls in my care recognise and celebrate what they have achieved each week. For some it may be huge milestones: the music exam; the academic grade; making the 1st team. For others it might be more personal: making a new friend; completing an assignment; coping with failing a driving test. I encourage the girls to be proud of themselves for the little things. Helping them understand that it doesn’t always go our way: that failure is a real part of life and learning to pick yourself back up and try again is a most valuable life skill.
“The best thing about boarding is that everyone is so friendly and the house feels like a home.”
Isabel, Reader Harris
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Tills agrees, saying: “It’s a busy atmosphere and there’s always something to do. We never get bored, with activities like tree-climbing, tennis, hockey, singing and drama to keep us amused. We even have a house disco.”
“It’s a really friendly environment and we all look out for each other,” explains Bella. “Our houseparents and tutors are really supportive, so we feel well cared for.”
Meet some of our girls in house. They’re a whirlwind of activity, with all the bounce and optimism of girls at an early stage in their educational adventure.
“We love life in house,” Georgina enthuses. “It’s great to live with our friends, and to be alongside older girls. We learn a huge amount from them.”
The girls are all excellent ambassadors for the School, but be warned – every girl will say her house is the ‘best in school!’
Because they come back to the house between lessons and for mealtimes, the girls agree that it feels very much like home.
In the house
The school chaplain’s principal aim is to offer pastoral care to the whole community, regardless of their faith.
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Body, mind and spirit
Each house organises its own programme of activities at weekends, including trips out, parties, and arts and sporting competitions. In addition, girls are encouraged to use their initiative – if there’s an interest they’d like to pursue, we do all we can to help them.
Our proximity to Sherborne School and the well-established collaboration within music, drama and sport, offers the best of both worlds for parents who want the benefits of single-sex education but also wish for a normal social environment for their daughters.
Likewise, our programme of guest speakers and regular discussions about important faith matters ensure girls engage in spirited debate about life’s big questions. And the chaplain is on hand to provide further guidance for those who want to discover more.
We are committed to providing a genuine full-boarding education and during term time, the girls are busy seven days a week. There are lessons Monday to Friday and Saturday morning, along with regular opportunities to become involved in sport, music and drama, and an array of co-curricular activities.
In these ways and more, we hope every girl can grow in understanding and develop her own beliefs. This helps prepare all of our pupils for adulthood, giving them a sense of rootedness and of wonder in an environment that they will carry in their hearts and minds forever.
Our full-boarding ethos
That is why we encourage a culture of openness and rigour when it comes to matters of faith. Our annual confirmation classes are well attended, and give girls a chance to examine their Christian beliefs in a friendly and supportive environment.
Sherborne Girls has a Christian foundation, and is committed to nurturing the spiritual lives of all girls, regardless of their faith commitments. But more than that, we see these precious years as an opportunity to encourage thoughtfulness and reflectiveness about religious belief.
It is our belief that girls should have a full enough programme to be stimulated and challenged, while preserving time for reflection, relaxation and socialising. As such our wellbeing strategy is focused on body, mind and spirit; providing the conditions for a balanced lifestyle – one that will shape the girls’ dispositions well into the future.
The chaplain’s role is also to be a pastor to the whole school community. Based in the Ark, beside the School Hall, the chaplain is equally available for those individuals who need a quiet word or a moment of calm. A special book is available in which girls write prayer requests, and regular communal acts of worship provide a focus for the School’s shared spirituality.
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Academic excellence is in our DNA. We take an enlightened approach to education, recognising that intellectual growth is about more than brilliant exam results.
But by the same token, we do everything in our power to help girls realise their potential, knowing that their performance at this stage will shape their ambitions for the future.
Through interactive, imaginative and individualised teaching, we help our pupils become considerate and careful thinkers, capable of solving problems
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Women of the future
Our Learner Profile informs every interaction with pupils from an educational point of view. It identifies the virtues and dispositions that we encourage so that they can thrive in the modern world. Our focus is on forming character, rather than the mere acquisition of knowledge. That way, girls will be equipped for the future, in all its mess and muddle, excitement and opportunity.
Our mobile phone policy was developed in consultation with pupils, parents and experts in the field. We restrict use of personal mobile devices during the day, and girls hand them in at night. This improves the quality of sleep, reduces anxiety and allows space simply to dwell in the world and enjoy the moment.
ISI Report 2017
“Pupils show outstandingly positive and productive attitudes to their work and study. They are highly effective learners who work hard and persevere in all they do.”
In the Sixth Form, girls may study three or four A Level courses with an array of additional enrichment opportunities for increasing intellectual curiosity, a love of learning and preparedness for the future whether university, degree apprenticeship or working life.
and reasoning creatively. We ensure they have balance in their intellectual development, are open-minded and inquiring, are comfortable taking risks and capable of reflecting on their experiences to refashion behaviour for the future.
Girls have a pen-enabled device, preferably a Microsoft Surface, and we encourage them to combine the traditional library with online research tools. Much of the curriculum is delivered through digital learning, using technology that enables more effective communication between teacher and pupil, as well as more opportunity for collaborative work between pupils. Along with building the use of Microsoft 365, coding and programming into the curriculum, we ensure that girls are prepared for the digital world they will face and able to master it on their own terms.
Using technology wisely
One of the defining features of our contemporary world is the prevalence of technology. We’re keen to encourage girls in their use and understanding of the latest innovations, while enshrining healthy attitudes to technology that facilitate growth and wellbeing.
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Individualised learning
Learner profile
We prompt our girls to be open in their communications with others, sharing their thought processes and being receptive to critique. Our specialist and well-qualified teachers share their passions and interests, ensuring girls develop a rich knowledge of a variety of disciplines, and identify their own strengths to specialise when appropriate.
Our Learner Profile, based on our school values, underpins all learning, ensuring girls not only develop their knowledge but also the skills and attributes to thrive in the 21st century.
“A gem of a school, led by an inspiring, go-getting head. Sherborne Girls is better than ever, achieving fine academic standards and, through its partnership with Sherborne School, giving girls the best of both worlds – an all-girls education with a co-ed lifestyle. A sixth former told us ‘it’s a place of opportunity’ and it really is.”
Above all, we set up conditions in which girls become caring, compassionate and principled people. People who can be relied upon to do the right thing, to act on the basis of more than selfinterest, with integrity and honesty and a strong awareness of the needs of others.
Our class sizes and the time available as a result of our full-boarding ethos, also help create an environment in which girls can grow into women of the future, ready to face the challenges and adventures of an uncertain, thrilling and stimulating world.
Our ambitious approach to education can only be achieved through careful teaching that is attentive to the needs of every pupil, along with the support of our bespoke tutor system. Every girl has a dedicated tutor who she meets with regularly. The tutor’s aim is to ensure each girl fulfils her potential, academically and in terms of her personal development; encouraging her interests, monitoring her academic progress, advising on study skills, time management, career and higher education aspirations and helping her in making choices.
Good Schools Guide
Charlotte is part of our first team sailing, recently racing in the National Fleet Racing Championships and placing top ten alongside Sherborne School.
Imogen is creative and loves to perform. She is studying GCSE Drama and has been involved in some incredible performances including Frankenstein and Alice in Wonderland. This year she is auditioning for the Fifth Form production of Animal MabelFarm.
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Lauren is a natural academic. She recently won the Science Essay Competition and also came third in the School’s annual Entrepreneurship Awards with a project based on new gaming technologies.
Despite their individual talents, the girls have a huge amount in common. They all enjoy a busy social life, taking part in a variety of activities like sport, music, drama and art. And they all agree that they love Sherborne Girls, thanks to top-quality teaching, brilliant pastoral support and a clear encouragement to develop independence and set an example to others.
Get a group of Sherborne Girls together and there is always a tangible sense of excitement. They speak with enthusiasm about their learning, their hobbies and their
Imogen, Mabel, Charlotte and Lauren – a group of girls who have an impressive variety of gifts between them.
An excitement for learning
excels at sport. She loves hockey, netball and cricket and she plays for both the U15 Dorset County Hockey Team and U15 Netball Somerset County Academy. She is also Vice Captain for Sherborne Girls First Team Cricket.
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“But we ensure it is an intellectually rich experience to study Maths at School. We draw out the problem-solving elements, encouraging girls to work collaboratively as they progress through their time at Sherborne Girls. In this way, the discipline coheres with our Learner Profile, helping pupils develop attributes such as curiosity and critical thinking.
Inspirational teaching comes as standard Head of Maths, Dr Glen Collins, has a vision for his subject. He wants to build on its popularity as a problem-solving tool that prepares girls for the future.
“I am inspired by the thought of sharing my passion with young people and helping them develop skills for the future. This is about so much more than teaching abstract formulae or improving numeracy. It is about casting a vision for what Maths brings to contemporary society, showing its impact on the wilder world. Sherborne Girls is forming the next generation of mathematical minds to shape the world through their problem-solving prowess and powers of reasoning. I can’t wait to see the difference they make.”
“Many people are surprised when I tell them that Maths is the second-most popular subject at Sherborne Girls post-16. This is perhaps because they have their own negative memories of the discipline, or because they don’t stereotypically expect girls to be drawn to it.
SHE WILL HAVE THE WORLD AT HER FEET
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We have a simple policy at Sherborne Girls when it comes to co-curricular activities: girls should have as much choice as possible and be encouraged to sample a rich variety of pursuits, to complement the breadth of opportunities in the curriculum.
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Breadth of opportunity
Sport is a big focus for many of our girls, and we lay on a suite of activities that mix team sports with individual disciplines. If a girl shows an aptitude in a given sport, we’ll make sure we nurture her talent and help her pursue routes to success, including county and national representation.
We have a thriving music scene, with choirs, orchestras, rock bands and ensembles providing many opportunities to perform in company with others. We employ an array of instructors – if a pupil wants to learn or develop her skills on a particular instrument, the chances are we’ll have a specialist on hand to help.
It’s a similar story when it comes to drama. Whether they want to perform, or get involved backstage, girls are given every encouragement to flex their creative muscles. And for those who want to attain formal qualifications in public speaking or drama, we have the wherewithal to make it happen.
Along with a wide selection of clubs and societies, including debating, dance, science, art, engineering, psychology and IT, there really is never a dull moment. That’s what makes it such a bustling community, full of girls with a zest for life and the time to explore their passions.
Fit for life
achieve their goals, we’re also keen to encourage a school-wide interest simply in being active and keeping fit.
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What you learn on the sports field, you carry with you for life. That is why we give pupils every opportunity to excel in their chosen sport, while understanding that everyone can gain from the experience of competing.
We have a record of encouraging sporting excellence, counting world champions, national and county team players and high-performance athletes among our number. But we also value the efforts of girls who simply want to get active, on the hockey pitch or lacrosse field, in the gym or swimming pool, or even by haring down a ski slope in the French Alps.
This is part of our wellbeing strategy, which recognises the interplay between physical and mental health. But it’s also because we understand how sport shapes dispositions. It encourages resilience and determination, positive thinking and discipline, and gives ample opportunity to rub along with others, sharing jokes and motivation, success and disappointment.
These experiences help girls find their place in the world. They help them believe in themselves, and in their ability to achieve their ambitions. Sport shapes us for life – and we want our girls to enjoy that in abundance.
For us, it doesn’t matter which sport a girl pursues. It’s her involvement that counts. So while we are committed to helping those with innate ability to
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Sailing is just one of the numerous co-curricular activities where girls are encouraged to try experiences.new
An incredibly popular sixth form option, the Leiths School of Food and Wine course has been specifically designed to teach the basic skills necessary to become a confident, capable and efficient cook.
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problem solving. That way, they can tell a story about their own formation, and feel proud of all that they’re becoming during their time at Then,school.when
We see this as an important feature of the education we provide – helping girls discern a vision for their next steps, and giving them the courage and confidence to make it real.
the time comes to take their first steps into the wider world, they know who they are and what they stand for. They have a sense of what they want to do. And they are able to speak with confidence about their ambitions, confident that they have what it takes to form the world, and pursue their dreams.
Aspiration and ambition
Our individualised learning empowers girls to identify their strengths, work on their weaknesses, and set their sights on the future. We signpost the skills and aptitudes they are developing through their studies and co-curricular activities, so they know when they’re exhibiting effective leadership, strategic thinking, or
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We engender a culture of excellence in all aspects of school life and for all members of the community. The girls are aspirational, optimistic and have a sense of purpose for the future.
“The experience is invaluable in equipping girls with confidence in public speaking, and in defending a point of view,” Louise says. “It is through activities like this that they develop habits of being that will shape them for the future, making them ready to inhabit the world with confidence, grace and no small amount of style.”
“I am very proud to have been appointed as the first ever female captain of golf at Sherborne Girls and to represent the School in Club and National Competitions as well as playing for the Dorset County squad.”
Elizabeth, Junior Captain of Golf
Building confidence in public speaking
As a former TV news journalist, Head of English Louise Troup knows a thing or two about public speaking. She’s sharing her expertise, along with her love of language and the art of persuasion, through a rejuvenated Debating Society.
“The premise of our society is simple,” Louise reports. “We set up a motion for discussion and two pupils speak for each side of the argument. They deliver a three-minute speech, adjudicated by a chairperson, in which they are encouraged to demonstrate their understanding of the topic.”
The debates often inspire girls to mount passionate arguments, and the ensuing discussion is never less than rigorous.
“I am hoping to take a gap year to work in South America before studying for a degree in Liberal Arts at Nottingham”, says Lottie. “Inspired by Ava DuVernay, I am considering a career in Journalism or Film Production. I’ve really enjoyed helping with stage management, lighting and sound for school productions, as well as studying a film course with InvestIN over the summer.”
For all their brilliant diversity, Sherborne Girls sixth-formers tend to have some characteristics in common. For example, they are friendly, compassionate, and driven to make a contribution to the wider Theyworld.are
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“The teaching at Sherborne Girls is inspirational,” they observe. “There is always an opportunity to discuss topics in detail, and the teachers treat us as equals. That’s given us the confidence to believe in ourselves, to develop our enthusiasms and interests, and to think we can make a difference to the world.”
Maira and Poppy, meanwhile, are both interested in pursuing a career in medicine, aiming for a place at University in September. Poppy says, “I have been actively working towards this goal during my time at school by working with a local GP practice to improve the patient experience. I also recently participated in the British Biology Olympiad, encouraged by my biology studies and BioMed Club, where we discuss everything from ethics of medicine to new vaccines.”
Aiming high
also ambitious, for themselves and society in general. So it’s no surprise to discover that sixth-formers Lottie, Maira and Poppy are aiming high when it comes to the next stage of their education.
When the girls reach the Sixth Form, we offer a range of interviews, visits, advice, talks, networking sessions and tests which aim to help the girls decide the best path for them after school.
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at UK universities, we steer girls through UCAS applications, helping them identify the right course and institution for their needs and desires. We also understand the wider Higher Education sector, and can help girls apply for apprenticeships or internships, as well as applications to universities abroad.
We value education for its own sake. We believe that nothing is more important than providing girls with an opportunity to discern their gifts, grow as people, and develop their skills and knowledge.
Added to the networking opportunities organised by Sherborne Old Girls and the Women in Leadership programme, we give pupils ample opportunity to explore their options and make valuable contacts. As a result, by the time they leave us, they are ready to take the next step in pursuing their ambitions.
Careers and Higher Education
Even so, we know that our girls have an eye on the future. They may wish to be medics, or vets, or lawyers or accountants. They may dream of being architects, artists, engineers, actors or musicians. They may be drawn to writing, to journalism or to film and television. And, in the short term, we know that the vast majority will seek a place at university.
Whatever direction they wish to pursue, our Careers and Higher Education department provides information and encouragement to succeed. We lay on a variety of events and activities to help girls plot their path, developing their skills in areas such as interviewing, application writing and Withnetworking.strongcontacts
SHERBORNESHEGIRLS WILL FIND HER NICHE AND EXCEL IN IT
An adventurer speaks
“CCF, the Combined Cadet Force is a joint co-curricular activity with Sherborne School that I am proud to be part of. I am a Cadet WO2 and lead the Royal Marines section of Sherborne CCF. I particularly enjoy training days where we head to Lympstone and take part in different stances, including an obstacle course, the sheep dip, river submerges and uphill races. Being part of the CCF has provided me with some amazing opportunities. One of these includes being part of the banner party in this year’s Biennial Inspection. We were honoured to be a part of this for the first time and spent a lot of time training for the event, including a trip to the Cold Stream Guards for an intense day of drill.”
With ample opportunity to take responsibility for the wellbeing and formation of their peers, our girls taste leadership at an early age. We believe this equips them for the future, ensuring they can grasp opportunities, solve problems, and cast a compelling vision that brings others along for the ride.
We do this through formal programmes such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, offered at Bronze, Silver and Gold, Ten Tors or the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), joint with Sherborne School. Alternatively, there is also the option of an Arts Award, which provides a chance to focus on another area of personal growth and development.
There are few finer contexts in which to develop such skills than the great outdoors. That is why we give every pupil the opportunity to breathe deeply of the fresh air, and enjoy the challenge of outdoor adventure.
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It is about taking responsibility for the performance and wellbeing of a team, keeping those around you motivated, and nurturing their talents for the good of the group.
Leadership is the art of bringing out the best in yourself and others.
We encourage a spirit of self-reliance, entrepreneurship and inquisitiveness in every facet of school life. We want girls to know that an adventure can take flight as much in the library or debating hall, the rehearsal room or science lab, as it can in wild country. It’s all about forming the right dispositions, being open to anything, and pursuing dreams.
Charlotte, Cadet Warrant Officer Second Class of the Royal Marines
Women in leadership
“It has been really intriguing to see the School from the inside,” says Annie. “We’ve spent a lot of time with the Head, and have learned a huge amount from her about leadership, bringing out the talents of those around you, and being attentive to the wellbeing of everyone in your care. She’s been an inspiration to us – a great example of how to hold a community together.”
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Like their predecessors as Heads of School, upper sixth-formers Kitty and Annie were interviewed for their position and now lead a team of 20 prefects.
Meet the Heads of School
“It’s such a privilege to serve the community in this way,” Kitty reflects. “When I was young, I admired the older girls, who were always encouraged to look out for us. Being Head of School is a chance to inspire the next generation and give something back to this community. We endeavour to do the job to the best of our abilities, and I hope we will leave a legacy of which our teachers and fellow pupils can be proud.”
“It is good to have a high-stakes interview under our belts,” Kitty remarks. “It gives us a lot of confidence in advance of the next stage of our education, where these skills become even more important.”
Having shown their suitability for the job – meeting criteria that include having a natural aptitude for leadership, a willingness to set an example to younger girls, and a desire to serve the School –Kitty and Annie took to it with aplomb.
Kitty and Annie have had the opportunity to emulate the Head’s style, and find their own way of leading the community. Both have taken school prayers, addressing the whole school on a topic that is close to their hearts, as well as presenting to parents. They are well-known around the School, and girls of all ages come to them with problems, comments or concerns.
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Community lies at the heart of Sherborne Girls.
It is the air that we breathe, our heart and soul, our very essence.
When we talk about community, we don’t just mean the special bonds of affection that exist within our school. We are also thinking of the beautiful Dorset town of which we’re so proud to be a part.
We enjoy close links with neighbouring schools and with the wider community, encouraging girls to volunteer for local charities and organisations, and ensuring they make the most of our unique setting.
Our community
We believe that girls are formed through their membership of our community. It is the means of their becoming, the bedrock of our shared existence. We celebrate it, nurture it and enjoy it. Because that’s what it means to be a place of education and formation. That’s what it means to be a home from home.
Experiences like these live long in the memory, and Amelia is in no doubt that they’ve shaped her attitude to the world around her.
“The exchange was one of the best things I’ve ever done,” she reports. “I spent four weeks immersed in a completely different culture, and then hosted my exchange student here for the same period, ensuring she felt welcome in our community. We’re still really close, and see each other as much as possible.”
“That’s why I volunteer at a local nursing home and take every opportunity to get involved in community events. I think it has also shaped my vocation to be a doctor –because I want to give something back to society, and share the riches of my education with the world at large. That’s an important feature of the learning experience at Sherborne Girls: it gives you a sense of service as well as of ambition.”
A wider perspective
Since arriving in L5 (Year 9), Amelia has thrown herself into every aspect of school life. A sports and academic scholar, she plays hockey and netball to a very high standard, and excels academically. She’s taken part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and went on an exchange programme to Toronto during the L5.
“We’ve always been encouraged to think of others, whether they’re in our local community or further afield,” she says.
Amelia knew Sherborne even before coming to school. Her brother was a pupil at Sherborne School, so she was familiar with the town and its unique culture.
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We are involved in a number of projects and partnerships with state schools and community groups. Such initiatives include girls volunteering in local primary schools, taking part in community music ensembles and drama competitions, performing to patients and visitors in the local hospital, interacting and connecting with adults with specific needs within the community and sitting as Youth Advisors on Sherborne Town Council.
Outreach experiences such as these, together with our exchanges, are profoundly formational. They shape girls’ dispositions, enhance their understanding of the world around them, and help them build relationships beyond the School gates.
Small world, big opportunities
We offer an extensive exchange programme with schools from across the globe. Pupils have the chance to spend time in Toronto, Tasmania, Johannesburg and Qatar.
Alice Wordie, Past Parent, Sherborne Girls Foundation Trustee
“It’s the ethos of community that impresses most about Sherborne – warm , welcoming and wonderfully down to earth”
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We are ambitious for the future. We want to remain at the forefront of women’s education; driving innovation, educating the girls for the future, nurturing their dreams and giving them confidence to grow.
In order to achieve this, we need to ensure we think ahead, seeking out opportunities to develop a more inspirational and sustainable campus, re-imagining existing spaces to prepare both the girls and the School for the changing world. That is why we have established The Sherborne Girls Foundation, to help support our unique institution.
A foundation for success
The Foundation played a crucial role in funding our new flagship arts centre and continues to open up a
For some, this may involve sharing expertise, inspiring students with their own experience, or applying their intelligence in ways that bring vibrancy and growth.
Sherborne Girls education to a wider cross-section of society by supporting our Candlelight Bursaries programme. But it is about more than fundraising: it also identifies the skills, talents and passions of our wider community – giving supporters the chance to contribute to school life in whatever way most fires them up.
The Foundation represents our wider community, therefore. It is a body for our future, shaping our life together today.
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Regularly throughout the academic year
11+ Online Pre-Tests
Pay an Individual Visit
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Sixth Form Assessments & Scholarships
You are warmly invited to attend one of our popular tour events which are held throughout the academic year and can be conveniently booked online at sherborne.com. You will have the opportunity to visit one of the boarding houses, tour the School and meet the Head and senior members of staff for a question and answer session.
December Year 6
School Awards 2018
This offers a tour of the School, a visit to a boarding house and a short meeting with the Head or one of her deputies. To book your visit to Sherborne Girls, please contact our Admissions Team by emailing admissions@sherborne.com or telephone +44 (0)1935 818224.
Places are awarded on the basis of an online pre-test (11+/13+), entrance examinations and a school reference. The main entry points are at 11+, 13+ and 16+. We advise parents to register their daughter three years prior to the year she wishes to join and for 11+ and 13+ before the end of Year 5 as girls will sit the online pre-tests in the November of Year Registration6.
Tour Mornings/Afternoons
November Year 6
will ensure that you are invited to key events and kept up to date with school news and information. Full details of the admissions process, entrance testing, scholarship opportunities along with the registration form can be found on the website: sherborne.com
January-February Year 6
13+ Assessment Day
Come to a Tour Morning
January-February Year 8
What to do next
13+ Online Pre-Tests November Year 6
January Year 7
11+ Music & Sport Scholarships
Registering for a Place
11+ Boarding Taster, Assessment & Academic Scholarship Weekend
13+ Academic, Art & DT, Drama, Music & Sport Scholarships
November Year 11 Useful information
“Public School of the Year”
Tatler
97
higher education 100
per cent of girls study STEM subjects Form
per cent of go on to
girls take part in charity or community outreach projects 2 hours from London Waterloo 267 pupil leadership roles within the School Sherborne
full boarding 71
girls
per cent of girls are
in the Sixth
per cent of by numbers
90
Sherborne Girls Bradford admissions@sherborne.com+44DorsetSherborneRoadDT93QN(0)1935818224
sherborne.com