Add to clipboard

What it's like

Its origins date back to the 8th century, when some kind of school at Sherborne was begun by St Aldhelm, and was re-founded by Edward VI in 1550. It was linked with the Benedictine Abbey. The library, chapel and Headmaster's block were once Abbey buildings and the whole school forms a delightful architectural complex in the centre of this most attractive country town. There have been many extensions and improvements, including most recently a new music school, and facilities and boarding accommodation are excellent. All the boarding houses are within a few minutes walk of the main buildings and there is a close relationship with the town. It is a happy school with a strong pastoral care/tutorial system built round a traditional boarding house structure. The staff:pupil ratio is about 1:8. Academic standards are high and results consistently very good. The school now offers the International Baccalaureate, in addition to AS and A-levels. There are strong music, art, drama and technology departments. A good range of sports and games is available and standards are high (a lot of representatives at county and national level). There is a large number range of extra-curricular activities, including a wide range of voluntary community and other services.

Pupils & entrance

Pupils: Age range 13-18; 595 boys (50 day, 545 boarding). Entrance: Main entry age 13, plus approx 10 pa at age 16. Common Entrance used (own exam if not appropriate). For sixth-form entry, at least 5 GCSEs (4 at grade B, 1 at grade C). Boys come from approximately 200 feeder prep schools

Scholarships & bursaries

Large number of scholarships awarded at 13, a few at 16, value 10%-100% of fees: academic, all-rounder, music, art, design and technology, sport. Variable number of bursaries for existing pupils who require financial help.

Head & staff

Headmaster: Chris Davis in post from 2010. Educated at Eton and Cambridge University. Currently Housemaster at Eton. Teaching staff: 80 full time, 20 part time (mainly music). Annual turnover 5%. Average age 36.

Exam results

GCSE/IGCSE: 110 pupils in fifth form, 100% gaining at least grade C in 8+ subjects. A-levels/IB: 87 in upper sixth. Of those taking AS/Alevel, 10% passed in 4 subjects, 90% in 3 subjects, with an average final point score of 365. Of those taking the IB, the average IB points were 33.

Pupils' destinations

99% of sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (60% after a gap year), 7% to Oxbridge. 10% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 29% in science and engineering, 5% in law, 40% in humanities and social sciences, 3% in art and design, 11% in vocational subjects eg business, hotel management.

Curriculum

GCSE/IGCSE, AS and A-levels, IB Diploma. 26 A-level subjects offered. Sixth form: Pupils either take the IB Diploma or AS/A-levels. Of those taking AS/A-levels, most take 4 subjects at AS-level (mix of arts, humanities and sciences), 3-4 at A-level and complete an extended project qualification. 30% take science and maths A-levels; 35% arts/humanities; 35% both. General studies not taken; key skills integrated into sixth-form courses but not assessed. Vocational: Work shadowing available. Languages: French, German, Italian, Mandarin, Russian, and Spanish offered. Regular exchanges for linguists to France, Germany and Spain. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. 80+ computers for pupil use, all networked (including boarding houses) and all with email and internet access; many pupils have their own computers.

The arts

Music: Approx 50% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 12 regular musical groups including orchestras, choirs, concert band, swing band, jazz band, guitar orchestra, plus several chamber music groups. Regular school and house concerts. Pupils in county youth orchestra; regular organ/choral awards to Oxford; success with musical diplomas (eg ARCO, ARCM, LRAM). Drama: AS and A-level drama and theatre studies available, plus LAMDA and Guildhall exams. Many pupils are involved in school and house productions. Art and design: On average, 12 take AS/A-level.

Sports & activities

Sport: Include rugby, cricket, hockey, soccer, squash, fives, athletics, basketball, cross-country, fencing, golf, swimming, sailing, shooting, tennis, badminton, polo. Many representatives at county level, a few at national. Activities: Many involved with Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. CCF and community service both popular. Over 40 clubs, eg all academic fields, debating, film, photography, sub aqua, woodland management.

School life

Uniform: School uniform worn throughout. Houses and prefects: Head boy, prefects - appointed by Headmaster; heads of house and house prefects by Housemaster. Religion: Church of England. Sunday services, chapel twice-weekly, most compulsory for younger pupils. Wide range of voluntary communion and other services. Social: Regular concerts, debates, dances with Sherborne Girls' and Leweston's. Pupils allowed to bring own bike to school. Meals self-service. School shop sells uniform and sports kit. No alcohol allowed.

Discipline

Emphasis on self-discipline with possible sanctions such as detentions and impositions. Those caught with drugs on the premises might expect expulsion.

Boarding

25% have own study bedroom, 50% share; 25% are in dormitories of 6+. Houses of approximately 70. Resident qualified health centre sister; local medical practitioners include those with sports medicine expertise. Central dining hall and school café (The Pod). Pupils can provide and cook light snacks and coffee/tea in houses. Flexible and fixed weekend exeats.

Association of former pupils

is run by John Harden, Hon Secretary Old Shirburnian Society, c/o the school (email oss@sherborne.org)

Former pupils

David Sheppard (cricketer and Bishop of Liverpool); Sir Christopher Chataway (athlete and MP); Jeremy Irons, Hugh Bonneville, Charlie Cox, Jon Pertwee, Lance Percival and John Le Mesurier (actors); Nigel Dempster, Tom Bradby (journalists); Dr Colin Lucas (Vice Chancellor of Oxford University); John Le Carré (author); Sir Richard Eyre (theatre director); Sir Michael Hopkins (architect); Cecil Day-Lewis (Poet Laureate); Sir David Spedding (Head of Secret Intelligence Services); A N Whitehead (mathematician and philosopher); Alan Turing (Enigma code breaker and computer pioneer ); Chris Martin (musician, Coldplay).