g LYON HOUSE 2025
Welcome
Welcome to Lyon House, a place that will be your home at School over the next five years. This booklet is designed to help you know what to expect when you arrive, and as the Head of House, I have put together some information and advice to give you an idea of what to expect at Lyon.
Certainly, starting at senior school is daunting. You must remember, though, that at times it might be difficult for all of you and that people show it in different ways. However, there are so many opportunities and activities to get stuck into early on, you will soon settle in, and Lyon will feel like home. Also, you must remember that we, as a prefect team, will be supporting you all the time. We went through the same experience that you are about to, so we hope our help will be useful. Lyon House will be a major part of your life at school. It will not take long for you to become proud to be part of Lyon and excited by its unique closeness and spirit. The integration between year groups here is unusual compared with other houses, and you will certainly enjoy building relationships with us and the other boys during your time at Sherborne. We all hope and are very confident that you will enjoy your time in Lyon and that this booklet provides some insight into what it will be like for you.
Jem Lye Head of House
Top Tips
• Treat others as you would like to be treated
• Ask for help if you are unsure
• Arrive promptly to all your commitments
• Check your email twice a day
• 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 food in the Dining Room – this is sociable and more hygienic
• Takeaways are not permitted during the week but are allowed on the weekends
• When using kitchen areas, keep them clean and tidy so that they are ready for others
• When playing outside in the bargeyard or in the garden please be considerate to our neighbours with regard to the noise you make and where you kick the balls
• 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’
Housemaster
Housemaster
Mr Murray
Mr Murray is the Housemaster of Lyon and oversees the day to day running of the House and the wellbeing of the boys in Lyon. He will keep you up to date with what is happening in the coming days and weeks. He will also keep track of your progress and how you are performing academically and in other areas of School life. More than this though, he is a friendly face who you can talk to if you have any problems. Mr Murray, who is a member of the Physics department, lives in Lyon with his fiancée Jess, their sons Séamus and Lorcan, and Franklin the dog.
Mr Murray can be contacted via email: david.murray@sherborne.org or call his mobile: 07850 653397 (you should add this to your contacts if you have a phone). The House office number is 01935 810970.
House Staff
Matron Mands
Mands is someone you can go to for almost anything. She makes awesome breaks (the best in the School) and makes sure that you are feeling fit and well. She is around all the time to make sure that you are ready for whatever you are going to be doing. She is really kind and caring and she will be especially important in the first few weeks you are here.
Assistant Matrons Marina
Marina is the Assistant Matron in Lyon who works alongside Mands. Marina is always happy to sit down and have a good chat, and is the person you go to for your all your laundry needs and lost property. You will usually see her when Mands is not on duty and also will be especially important in your first few weeks.
Tracy
Tracy is often here in the afternoons. She is our seamstress, so if you need a hole in your trousers fixing, or you have a new item of clothing that needs a name tape sewing in, she will do it for you (if you ask nicely!).
Assistant Housemaster
Mr Weale
Mr Weale lives in Lyon House with his family, and when he is not on duty he is busy running the School football programme.
Mr Weale played as a goalkeeper for Leicester City!
Resident Tutor
Mr Richmond
Mr Richmond lives in Lyon House with his wife and young daughter. He is part of the Design and Technology department and also coaches climbing.
He is ready to listen and offer guidance whenever you need it.
Tutors, Domestic Staff and Prefects
Tutors
When you start in Lyon you will be assigned a personal tutor to help and support you. Lyon’s Tutors are from a wide range of departments and whoever your Tutor is they will keep a close eye on how you are getting on.
Domestic Staff
You will learn to appreciate the domestic staff who work hard to keep Lyon 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 help keep Lyon looking spotless.
Prefects
These are the senior boys who you will get to know very well during your first year in Lyon. They will supervise your Hall, ensure that you are in bed on time, and more importantly be a friendly face to go to for advice and questions.
Jem Lye (Head of House)
Harry Cole
Josh Ireland
James Kehoe
Arthur Risso-Gill
Inigo Russell
House Facilities
Lyon is one of the more spacious of Sherborne’s Boarding Houses and almost certainly has some of the best accommodation and facilities. Lyon was purpose built as a Boarding House and over the years has received numerous upgrades to its facilities. Today it boasts first rate accommodation and facilities and retains a unique and distinctive character. Be under no illusions, that you are entering the best House in the School.
The Day Room
This is where the Third Form will do your Hall in the evenings, supervised by one of the House Prefects.
The Ross Room
This room, which adjoins the Day Room, is named after Alick Trelawny-Ross who was Housemaster of Lyon from 1914 - 1946 during both World Wars. The Ross Room has a TV and sofa chairs for the use of the whole House when it is not Hall time.
The Sweat House
‘The Sweat House’ was for many years the House gymnasium, hence its unusual name. These days you are much more likely to find boys playing table football, ping pong or watching TV than doing press ups and squats. ‘The Sweat House’ is a large recreation room with two table football tables, a table tennis table, a grand piano and drum kit as well as a large TV and seating. The room can also double up as a function room and can be quickly made up for a House event such as Christmas Dinner or a Sunday House service.
The Garden
The garden is undoubtedly one of the crowning features of Lyon. Not only is it rather more stylish than most other House gardens, it is also much bigger than what most of the other Houses enjoy. This makes it ideal for playing football and touch rugby or equally for revising in the sun before your summer exams. During the summer term there are regular BBQ’s in the garden for the whole House to enjoy together.
The Memorial Garden
Lyon is unique amongst the Boarding Houses in that it has its own garden of remembrance to the boys of the House who fell in both the First World War 19141918 and the Second World War 1939-1945. It serves as a reminder of those boys of the House who made the ultimate sacrifice. On November 11 when all the other Houses go to the Chapel for a School remembrance service the boys of Lyon gather in our memorial garden and pay our own respects with our own service.
Third Form Dormitories
When you arrive in Lyon you will sleep in one of the three Third Form dorms. The dorms are all named after former Housemasters of Lyon; these being Ross, Holmes and Boissier. As school is so busy, sleep is extremely important, so it is vital, after lights out, you settle down to sleep very quickly.
Fourth Form Dormitories
After Third Form you will move up to the Fourth Form dorms on the second floor, named after previous Housemasters of Lyon, these three are Ketley, Hatch and Francis. There is a smaller two man dormitory for the Fourth Form which is something of a luxury seeing as most other Houses do not have two man dorms until at least the Fifth Form. Just as in Third Form you will change dorms every term so chances are you will get to live in all of the three dorms.
Fifth Form Studies
In Fifth Form you will get your own study. This is something most boys in the other Houses can only dream of so feel free to brag about having your own room. Unlike in Third and Fourth Form you will do all your work in your study upstairs and the impetus is very much on you to knuckle down to work on your own accord.
Sixth Form Studies
Things get even cushier in the Sixth Form when you will get a study either in the New Studies wing above the Sweat House or on one of the corridors on the first and second floors. These studies are all very spacious with a large desk and plentiful storage space.
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
7.30am House assembly
7.50am – 8.10am Breakfast (in the Dining Hall)
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
5.00pm Roll Call and Assembly; 7.00pm – 8.00pm Hall
House Activities
Every other year we perform a House play, which has often been directed by a Sixth Form boy. It is our chance to show off the acting talents of the boys in the House; experience is not necessary and in fact some of the most memorable performances are from boys who have never acted before. There are also opportunities to work backstage on sound, lighting and stagemanagement. War of the Worlds, was performed during COVID restrictions. It was a radio play, executed to an exceptionally high standard, which was broadcast to pupils and parents alike through Radio Sherborne. Many members of the cast earned their House Colours due to their significant contribution to House Drama.
Lyon has a unique take on sport at Sherborne, whereby we not only focus on the Inter-House competitions, like cricket, water
polo and House Cross Country, which we hold a very strong history with, but we also focus on minor sports that form bonds between years that most other Houses don’t have. A great example of this would be Dodgeball where a group of boys from Lyon signed up to a public competition against other local teams just to have a few hours of fun during a Sunday afternoon. This is rare for Houses to do, but for Lyon, it’s the norm. Lyon also takes pride in ‘bargeyard rugby’, ‘garden games’ and ‘Friday night football’ as being the best at Sherborne and thus, they are valued highly by the boys and cause great excitement in the House as it’s a perfect time for the older years to socialise with the younger years.
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 Charity
Lyon has a strong reputation in School for its charitable work and in the past we have raised over £20,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital. The money was raised by a charity bike ride from Lyon House, Sherborne to Lyon, France (777km) and the whole House took part in fundraising events throughout the year. The event was another example of our strong community spirit.
Lyon’s new charity is the Prodigal Bikes where we are establishing a link that will allow for boys to not only raise money for the charity but also volunteer their time, particularly on Sundays.
Ten Tors
Lyon is unique in that it has its very own Ten Tors team. The Ten Tors challenge is a 35 mile walk across Dartmoor during which participants must navigate the route themselves and carry with them everything they will need. The School enters a Ten Tors team through the CCF and so does Lyon House. In the Fourth Form you will have the opportunity to take part in the Ten Tors. Only six boys can take part in the challenge so naturally selection is tough. Ten Tors is a fantastic event and just another thing that makes Lyon stand out from the other Houses.
House Socials and Trips
Most weekends there are social events running for you to take part in. There are year group socials which are run with Sherborne Girls that take place across the year at different venues and locations. We also have year group suppers on the private side spread throughout the year.
In Lyon we aim to run about three non-compulsory Sunday House trips per term. These might include things such as paint balling, beach visits or a shopping trip to Bath Christmas market which has proved very popular in recent years. We also look at the possibility of attending professional sports fixtures when the fixtures fit into the School calendar.
The House Council, made up of at least one representative from each year group, plays an important part in coming up with ideas for House trips so that the boys have a significant input, whilst also aiming to recognise the fact that it is important for boys to have downtime at weekends.
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. On 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.
Sherborne
Dorset DT9 3HN
01935 810970
sherborne.org
Lyon House g