OLD SHIRBURNIAN SOCIETY / 3
is full, numbers edging above 600
for the first time in many years. The
financial confidence that this inspires
has allowed us to invest in many
areas of the estate and undertake a
range of projects designed to
improve the look, feel and
functionality of various boarding
houses, classrooms, the dining hall
and outside areas. Work has also
started on the long-awaited
redevelopment of the Sports Centre.
The sailing huts and Medway
building have been demolished and,
foundations dug, the enormous new
Sports Hall is rising from the ground
Given all the disruption and
frustration, it was remarkable that
as I write. The project has another
18 months to run at the end of
the boys accomplished so much last
which the School will have a facility
achievements were outstanding
and sporting ambitions. In making it
year. Not least among their
public examination results. More than a third of our A levels were
graded A* and three-quarters A*
and A, with half of the year group
achieving three or more A*s and As.
worthy of our great athletic heritage
possible, I am extremely grateful to
the many Old Shirburnians who have
supported our fundraising efforts
which will contribute £4 million to
the overall project cost of £13
Well over 90% of our leavers were
million.
courses with two-thirds of the cohort
Another major project high on our
accepted onto their first-choice
taking up places at Russell Group
agenda is the refurbishment and
universities. Meanwhile, over a
reopening of Westcott as the
awarded the top grade of 9 and
Originally due for completion in
8. All the boys who took public
by the pandemic but, so buoyant is
tremendous praise for their hard
now returned to it and hope to have
quarter of our GCSE entries were more than half were at grades 9 and
School’s ninth boarding House.
summer 2021, it was sadly derailed
examinations this year deserve
our pupil recruitment, that we have
work, resilience and flexibility in the
more news soon.
I am also most grateful to the
That so many parents wish to send
brilliantly inspired and supported
growing strength of Sherborne’s
face of extremely trying conditions.
success and the highest levels of
pastoral care. Above all, it is the
enduring values of the School that
mark us out and recommend us: a
place of warmth and intimacy where
kindness and generosity of spirit are
esteemed above all else.
Having come through the darkest
days of the pandemic, we can now
look forward with renewed
optimism. Our School is thriving
and is now even stronger thanks to
our union with Sherborne Prep, with
whom we formally merged in April
2021. Just as important are our
ever-closer links with Sherborne Girls
whose Headmistress, Dr Ruth
Sullivan, shares with me a
commitment to the very best of
single-sex education within the
unique context of our ‘separate yet
together’ partnership. And, with a
keen eye on the future, the New
Year will see us frame our next five
year development plan with an
emphasis upon equipping the boys
with the skills, competencies and
flexibility of outlook that will allow
them to excel in a dynamic, post-
industrial economy.
True to form, our great School has
emerged in good shape from the
trials that the world has recently
endured. For all who have
contributed to that achievement –
boys, parents, staff, Governors and
our many Old Shirburnian
supporters, I am deeply grateful.
teaching and support staff who so
their boys to us is testament to the
Thank you all.
them.
reputation as a school that offers the
Vivat Shirburnia!
If this were not enough, there is
education, combining academic
much else to celebrate. The School
very best in boys’ boarding
achievement with co-curricular
DR DOmINIc LuckETT headmaster
