DISCOVERY DAY
DISCOVERY DAY Pastoral care is given the highest priority here at Sherborne and it is a sign of the strength of our community, and the character of our boys, that they look after one another with sensitivity, compassion and empathy. This is one of the greatest merits of our full-boarding context, and Shirburnians take the habits they learn here with them, wherever life leads. The information within this booklet is designed to help you and your son prepare for his arrival at Sherborne. It provides insight into life in a Boarding House and School routines, as well academic and co-curricular information. We recognise that moving from one school to another opens up a wealth of exciting opportunities but also challenges and we will do all we can to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible. We do this in lots of ways, including both the School and your son’s Housemaster opening up a dialogue with you directly towards the end of Year 8. We want to get to know your son as well as we can prior to his arrival so he thrives and is happy from the very start of this time with us. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further queries at this stage.
Matthew Jamieson Deputy Head (Pastoral)
LIFE IN THE BOARDING HOUSE
Boarding at Sherborne is at the centre of the enriching education that we provide. Boys are given the space to be individuals, to explore interests and to fly with new ideas, while learning to live in a close community that requires them to respect and celebrate the differences in others. The boarding House communities provide the ideal environment for boys to develop the personal and interpersonal qualities they will need for life beyond school; integrity, responsibility for oneself and others, resilience, self-awareness, empathy, leadership and service, kindness and a good sense of humour. To provide the best boarding experience, we believe that full 24/7 boarding should mean just that and the houses are as full and busy at weekends as they are during the school week.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The Housemaster The Housemaster is responsible for all boys in the House and especially for their care and welfare. He ensures that their academic work is progressing well (in liaison with tutors) and that their school life is fulfilling, without being overloaded. He is your main point of contact; please get in touch with him if you have any concerns or worries, as well as any good news that you would like to share. Conversely if you have potentially upsetting news for your son, please advise his Housemaster. The House Tutors In addition to the Housemaster, your son will have a personal tutor who will see your son at least once a fortnight and will build up a good working relationship with them and with you. The tutorial team within your son’s boarding House is important and it is hoped you will get to know all of the people involved as well as possible.
The House team In addition, other members of the House, Matron, Housekeeper, Assistant Matron and domestic staff, all provide listening ears of differing kinds. Please encourage your son to turn to them as well as to his tutor or Housemaster. Older boys and Prefects are often a great support and your son might also want at some stage to talk to the Chaplain or the School Counsellor or one of the School doctors. Arrival at Sherborne New boys arrive a day before the remainder of the School, so that they may settle into unfamiliar surroundings and have a chance to get to know the Prefects and the others in their year group.
ACADEMIC INFORMATION Third Form curriculum All boys follow the same core curriculum in the Third Form but there is some variation depending on ability and previous experience. Choices concerning GCSE are made in the second half of the Lent Term when boys’ academic strengths and interests will be more evident and when they have had time to make decisions based on experience. Changes to choices can still be made after February but only subject to timetabling restrictions that will have been imposed at that point. The following guiding principles reflect our aims within the junior curriculum: • The quality of work and learning is more important than the quantity • The curriculum should recognise the diversity of boys and their needs. It must stretch the most able whilst effectively supporting all boys, whatever their ability in different areas and in so doing we must not assume that ‘one size fits all’ • Cross-curricular work should be encouraged wherever possible • Interpersonal and academic skills, and independent learning, should be developed for all boys over the Third Form to allow them to learn better later • The Third Form should provide educational opportunities that go beyond the constraints of the public examination system. Occasionally it is felt that it is not in the best interest of an individual boy to study the full range of subjects in the Third Form. If you think that your son may fall into this category, then you should contact Lindsey Millar, the Assistant Head (Academic), to discuss further.
Core curriculum All boys study English, Mathematics, Geography, History, Theology, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, ICT and PSHFE throughout the year. They take at least one Classical subject and two Modern Languages, though there is individual choice as to which particular courses are studied. All boys study Art, Design Technology, Drama and Music in the Michaelmas term, and then choose one of these subjects to continue after Christmas. In English, Mathematics and the Sciences boys are taught in sets based on ability. It is likely that there will be some movement between sets during the course of the year. Sets are totally redrawn in the Fourth Form and, in Sciences, boys are streamed into those who will take dual award and those who will take triple. Classics All boys in the Third Form study Classics. Depending on prior experience and proficiency, boys either study Latin or a course in
Classical Civilisation. Boys in the top Latin set have the opportunity to study Classical Greek alongside Latin. This ‘Gratin’ option has no requirement for boys to have studied Greek previously. Modern Languages Boys study at least two Modern Languages. They are asked to choose from French, German and Spanish at a point during the summer before they join us. There is no course for beginners in French but the courses in Spanish and German are suitable both for beginners and for those with some experience. The top set will study French, German and Spanish together and boys can continue with all three languages at GCSE if they then wish. Boys who do not speak English as a first language can select English as an Additional Language (EAL) as one of their Modern Language options. Similarly, boys may also opt to study Mandarin as one of their Modern Language choices, although this is by
individual arrangement and there is a charge for tuition in this subject. ICT All boys will have one lesson of ICT each week and will work towards a bespoke Sherborne ICT Diploma qualification. Lessons will include touch typing, computing and developing the use of software such as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. In addition to this they will undertake a coding course, providing them with the opportunity to think critically and to understand the basic principles of coding. Personal, Social, Health and Fitness Education Sherborne School has designed a Personal, Social and Health and Fitness Education programme (PSHFE) that develops through the junior school to address issues at age-appropriate levels. The overarching aim is to promote informed decision-making, selfawareness and help the boys make a smooth transition from their
previous schools. To facilitate this, PSHFE is taught in House groups by the boys’ Housemaster. The initial focus of the Third Form course is community and relationships with people including peers, other members of the School, family and the wider community. We will then concentrate on personal education, tackling issues such as smoking, divorce, bereavement, confidence building and puberty. Hall Hall is the Sherborne term for prep. All boys in the Third Form will have supervised Hall in their boarding House each evening. • 17:30 – 19:00 Hall / Activities • 19:45 – 20:45 Hall • 20:45 – 21:45 Hall / Activities All boys have a Hall diary. Boys will receive clear guidance from each department regarding expectations for Hall presentation.
CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Clubs and Societies As part of the curriculum, boys in the Third Form participate in the weekly programme of academic and cultural clubs and societies organised by departments. Beyond the Third Form there are opportunities to pursue joint academic and cultural interests with Sherborne Girls through many of the clubs and academic societies, or through music and drama. Sport Sport plays an integral part in life at Sherborne. The School offers a wide range of sports in each of the three terms. During Games sessions in the Michaelmas Term your son will play rugby and have the opportunity to represent the School in one of the six teams in this age group. In the Lent Term there is a choice of hockey or football with each sport running three teams in the age group, plus a number of other competitive and recreational activities. In the Trinity Term he will play cricket, with four teams at this level, tennis or join the athletics squad. Where a choice exists your son will be guided to the most appropriate sport through discussions between him, his Housemaster, tutor and the Director of Sport and Heads of Sport. However, it is feasible for your son to take part in more than one sport during a term. As your son progresses through the School, other sports which may be offered include: sailing, squash, cross country, Rugby fives, badminton, basketball, fencing, swimming, water polo, golf, riding, polo, cycling, climbing and clay-pigeon shooting. Rugby sevens also runs during the Lent Term. In the Third Form, your son will also fence and play squash, fives, climb, play water polo and golf as part of a sports carousel during activity time in his first term.
Music Standards of Music at Sherborne are exceptionally high and, in many areas, world class. The emphasis in the Music Department is upon having fun and further developing team skills through participation in bands, orchestras and choirs. An enormous amount of exciting music-making takes place at Sherborne, from rock and pop through jazz to classical, and there are many groups in which your son will be able to participate – there are some 300 instrumental lessons delivered each week. Some boys tend to give up an instrument as they leave their Prep school but at Sherborne we strongly discourage this. We actively encourage most boys to be involved with Music at Sherborne in some way or other – and there is certainly no obligation to take grade exams along the way. At the very least your son will contribute to the magnificent whole school singing in
the Abbey twice a week – something of which we are very proud. The purpose built Music school (2010) has state-of-the-art facilities within a suite of modern teaching and practice rooms, a recording studio, and sound- proofed studios for the noisier bands. In addition there is a full complement of grand and upright pianos, a harpsichord and a two-manual organ in the Chapel; keen organists also enjoy regular access to the Abbey organ. Instrumental lessons Boys who already play an instrument will wish to continue developing their skills through further music lessons, and taking up an instrument on arrival at Sherborne is strongly encouraged.
GENERAL INFORMATION Abbreviations Many abbreviations and acronyms are used within the School community. The following should prove helpful: a c e g BSR JCR
School House The Green Wallace House Lyon House Big School Room Junior Common Room
b d f m OSR SG
Abbey House Harper House Abbeylands The Digby Old School Room Sherborne Girls
Food The School believes that boys should be provided with a healthy, satisfying and well-balanced diet. Breakfast, lunch, tea and supper are provided, with lunch being the main meal of the day. Wherever possible a choice of food is offered, and at lunchtime there are always several options including a salad bar. A varied menu is provided for vegetarians, for religious observance and for those with food allergies (so long as these have been advised in advance). It is important to promote good eating habits and the catering staff offer information to the boys about the foods available to help them in choosing a healthy diet. The Hub The Hub café, which is situated at the entrance to the Sixth Form Common Room, is open to all boys, staff, parents and the general public. It opens from 8.00am-5.00pm Monday to Friday and 8.00am-3.00pm on Saturdays throughout the year, and offers high quality coffee, tea, cold drinks and a variety of home baked cakes and savouries as well as a ‘tuck shop’ offering confectionery. Parent Portal The School provides access to up-to date information on boys’ progress via the Sherborne Parent Portal, a website designed specifically for Sherborne parents and guardians. The information available through the Portal
includes the Memoranda (School Rules), teaching sets and teachers, timetables, rewards and discipline records, end of term reports, assessment results, examination entry details and examination results, as well as a directory of School staff. You will receive full details via e-mail of how to connect to the Portal early in the Michaelmas Term. Sherborne App An additional way of accessing some key information is via a mobile App, accessible from iOS and Android mobiles and tablets. The App currently includes some general information as well as specific information for parents and boys when logged in. For details about how to download the App, please visit http://apps.sherborne.org/. If you have any comments or questions relating to the App, please contact apps@sherborne.org.
School rules and policies The School rules are published separately in the Memoranda. A full list of the School’s policies and copies of the policies themselves are available on request. Other local schools: Girls’ Schools and Sherborne International Sherborne offers all the advantages of single-sex education combined with the best aspects of coeducation through strong links with Sherborne Girls. Activities that are shared include Music, Drama, clubs and societies and social activities. Sherborne International is owned by the School. It prepares boys and girls from overseas for entry to independent senior schools across Britain.
CONTACT INFORMATION
MANY THINGS HERE ARE SIMPLY WORLD CLASS. HIGH ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS AND OUTSTANDING PASTORAL CARE ARE, AND MUST REMAIN, THE BEDROCK OF A SHERBORNE EDUCATION. OUR MUSICAL, ARTISTIC AND SPORTING PROVISION IS OUTSTANDING AND ALL OUR BOYS HAVE ACCESS TO AN EXTRAORDINARY RANGE OF CO-CURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES. DOMINIC LUCKETT - HEADMASTER
For further information please contact: Vanessa Hicks, Director of Admissions ADMISSIONS DEPARTMENT SHERBORNE SCHOOL ABBEY ROAD SHERBORNE DORSET DT9 3AP T: 01935 810403 E: admissions@sherborne.org www.sherborne.org