“WE PRIDE OURSELVES IN OUR STRONG STAFF AND STUDENT RELATIONSHIPS, ENSURING THAT EVERY STUDENT FEELS SAFE, HAPPY, CARED FOR AND VALUED”
WELCOME TO SEXEY’S SCHOOL WE ARE DELIGHTED THAT YOU WISH TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR SCHOOL AND VERY MUCH HOPE THAT THE INFORMATION PROVIDED ENABLES YOU TO GET A SENSE OF THE VIBRANT, EXCITING AND ASPIRATIONAL SCHOOL THAT WE ARE. At Sexey’s we value the importance of learning through enrichment and extra-curricular experiences and we strive to provide a wide range of diverse experiences to enable students to develop important life skills including leadership, creativity and problem solving.
We are a Church of England, state boarding school for 11-18 year olds. We are ambitious for our students’ academic achievement. The Christian values of tolerance, respect and kindness are important to us. We place students at the heart of all that we do. Each student is unique and special and joins us with their own individual skills, qualities and aspirations that it is our privilege and responsibility to grow, develop and nurture. We pride ourselves in our strong staff and student relationships, ensuring that every student feels safe, happy, cared for and valued. Home to school partnership and support are essential in supporting students in achieving their full potential.
We are passionate about preparing Sexey’s students for a life in the ever-changing world of work. Ensuring they leave us with the qualifications, skills and experiences to make certain that they are ready for the next stage in their journey of lifelong learning. Choosing the right secondary school for your child is an extremely important decision and I hope the information provided will help you make that choice. The best way to find out more is to come and see us, meet our students and experience our school in action. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to visit. I look forward to meeting you and sincerely hope this will be the start of a highly successful partnership. Helen Cullen, Headteacher
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF SEXEY’S OVER 500 YEARS OF HISTORY ALL IN ONE SCHOOL Sexey’s School is named after Hugh Sexey, the son of poor parents living in the Bruton area. His baptism is thought to be recorded in Bruton Parish Church on 18th November 1556. He was largely self-taught and, despite his humble origins, rose to an important government position as an auditor to Elizabeth I and James I, becoming a rich man and extensive property owner in the process. After his death in 1619, Sexey’s Hospital was established by the trustees of his will to care for the elderly, which it continues to do today. Later the trustees established a school for apprentices within the Hospital grounds. Over the intervening 500 years the school has been through various incarnations, moving to its present site and being established in 1891. Sexey’s School today is a CofE co-educational state boarding and day school for ages 11-18.
“LOOK NO FURTHER FOR VALUE FOR MONEY: ALL THE ADVANTAGES OF BOARDING IN A SMALL SCHOOL WITHOUT THE ENORMOUS PRICE TAG OR SOCIAL PRETENTIOUSNESS.” THE GOOD SCHOOLS GUIDE
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‘THE TIMES’ NAMED BRUTON AS BEING AMONG THE TOP 10 ‘HIPPEST’ PLACES TO LIVE IN THE UK, NOT LEAST FOR THE TOWN’S ATTRACTIONS INCLUDING HAUSER & WIRTH’S CONTEMPORARY ART GALLERY, ROTH BAR AND GRILL, AND DESTINATION HOTEL AND RESTAURANT ‘AT THE CHAPEL’
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION A LOCAL COMMUNITY WITH AN INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK Sexey’s School is set on the side of a picturesque valley opposite a working water mill and rolling fields in the Somerset town of Bruton. The school is two hours away from London and its international connections, with multiple accessible transport links via rail, bus and road to the cities of Bristol, Bath, Southampton, Wells and Exeter.
Newport M4
Cardiff
Bristol
Weston-super-Mare
Swindon Chippenham
North Wessex Downs AONB
Bath BRUTON
Minehead
M5
Reading M4
Yeovil
Winchester
Southampton
South Downs National Park
Portsmouth
M5
Bournemouth Dorset AONB
M25
Guildford Salisbury
Exeter
Heathrow Airport
Basingstoke
Sexey’s School
Taunton
Exmouth
LONDON
M4
Brighton Worthing
Poole
Weymouth
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STUDENT LIFE SCHOOL LIFE IS SO MUCH MORE THAN WHAT IS LEARNED IN THE CLASSROOM THE FOUR HOUSES Our school’s family atmosphere is enhanced by the inclusion of each student in one of four houses: GlynnJones, Golledge, Hobhouse and Knight. Each has a team of tutors, as well as student leadership support. The houses engender healthy competition but also offer students support with their studies, academic guidance and pastoral care. Students develop strong loyalties to their houses and take their inter-house competitions (including sports, music, drama, public speaking and poetry) very seriously, leading as they do to the annual awarding of the prestigious Bint Shield.
OUR BIGGEST ASSET IS OUR STUDENTS AND THEY PLAY AN INTEGRAL PART IN THE RUNNING OF THE SCHOOL
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BROADENING HORIZONS A WEALTH OF OPPORTUNITY AWAITS YOU AT SEXEY’S, WHATEVER YOUR STRENGTHS OR EXPERIENCE Taking part in life beyond the classroom is a fundamental characteristic of a Sexey’s student and the opportunities to do so abound. From Wind Band to Badminton, Circuit Training to Choir and Drama, Debating and Duke of Edinburgh, there really is no limit to what you might get involved in during your time with us.
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SPORTING LIFE SPORT IS ENCOURAGED FAR BEYOND THE CURRICULUM AND OUR OFFER IS HIGH QUALITY AND DIVERSE The school sports programme on offer features fixtures against most independent and state schools in Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire. We run international sports tours and some of our students also represent the county in national competitions. Through partnerships with local organisations, we also offer other activities such as squash, indoor cricket, fencing, canoeing, sailing, athletics, Zumba, judo, shooting, motor sports, mountain biking, rock climbing, kayaking and chess.
BIG ENOUGH TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE ACROSS A RANGE OF SPORTS, BUT SMALL ENOUGH TO OFFER VARIETY, CHOICE AND A PERSONALISED APPROACH
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ACADEMIC LIFE CONSISTENTLY ACHIEVING OUTSTANDING RESULTS, YEAR IN, YEAR OUT While exam results are not viewed as the main criteria for evaluating the school’s success in providing a balanced education, they are a helpful indicator. Sexey’s students perform consistently highly and well above national average across a range of public examinations at both GCSE and A Level.
“OVER 90% OF OUR STUDENTS PROGRESS ONTO THEIR FIRST CHOICE OF UNIVERSITY”
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A PERSONALISED APPROACH WE VALUE THE DIVERSITY OF EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THE SEXEY’S COMMUNITY AND WILL ALWAYS ENSURE THIS IS REFLECTED IN OUR TEACHING AND LEARNING If, at any stage, students are identified as having additional special needs, we endeavour to provide them. This applies as much to extending the gifted and talented as to providing necessary support for those with specific learning difficulties. A policy for those with special educational needs or more able is available on request from school or can be viewed via our website.
“I AM ALWAYS IMPRESSED WITH HOW THE SCHOOL ENCOURAGES MY CHILDREN TO ACHIEVE AND HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TO LEARNING AND LIFE SKILLS, ENABLING THEM TO BENEFIT FROM AN EXCELLENT ALL ROUND EDUCATION” PARENT
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BOARDING THE BOARDING EXPERIENCE AT SEXEY’S IS UNIQUE AND OUR ROLE AS A STATE BOARDING SCHOOL MEANS OUR PROVISION IS VERY SPECIAL Parents of boarders need only meet the cost of accommodation and care as tuition is government funded in a state boarding school. Each year boys and girls join us from around the UK and overseas to live and work with us at Sexey’s, giving the school a real mix of cultures, experiences and talents.
“THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND BELONGING IS STRIKING WITHIN THE BOARDING HOUSES”
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LIFE BEYOND SEXEY’S A HOME AWAY FROM HOME IN BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDINGS SUPPORTED BY WELL TRAINED, CARING AND SUPPORTIVE STAFF There are three spacious Boarding Houses set in the school grounds, all housing students from each age group (ages 11-18 ) and a team of staff to care for them. Our boarding houses are directly adjacent to the school and both boarding and day students attend lessons together creating a unique atmosphere. We are small enough to offer high quality individualised care but big enough to create a diverse and vibrant boarding and school community.
SEXEY’S FEELS LIKE HOME AND THE MIXTURE OF INTERNATIONAL AND UK STUDENTS MAKES IT A VERY SPECIAL PLACE TO GROW UP
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SIXTH FORM BASED IN ITS OWN BESPOKE BUILDING, OUR SIXTH FORM OFFERS THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS FOR BOARDERS AND NON-BOARDERS ALIKE We are exceptionally proud of our Sixth Form students; they achieve well, develop excellent personal, social and employability skills and are equipped with the characteristics and resilience to become successful members of society. The teaching in the Sexey’s Sixth Form is of a high quality and students make very strong progress throughout their studies. Learning is tailored to the needs of each individual and our dedicated sixth form team is always on hand to provide advice and guidance throughout a student’s time with us. We invite you to attend our Sixth Form Open Evening and encourage you to visit us during the school day to experience the fantastic provision and unique atmosphere of the Sexey’s Sixth Form.
“SEXEY’S IS AN OUTSTANDING ENVIRONMENT TO STUDY AND PREPARES YOU FOR UNIVERSITY AND LATER LIFE, ALL IN A SAFE FAMILY SETTING” STUDENT
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“THE OUTSTANDING PASTORAL CARE IN BOTH THE BOARDING AND DAY TO DAY SCHOOL LIFE PROVIDED A SAFE AND HAPPY ENVIRONMENT WHICH ONLY ADDED TO OUR CHILDREN’S DESIRE TO ACHIEVE AND EMBRACE ALL THAT SEXEY’S HAD TO OFFER AND TO CONFIDENTLY PURSUE FURTHER EDUCATION AT UNIVERSITY” PARENT
Cole Road Bruton Somerset BA10 0DF Tel: 01749 814101 Email: admissions@sexeys.somerset.sch.uk @SexeysSchool
WWW.SEXEYS.SOMERSET.SCH.UK