d HARPER HOUSE 2025
Welcome
I am delighted that you will be joining Harper in September and this booklet will give you a brilliant insight into what life at Sherborne and Harper is all about, as well as answering some of the questions or concerns you may have about the start of your Sherborne careers. Harper is known as being a very friendly House and everyone in Harper can't wait to meet and get to know you as we welcome you into the House. When you arrive, people around the House and School will be more than happy to answer any other questions you have as well.
There are loads of activities on offer and I encourage you to make the most of these, whether in the School or House. There is lots of sport, including competitive fixtures most weeks. There are a huge number of musical opportunities with various music groups that boys can join. Many boys enjoy drama in both School and House productions. Some opportunities will be those you may not have had before, including the CCF or D of E. Alongside all of this there are a huge number of other clubs and societies, from charity events to gardening, as well as loads of other activities that all bring the House together. Harper is known for the constant activities in the House, offered throughout the week and especially at weekends; from barbeques in the summer to garden games and other fun activities, including trips away from School such as going paintballing.
Although I recall that joining Sherborne was a daunting prospect, I also remember it being an extremely exciting time and I hope you feel that excitement too. I was told that my years at Sherborne and Harper would be some of the best years of my life: this is something that has been true for me and I'm sure it will be for you as well. I am looking forward to getting to know you all and welcoming you into our community.
Ben Brady - Head of House
Top Tips
• Arrive promptly to all your commitments
• Check your email twice a day
• Keep valuable items locked away – this is a good habit to get into for later life
• Only enter another boy’s room when they are present and if they are happy for you to be there
• Go to all School meals – they have already been paid for
• Eat cooked food (including takeaways) in the communal kitchen areas – this is sociable and more hygienic
• Takeaways are permitted after Hall on Mondays-Fridays and during the weekends
• When playing outside in the bargeyard or in the garden please be considerate to our neighbours with regard to the noise you make, the language you use and where you kick the balls
• When using kitchen areas, keep them clean and tidy so that they are ready for others
• Keep noise to a minimum in House after 10.00pm
• Keep your room tidy, do your bedding properly each week and stay on top of your laundry
• Dress smartly and appropriately during School hours and for School commitments
• Remember to phone home regularly, even just to say ‘hi’
• Treat others as you would like to be treated
Housemaster
Housemaster
Mr Nick Scorer
Mr Scorer is in charge of the well-being of all boys in Harper and will keep you informed on all areas of House and School life at the daily House Assemblies. You can go to Mr Scorer with any questions or concerns you may have, he is always there to listen and advise you. He is also the first point of contact for your parents and will help bridge home and school life for you as soon as you arrive in September.
Mr Scorer, who is a member of the Chemistry department, lives in Harper with his wife Kate, who is a History teacher at Sherborne Girls. They have two daughters, Annie and Tilly who are both at Sherborne Girls, and a Labrador called Bramble.
It is best to speak to Mr Scorer in person but he can also be contacted via email: nicholas.scorer@sherborne.org or call his school mobile: 07850 653391 (you should add this to your contacts if you have a phone). The House office number is 01935 812128.
House Staff
Matron
Mrs Grundy-Wheeler
Mrs Grundy-Wheeler is one of the most important members of the House. She organises all of your washing in House, she also tends to any medical needs. She is someone that you can go to for almost anything and she makes great hot chocolate and has a Labrador called Ebony.
Housekeeper
Mrs Horsey
You will see Mrs Horsey around a lot during the day. She organises the domestic staff and also makes sure that we all keep the House tidy. Mrs Horsey is another really useful person to talk to, especially if you can’t find something or something in the House isn’t working!
Assistant Matron
Mrs Vernon
Mrs Vernon is an integral part of the team in Harper and is involved in different areas of House life. She works very closely with matron and is another person you will find in House at various times through the week. She is very friendly and loves to hear your news.
Assistant Housemaster
Ms Price-Hughes
Ms Price-Hughes acts as the first deputy to Mr Scorer if he is away. She is an English teacher who lives in Harper and is available to offer support to all the boys in the house. She loves the outdoors, so is also involved in Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, Ten Tors and CCF.
Resident Tutor
Mr Watson
Mr Watson lives in Harper with his family and two dogs. He is a very important person within the Tutor team. He is always willing to speak to boys about anything and acts as an alternative to the Housemaster. He teaches Chemistry, loves Rugby and can often be caught singing!
Tutors, Domestic Staff and Prefects
Tutors
You will be assigned a Tutor when you arrive and they will get to know you personally, work out your interests and will help you to settle in at Sherborne effectively, in work and at play. They are also important people to speak to if you have a problem, as they will know how to help you.
Domestic Staff
You will learn to appreciate the work of the domestic staff who work hard to keep Harper 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 tidy up after you.
Prefects
Ben Brady (Head of House)
Arthur Burton
Ivo Finney
William Lewis
Wilf Thomas
Hugo Tyrrell
Tom Whyte
House Facilities
Harper is just a few minutes walk from the School’s main buildings. The House itself is homely and inviting and has a real sense of history that reminds us of the Old Shirburnians that have lived, worked and played in the House before us.
Common Rooms
The House has two common rooms. The main common room is equipped with comfy chairs, and a large television, and is a great place to relax and watch a film on a Saturday night, as well as having a good atmosphere during large sporting events. There is a well equipped kitchen area, as well as table tennis. There is also a Sixth Form common room with a TV and often there is a games console too.
The Day Room
This is where you will do your Hall in the evenings, supervised by a Tutor or by a member of the Sixth Form.
Library
This is where we get together for our daily assemblies, to celebrate good things together as a community, and find out what is happening in the coming day. You may also choose to work here during Hall or at other times of day. Sometimes boys are asked to work here! There is also a range of both reading and reference material for you to use.
Games Room
There is a slate bed pool table and a table football table, which are available for anyone to use. Or you can just choose to sit around on the sofas to chat or read, or play the piano. .
Hidden from the road, Harper has an absolutely fantastic garden which is a great space for use by the whole House community.
Bargeyard
This is a hard-surfaced area complete with floodlights. As far as House facilities go, it is probably the most used one, with a wide range of games being played in it throughout the School year, whether it is football in the winter or cricket in the summer.
Patch
A large floodlit grass area equipped with two football goals. It is an area of constant activity especially in the summer term as an area of its size is something very few other Houses have.
Garden
This is the garden you look out onto from the House, which is an even larger area of grass used for games such as croquet and volleyball, as well as the everpopular House barbecues, and for just sitting around chatting with your friends. There is also an outside table tennis table to add to the facilities inside the House.
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
7.15am Wake up bell and morning routine check begins
7.55am All to be up, dressed and ready for school with 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
9.00pm Phones in for Third and Fourth Forms
9.30pm Third Form up to dormitory and lights out at 10.00pm
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: 5.50pm – Roll Call and Assembly
Sundays: 10.00am Everyone Up; 11.00am – 12noon Hall
5.50pm 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 Spencer - 01935 810476
Mrs Hutchings - 01935 810539
Mr Boyd-Williams - 01935 810544
Mr Sunderland - 01935 810427
DSL@sherborne.org
Mrs Kershaw - 01935 81 co
Independent person
UPPORT, GUIDANCE
G FOR EVERY BOY
re willing to help you.
l boys can use these services, but, in some cases, eople to check on availability.
Matron master n 14525
Teachers and other staff
Health Centre 01935 810539
School Doctors
Drs Nickinson, Nickinson and Armitage 01935 872530
Chaplain
Revd Campbell - 01935 810498
School Counsellor ounsellor@sherborne.org
House Activities
Inter-House sport
Harper has a strong sense of House spirit and Inter-House sporting events provide a great opportunity for boys to work together. Although we have some elite sportsmen in our number, there are plenty of others who simply enjoy sport and want to try their best for the House. Boys take responsibility for arranging the practicalities of many of the House teams and are always enthusiastically supported by others in the House (both staff and boys).
Other Inter-House competitions
There are a wide variety of Inter-House competitions. For example Harper have usually done pretty well in the Inter- House literary quiz, with a team made up of a boy from each year group, and at Inter-House debating. Whether winning or losing in a competition boys always do their best for the House.
House Charity Harper House is proud to support Sherborne Primary School.
Boys from Harper volunteer to support the School on a weekly basis by helping to run sports and activities for the children there.
We also hold a range of events and activities, such as a summer garden party to raise funds to help with projects such as the purchase of play equipment.
House Play
Every other year the House puts on a play, allowing pupils from all year groups to work together, whether acting, directing, getting involved backstage or helping ‘front of House’.
House Socials and Trips
On most Saturday evenings and some Sundays there are organised social activities for the boys to sign up to. This could include a cinema trip to Yeovil to see the latest release, a disco in the BSR or Powell Theatre, or a bowling trip. The School organises these socials often in conjunction with Sherborne Girls. This lets the boys get to know the girls and also keep in touch with friends from their previous school.
Harper House also hosts InHouse socials for boys some Saturday nights and there is often a BBQ when the weather is good enough. The boys are also invited to socials at the Houses at Sherborne Girls.
On a Sunday afternoon we sometimes have a trip for specific year groups from the House, which have recently included paintballing, karting and visits to the Dorset Water Park. Boys also enjoy informal catch ups with friends from other houses or at Sherborne Girls.
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 7.00 – 8.45pm
• Blues – The uniform worn by the Lower School (Third, Fourth and Fifth Form)
• Blue Book – Useful information including list of Boys and staff
• 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
• The San (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
• JCR / The Stick – Bar and function area for use by the Sixth Form on Saturday nights
• 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
e Wallace 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.
What can I do if I am struggling with my Hall or can’t hand it in on time?
If you are having difficulty with your Hall, rather than giving up on it you should contact your subject teacher a couple of days before the Hall is due in and organise a time to meet up and help you through it. Alternatively, you could ask one of the Prefects or Tutors on duty in House in the evenings. Academic Support is the ideal time of day for this.
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.
Is it useful to have a mobile phone?
Yes, however it is not compulsory. Third Formers do not normally have permission to carry mobile phones with them during the day but have access to them in the evenings before handing them in 45 minutes before bed times. At weekends boys are allowed more time with their mobile phones.
When can I meet my friends in other Houses?
You can visit your friends in other Houses in any of your free time. Boys from other Houses are also more than welcome. Visitors must sign in and sign out on arrival and departure and make themselves known to the Matron or Housemaster. The same applies for you when you are visiting a friend’s House. You are expected to display the highest level of conduct when visiting other Houses.
When can I meet my friends at the girls’ school?
You may have friends from prep school who are now at Sherborne Girls and you will get to know more of the girls over the course of the year through socials. You can go to visit the girls in their Boarding House Common Room in your free time outside of the normal working day. You are also expected to display the highest level of conduct when visiting the girls’ Houses.
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.
What do I do if I don’t feel well?
If you don’t feel well at any time of day you should first go and see Matron. They will give you the necessary medical attention or send you to the Health Centre where they will be able to help you further. If necessary you can be seen by a doctor who visits every weekday morning.
What do I do if I feel homesick?
If you are feeling homesick it’s very important you don’t bottle it up, there are plenty of people you can go to who will make you feel better and help you get through it. You can speak to your Housemaster, Matron, your Tutor, one of the Prefects or often the best person to speak to is just a friend. Homesickness is nothing to be embarrassed about and happens to many more boys than you think, there are plenty of people in the same position as you.
