Welcome to Reader Harris (2023)

WELCOME TO READER HARRIS

Welcome to Reader Harris

We feel so lucky to have you joining us in Reader Harris and first and foremost wish to extend to you the warmest of welcomes to your new home from home! New starts, or just a new academic year, often offer a mix of emotionsfrom apprehension to huge excitement. I am thrilled that I get to share this wonderful time in your life and will be there every step of the way with you.

Reader Harris is a vibrant, exciting and hugely caring community that is fiercely proud of each and every one of its sisters. We cannot wait to find out about all the wonderful things that make you, you! We respect, support and appreciate one another in a place where you can always be assured of someone who is happy to talk I truly believe in the power of a smile and promise you lots on a daily basis; kindness is at the root of everything we strive to do at SG and that is certainly at the very foundation of this special House Your happiness is of paramount importance to me and all the staff and we will always be there to celebrate your triumphs and support the more difficult moments – together we can find our way through any situation.

We want you to make wonderful memories in your time at SG; and time, of course, goes quickly when you are having fun. Let me urge you to throw yourself into the many opportunities available to represent Reader Harris, as part of a House team, in the variety of inter-house competitions offered, or in the smaller (but fabulous!) in-house activities over the course of the week Make the most of this incredibly special time in your life

I hope you will find this handbook a useful guide for informing you of some of the key things you will need to know about living in Reader Harris You will undoubtedly have lots of questions in your first few days and weeks and please be assured that we are all here to help – no issue is too big or small! I know that in no time at all you will feel completely at home and all the new systems and routines will become second nature.

I am so thrilled that we will be sharing this amazing journey together and welcome you, with my husband Mark (who is Director of Music at SG), our daughter Clemmie and the totally amazing staff and girls of RH, to the Reader Harris family!

Mrs Cracknell - Housemistress

Impor t ant cont act det ails

House

Mrs Cracknell (Housemistress) f cracknell@sherborne com

House email: readerharris@sherborne.com

House landline: 01935 818244

House mobile: 07808 775581

School

Mrs Briggs (Deputy Head, Pastoral & Designated Safeguarding Lead) 01935 818338

General SG Emergency Number 01935 818333

Please add these details to your phone. It is important that you can get in touch with the House at all times. The House phone is answered by the Matron during the day, and the Tutor on duty in the evening

House ethos

• Everyone in Reader Harris has the right to enjoy living and working in our community and each individual should feel valued and proud to be in our House

• It is important that we respect each other’s views and feelings

• We should respect each person ’ s property, space and time

• Treat others as we would wish to be treated ourselves

• We need to care for each other and our home

• We need to think of Reader Harris as being part of a bigger community

• We should support each other, particularly when others feel unhappy, homesick or alone

• We rise by lifting others

‘Quo Modo Tibi Sic Alis’

‘Do unto others as you would have done unto yourself’ House Motto

Communication

For girls:

• We are around every day – we live here with you, after all We are always available to support you, so never hesitate to come and see us about any issue, big or small The office is a good place to ‘plonk’ and chat over cups of tea Mrs Cracknell has one day off a week and the resident Assistant Housemistress will run the house during this period

• If you need anyone in the middle of the night, come straight to Mrs Cracknell’s door, which you will be shown on the first night, and knock

• You will all have the House mobile number if you need us, and we have all your numbers in case we need to contact you in an emergency

For parents:

• We really encourage open communication with parents at all times. We are all in this together in supporting these wonderful girls through their exciting new adventure, so any perspective we can have to do this well really helps us. There will also be lots of questions and we are often a good starting point to help answer them

• Email is probably the most straightforward means of communicating If preferred, do telephone the House office or mobile numbers in this booklet and leave messages with Matrons or on voicemail, as we check these regularly A lot of the time our amazing Matrons, Anna and Sara, will be able to answer your questions or deal with the situation straight away.

The House st af f

There is a team of House staff to provide additional pastoral support and help. Anna and Sara are our Day Matrons and they are here from 8am to 6pm. They will make you appointments at the Health Centre, organise train tickets and taxis when you need them, and will liaise with your parents about travel arrangements for exeats and the end of term. A Matron also checks that your rooms are tidy every day, and will help with laundry if you need assistance.

The HM is supported by a residential Assistant who runs the boarding house during the HM’s time off in the week. The wider house pastoral team includes day matrons and a team of residential staff who perform evening and weekend duties. All the pastoral staff work tirelessly to support the girls in making the house feel like a home from home and they are all looking forward to meeting you in September.

The main House staff are assisted by many other teaching staff including, Mr Casely, who teaches Art History, Food Technology and Italian; Mrs Bonelli-Bean, a MFL teacher; and Mrs Mackintosh who organises all the exchanges and volunteering There is a staff duty rota outside the House office, which lets you know who is on duty and when.

Everyone is allocated a Tutor. Your Tutor will see you once a week and can come into the Boarding House and have lunch with you. They will help you organise your school work and will answer any academic queries.

Suppor t in House and in the School

There are lots of people to talk to. All the House staff are here for you, and we are all good at giving hugs.

New girls to the House are allocated a buddy Please use your buddy as a useful source of information.

In addition, the L6 girls are here to help you The Head and Vice Head of House have both been appointed to these important roles as they really do care about the House and the girls who live here. They will listen to you and help you

We also have a team of L6 Supporters and Listeners. These girls have been trained and will offer a listening ear if you are worried about anything and you would prefer to speak to someone nearer your own age. Look out for green signs on their bedroom doors to know who to call on if you want to talk.

We

have three School

Counsellors (Heddy, Lauenna and Veronica) who come into School to talk to girls. You can also speak to the Chaplain if you want a chat. The Chaplain can be found in the Ark in Main School

If you would like to speak to someone independent of School then do look at the noticeboards, as there are lots of telephone numbers there

Dealing with homesickness

For some of you, this may be your first time away from home and you may not find the first few days easy. That is natural. It doesn’t matter how old you are when you first move away from home, it is always tricky getting used to different routines and getting to know new people. The important thing to remember is that if you are feeling homesick, this will get better with time To help, here are some tips from older girls who have experienced what you may be going through now.

• Make sure you are not on your own If you are feeling sad, it often feels worse if you isolate yourself Be brave and pop into another person ’ s room, or start up a conversation with someone you have not spoken to before

• You will not be the only person struggling – lots of other girls will be, too. Look at the other girls around you and see if you can get alongside someone who is also finding it hard You can help each other!

• Remember to look at the older year groups and how settled they seem. They were like you once and now look how relaxed they are Very soon Reader Harris will feel like a second home

• Get into a routine when communicating with home It is a good idea to call when you know you have something to be doing straight afterwards, so you don’t feel low after hearing their lovely, familiar voices!

• When you do speak to your parents at home, talk about everything you have been doing. They will be missing you and will want to hear about all you are involved in Give them a picture of all your highlights as well as anything you are finding challenging

• Come and get a hug from one of the members of staff on duty We love hugs!

• If you are boarding, try to ‘stay in’ as much as you can because that way you get lots of momentum and confidence, and don’t miss out on anything fun in the House

• Be careful not to spend too much time on the phone to people not at School – while you are on your phone, relationships are being formed and fun is being had - get involved!

• Keep yourself busy –distractions are 100% the best way of getting through or avoiding homesickness! Don’t be too hard on yourself if you have a wobble! This might happen in the first few days, after a lovely phone call home or after the first time seeing your parents It may not happen until you begin to feel more tired at the end of term or even after a long holiday at home. It might take longer than you expect to feel settled in your friendship group but that is normal Remember the House staff are here to back you up and are totally used to supporting girls going through this enormous adventure with all the ups and downs

The Health Centre and medicine

Dr Middle and Dr Thomas are our School Doctors. All boarders are registered with them. One of them comes to the Health Centre from Monday to Friday at 8am and you can easily get an appointment to see them if you need to. You can either make one yourself by going to the Health Centre, or ask Matron and she will organise an appointment for you.

If you feel unwell, the House staff may suggest that you go to the Health Centre to see a nurse for advice (or we will phone from Reader Harris to get advice) There is always a nurse on duty in the Health Centre.

If you want to see someone in the Health Centre but do not want to let anyone know that you are going, either Teams message ‘Health Care Reception’ or email health@sherborne com to arrange an appointment.

You cannot keep any medicine or tablets in your room All medicines are kept in the medicine cabinet in the House office. If you need to take medicine regularly, usually this is done at 7.30am. The House staff on duty will dispense medicines and keep track of them on the school system

Who can I t alk to?

Everybody has worries or problems at some time in their lives. Although there may be times when you do not want to talk about worries, it is usually sensible and helpful to talk to someone else about them and to try to help sort them out. You could talk to one of the other girls in your year group or the older girls in House – your Head of House or a Prefect. However, there are occasions when an adult may be a more appropriate person to talk to and there are a very large number to choose from at school, as well as your parents and relations.

Safeguarding Hotline

01935 818324

Safeguarding Leads

Lead: Mrs Briggs 01935 818342 07711 002937

Deputies: Mrs Miller, Mr McClary Mrs Orton, Mrs Beard

Children’s Commissioner for England 0800 528 0731

www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk

Counsellors

Mrs Heddy Smith 07970 843359 h.smith@sherborne.com

Ms Lauenna Luddington

Mrs Veronica Rosello

Teachers

Childline* 0800 1111

Tutors

Matrons

Chaplain

Revd Katie W indle

chaplain@sherborne.com

Senior Staff

House mistress/ master Friends

Aroundthe-clock suppor t

Tootoot

LGBTQ+

Miss Brown (r brown@sherborne com)

Mr Greed (g.greed@sherborne.com)

Mr McClary (i mcclary@sherborne com)

Learning Support

v collyer@sherborne com

Doctors

Dr Charlie Middle

Dr Katie Thomas

Samaritans

116 123 jo@samaritans org

Independent Listener

Mrs Ann Simon 07890 549135

Mrs Isabel Burke 07989 527888

Nurses health@sherborne.com 07977 469663

All members of staff would be pleased to talk to you and try to help. This includes Dr Sullivan and Mrs Briggs. If you need to see the Head quickly, see her Personal Assistant, Mrs Horton They will listen to you in confidence, but there may be times when they have to ask your permission to tell someone what you have told them, if they think you or others are at serious risk of harm.

Meals

All meals in House are compulsory. We always take a register, and we use this as a roll call. Please be prompt to mealtimes. If you have specific dietary requirements, please let the House staff know as soon as possible, so that arrangements can be made with our Chef.

Mealtimes are as follows:

Breakfast

Monday – Friday 7.30am/7.45am

Saturday – 7 30am

Sunday – 9.30am (if there is a morning service) 11am brunch (if there is an evening service)

Lunch

Monday

Friday 1pm

Saturday – A rolling lunch to make sure you can eat before or after your sport

Sunday 1pm (unless there has been brunch at 11am, in which case there is no lunch)

Supper

Monday – Friday 6.15pm

Saturday 6pm

Sunday 6pm (unless there is an evening Abbey Service, in which case it is at 5 30pm)

When arriving for meals, please queue up in the corridor until the member of staff on duty says you can come through. You must wear something on your feet At breakfast and supper, girls tend to sit with their year groups Supper times (and all meals on Sundays) tend to be very relaxed – PJs are perfectly acceptable!

On Mondays you will sit in family groups across the year groups so you get to know the whole House really quickly You must wait until everyone has finished eating their main course on your table before you are dismissed to clear your plates.

Please remember table manners in the dining room. For example, no elbows on tables, don’t talk with your mouth full, etc.

If your Tutor is in for lunch, remember to be a good host: please chat to them – they have made an effort to come and spend lunch with you.

The dining room is a mobile-free zone. Please do not take your phone out in the dining room –expect it to be confiscated if it is seen!

Takeaways

You may order takeaways on Saturday evenings. However, you need to get permission from the member of staff on duty beforehand. You must also wait downstairs so that you can watch for the delivery driver and your takeaway must arrive before 9pm.

House routines

Signing in and out

We ask all girls to sign out and back into House after 5pm during the week or at any point if going off site (for which you need to seek permission) Day girls and day boarders have a separate signing-out book and must sign in when they arrive each morning and when they leave each evening. At weekends all girls need to sign out and back in again whenever they leave the House. We must be strict about signing out and in again as the Housemistress needs to know who is in the House at any given time for fire safety reasons We will take you through the rules and it will soon become second nature.

House meetings

Each morning, during breakfast, we have a House briefing where the staff read notices and help you plan for the day and week ahead

All important notices are summarised and written on the whiteboard in the dining room.

On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday House briefing is at 7 30am On Thursday it is at 8.10am in the drawing room.

In the evenings we have ‘tea and chat’, where Mrs Cracknell may meet with the whole House or a specific year group to run through key events or issues. You will also have the opportunity to present ‘House prayers ’ to your year group or House

On Mondays, there is usually an assembly in The Merritt Centre and on Wednesdays and Fridays school prayers or hymn practice take place in the School Hall or The Meritt Centre at 8 10am We sit together as a House

From Monday to Saturday break is from 10.55am to 11 25am You will come back to House for this and will need to get changed out of PE kit/drama blacks if you have had PE, games or Drama during periods 1, 2 or 3. You may need to get changed out of uniform into PE kit/drama blacks if you have a PE, games or Drama lesson during periods 4 or 5. There will be a snack waiting for you in the kitchen and you are welcome to make a hot drink On a Saturday lessons finish at 10.55am.

During the week, lessons finish at 1pm and you must come back to House promptly for

lunch After lunch you may have a tutorial, an activity such as Choir or Sport, or you may get a bit of downtime. On Saturdays, lunch is from 11 45am to 12 45pm, followed by Saturday Sport for L5 and M5 from 1pm to 2pm or matches if you are chosen for a team. Team sheets are posted on the sports noticeboards as soon as we know them

On weekdays, lessons start again at 2.35pm so you need to leave House by 2.25pm, apart from Wednesdays when lessons start at 1 45pm, so you need to leave House by 1 35pm Lessons finish at 5pm If you are not heading straight out to after-school activities, you may choose to make a cuppa and come to the office for a chat

There are lots of opportunities to get involved in activities after school These usually run from 5 15pm to 6 15pm Please make the most of all the opportunities on offer but, at the same time, don’t overload yourself. Your Tutor will help you choose activities and you can also talk things through with House staff if you are unsure what to do. The Activities Fair in September will enable you to select your activities.

Unless you have an activity (for example, a tennis lesson, Leiths cookery, ballet, choir, etc.), you must be back in House by 6pm, ready for supper at 6 15pm

Prep starts at 7pm L5 do prep in the dining room where there are members of staff and Prefects to help. The whole House must be silent during this time

If you need to work collaboratively with another girl, this must be arranged with a member of staff on duty (or the L6 who is supervising prep) For collaborative work, you must use the drawing room, common room or another space, which will not disturb anyone else in House Any girl who is found to be disruptive, noisy or not working will be asked to join L5 for supervised prep in the prep room. At 8pm, L5 can go back up to their ‘cubies’ and read quietly until 8 30pm It is important that the whole House is quiet until 8.30pm as older girls do not finish prep until this time. After 8 30pm there are often activities such as board game nights, Reader Running Club, PJ Prayers, Mindfullness, or just gathering around to watch a good film or TV programme.

Bedtime routine Bedtimes are staggered, depending on your year group.

All girls must hand in mobile phones and any other electronic devices (e g tablets and laptops) before bedtime

You need to take these to the House office, where a member of staff or a Sixth Former will be on duty to receive them. Each girl has a labelled shelf where they put their devices This office is locked every evening

The bedtime routine is as follows:

The routine is different on a Saturday evening. Supper is at 6pm, then you will have a social This could be a disco, a social with one of Sherborne School’s Houses, a movie night, a sleepover with friends from another House or a supper evening.

On a Saturday night bedtimes are later to accommodate the fun! It is important to settle once staff have asked you to do so – just as you would at home Respecting each other’s sleep is a very important Reader Harris rule

On Sunday nights we try to go to bed earlier after a busy weekend This helps us get ready for the week to come

House duties

All girls in the House are expected, just as they would at home, to contribute to helping keep the House tidy and pleasant place to be We believe in everyone 'doing their bit', from cleaning tables after supper to bringing mugs down from upstairs.

Different year groups will have different levels of responsibility

The L6, as leaders of the house, take responsibility for supporting the younger pupils during supervised prep, collecting devices at bedtime and wishing the girls goodnight. In addition to this our house prefects are responsible for a number different areas, including House Spirit, Wellbeing , Sport, Music and Food (to name but a few!) and lead important initiatives in these areas.

Going out and welcoming visitors to the House

Going out

After lessons you are allowed to go to Budgens You must ask permission as it is off site, sign in and out, and be back in House by 6pm ready for supper. You must either be in full uniform, or in smart casual clothes (check the dress code for more details on this) You should never be ‘partly’ in uniform, by mixing it with your casual clothes.

L5 and M5 are allowed into town on Saturday afternoons after either match commitments or Saturday Sport and then on Sundays when other commitments allow

U5 and L6 can go into town after lessons. Again, you must be back in House by 6pm.

Going outside Sherborne M5 upwards may go to Yeovil at the weekend, but permission must be sought from the Housemistress or the member of staff on duty. A taxi must be ordered by the person on duty and you must be in a group of at least three (L6 can go in pairs)

L6 can go to Bath, Salisbury or Bristol, but this must be organised in advance with the Housemistress

If it is your birthday or a special occasion, your parents may take you out for supper. However, unless this is a weekend, you may not invite friends This is because going out midweek is disruptive to prep routines. This is a School rule (not just a House rule). If you would like to celebrate your birthday with friends, it is best to wait until Saturday evening or Sunday lunch

L6 can go out to a restaurant for supper on Saturday or lunch on Sunday in groups of no more than six This needs to be arranged in advance with Mrs Cracknell.

Please be aware that even if you do not have a match on a Saturday and you are in L5 or M5, you still have a commitment to Saturday Sport and so you are not available to meet with parents until after this time

Your behaviour and dress when out and about must be exemplary, as you are representing the School. Please create a good impression The School boundaries are published on the House noticeboards. You must be aware of where you are and are not allowed to go.

Exeats/weekends out

There are usually two exeats every term These usually start at 1pm on a Friday You may not leave School before this time.

The School train to Waterloo normally leaves at 1 35pm and gets to Waterloo at 3 47pm It usually leaves Waterloo at 5.15pm on a Sunday afternoon to come back. It is escorted and you will be given the phone number and name of the member of staff on the train before you leave All girls need to leave promptly for exeat, after which time Reader Harris will be locked up. It will not reopen again until 6pm on the Sunday evening, so please do not return before this time as you will not be able to get in. However, if you do need to arrive back to School earlier than 6pm, a selected House will be open and a Matron will be on duty there All girls must return by 9pm after an exeat weekend

As a full boarding school the weekends are just as important and busy as the weekdays. All boarders remain in school at weekends and there is a wideranging activity programme on offer

Queenie’s and The Coffee Pod The Coffee Pod is a café in the reception area of the Oxley Sports Centre which you may use after school and at weekends. There is also a café in the Upper Foyer of The Merritt Centre, called Queenie’s, which is open after lunch and after school These are good places to meet up with your friends.

Visitors

Girls from other Houses and boys from Sherborne School are very welcome to visit us here in the House. There is a visitor signing-in book that everyone must sign Please let the member of staff on duty know that a visitor has arrived. It is very important that they are introduced to the member of staff on duty. Boys are not allowed upstairs You must stay in the drawing or dining rooms

Family members are always welcome to the House, but nobody is allowed upstairs including parents (unless it is the start or end of term) If you have friends from outside the School visiting, please let the duty member of staff know when they arrive and introduce them.

Keeping personal items safe

All rooms and ‘cubies’ are equipped with a lockable drawer. You are advised to keep any precious items and money locked away. You will need to see Matron if you wish to have the key for your lockable drawer and she will sign it out for you. Please be aware, however, that you need to return the key at the end of term. You will be charged £15 for a replacement if you lose it.

Money and passports

Passports must be handed in. If you require a Visa to study in England, your passport is kept in the safe in the office in Main School Anyone who has a large amount of cash is advised to hand this in to us for safekeeping. You may use us as a House bank, and sign out money as you wish to use it

Day girls House and School facilities

Day girls – you are welcome to come into School for breakfast and to stay until after prep. You are expected to arrive in good time for prayers or assembly. It is also extremely important that you sign out at the end of the day when you leave so that we know you have gone home. If you plan on leaving straight from Main School at the end of the day, please call or email the House.

Day boarders – you have set nights that you stay. You need to let Mrs Cracknell or a Matron know which nights these are You need to give 48 hours’ notice if you would like to stay on any other nights (or go home when you would normally sleep over)

If you stay at school on a Saturday evening and there is an Abbey Service the next morning, you are expected to attend

Laundry

We have a laundry room with three industrial washing machines and three huge dryers Everyone can use these machines and must manage their own washing They are automated and dispense detergent and fabric conditioner for you. To help you get into the routine of doing your own laundry in the first term you will get plenty of assistance from Matron, and anyone who needs to use specific washing powder for allergy reasons (or because you like the smell of ‘home washing’!) can use this as well

If you do not name your clothes, they are likely to get lost or mixed up with someone else’s laundry and it can become difficult to identify whose washing is whose. If you buy new clothes during term, then borrow a Sharpie from Matron’s office and label them

with it. It will save Matron a lot of time trying to sort through unclaimed, unlabelled washing

Bedding and towels can be washed centrally each week if you wish. This washing is collected on a Thursday morning and is brought back a few days later Everyone is asked to strip their beds on a Thursday morning. You can then collect clean bedding from the cupboard on the second floor to put back onto your bed once it is stripped Each girl has a labelled shelf in that cupboard - your clean bedding and towels go onto your shelf when they are returned

Social spaces

The Galley

The ‘galley’, is available for all girls to use at any time in House. There is a TV, craft area and a small kitchen equipped with a kettle, microwave and fridge It is wise to label any food you want to keep in the galley fridge and we operate a system of trust whereby people do not use each other’s items We also ask that you clear up after yourselves If the galley is left untidy, it is not available the next night.

Dining Room and Supper Trolley

The dining room acts as another common room in between meal times and after lessons. There is always fruit available to snack on during the day A supper trolley comes out after prep for you to have some food and downtime with friends before bed. The kitchen staff have all gone home at that point so it is important to clear up after yourselves once you have made your snacks

We also have a House photocopier/printer in the office All girls can use the printing facility by swiping their School Shop card in order to log in.

Drawing room

Our drawing room is on the ground floor opposite the main stairs. This has a television with Netflix in it as well as a W ii. The drawing room is open to all girls whenever it is free We also use it during the week for year group meetings, coffee and whole House meetings.

Reporting faults

Like all buildings, the Boarding House will sometimes require repair and upkeep Our Facilities Department comes to the House most days to carry out routine repairs such as replacing light bulbs and fixing dripping taps Please report any faults or repairs to Matron If the repair is urgent, we will get someone over as soon as possible to see to it.

Oxley Sports Centre

All girls are automatically members of the Oxley Sports Centre Many make use of its well-equipped gym. In order to use this, you need to go to the front desk and register. The staff will organise an induction session with one of the Personal Trainers, following which you are free to use the facilities. If you are under 16, you may sign up for the Junior Gym activity that happens several days each week from 5pm to 6pm If you are 16 or over, then you are able to use the gym whenever it is convenient, but you must check with the House staff first.

School Shop Hygiene

The school shop is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday during term time (closed at 12.30 – 1pm for lunch).

You will find school uniform in the shop, along with a range of stationery items, as well as toiletries and tuck. Your access card doubles as a shop card and is needed when you pop in to make purchases. Parents will have authorised a termly allowance for you which enables purchases to be made without using cash or debit cards. However, cash and debit cards are also accepted. You can also order items to be delivered to the House.

Uniform items to the value of £30 may be purchased when replacements are required. The shop staff will require parental permission for any item you wish to purchase above this amount. This can be shown as a text message, completion of a uniform chit signed by House Matron, or an email from parents to schoolshop@sherborne.com. Parents can also order uniform direct via phone, email or website.

This is really important, especially living as communally as we do. Please make time to shower every day. Get yourself into a good routine. Use shower gel and deodorant. It is equally important that you wash your clothes regularly, as it is pointless washing your body and then putting dirty clothes back on. The sports tops get smelly really quickly, so you need to make sure you wash them regularly.

It is a good idea to organise your clothes in your room or ‘cue/cubie’ A small ‘ pop-up ’ laundry basket is a really good idea If you put dirty laundry into one of these, it is less likely to get muddled up with clean clothes If you put your clothes away (instead of using your floor as a ‘floordrobe’), you will be able to separate clean from dirty clothes more easily.

Uniform expect ations/dress

All girls are required to uphold the uniform expectations as listed in the School Dress Code at all times during the school day, including time spent moving between lessons. When in academic lessons, Sixth Form pupils should wear their jackets at all times unless permission to remove them is requested and granted. Any pupils who have been given permission to visit Sherborne during lesson times should be in school uniform. School trips will require either full uniform (or suits for Sixth Form), or smart casual.

Appearance during lesson times (8.30am-5pm)

You must look clean, neat and tidy at all times. Hair should be neatly tied back if it is below the shoulders and jewellery should be limited to one pair of stud earrings Piercings halfway up the ears are not allowed, nor are nose piercings. Bracelets are not allowed and just one simple necklace is permitted.

L5 – U5 must wear their uniform (kilt/trousers, blouse, jumper, black tights, black shoes) for all lessons. If you have PE or games, for example, during Period 3, then you are allowed to wear sports kit during Periods 1 and 2 You must, however, get changed into uniform at break time. In the same way, if you have games after break, then you must wear uniform until break and then get changed into sports kit You only need to wear your blazer on formal occasions, such as Abbey Services or when showing visitors around School. You do not need to wear uniform for School Services on Sundays –jeans are fine for these

L6 wear a School suit. You can wear your own collared shirt and jumper but this must not have a logo on the front, nor can it be hooded You need to look smart and businesslike.

Appearance out of School hours

Outside of the school day (i.e. after timetabled lessons, or during evenings and weekends), pupils may wear casual clothes on the School site but they are still expected to look tidy and presentable. Casual clothes may be worn at the weekends from midday on Saturdays (if not involved in sport) and Sundays (except for official School activities such as Tour Mornings and Abbey Services). Casual clothes may sometimes be worn

on trips out of School (e.g. to the theatre). Pupils should dress appropriately for the destination of the trip and respect the instructions given by the supervising staff.

Labelling

Everything brought to School must be clearly marked with name tapes, with at least the pupil’s surname in full followed by House initials.

Use of mobiles and other personal electronic devices

Mobile phones are extremely useful, but please use yours with care. There are two mobile free days in the week for L5-M5 and one mobile free day for U5 You are not allowed to take your phones over to Main School during the normal school day and they will be

confiscated if seen The House dining rooms are also mobile free zones. Please do not use anyone else’s mobile phone. You must give the HM your number so that we can contact you if we need to

Sherborne Girls terminology

Year groups

L4 – Year 7

U4 – Year 8

L5 – Year 9

M5 – Year 10

U5 – Year 11

L6 – Year 12

U6 – Year 13

The Houses and their colours

Aldhelmsted East – Purple

Aldhelmsted West – Pink

Dun Holme – Light Blue

Kenelm – Red

Mulliner – Black

Reader Harris – Green

W ingfield Digby – Yellow

General

Ark – the Ark is a quiet space where the Chaplain is based. It is in the Main School building and all pupils may use it as a space for quiet reflection

BLT – Beddington Lecture

Theatre, a room in the Beddington Building

Budgens – Budgens Store in the BP Garage

Cue/Cubie – Cubicle (bedroom)

Drawing room – as well as the room itself, meetings that take place there are also called ‘Drawing Rooms’

Exeat – when School closes for the weekend (usually from Friday lunchtime to Sunday evening)

Family dining – when year groups are mixed up to sit together for lunch

Granny Patch – Richmond Green Main School – the Main School building, containing the School Hall

Oxley – The Oxley Sports Centre

Prayers – services that take place in the School Hall or Gransden Hall before school on certain days

Prep – homework (also sometimes means private study period during the day)

Queenie’s – the café in The Merritt Centre

Socials – Saturday night social events

SS – Sherborne School /The Boys’ School

Aldhelmsted East (AE)

West (AW)

Packing list

Avoid bringing everything you own, as space is limited! Apart from uniform and PE kit (see the Dress Code on the School website: Sherborne.com/uniformshop), you only need a few casual clothes: jogging bottoms, jeans, t-shirts and hoodies for after school. You will need a smarter outfit for more formal occasions and something for end-ofterm parties. You may like to wear something a bit more ‘dressy’ for a weekend social event, but jeans and a nice top are usually fine. The School Dress Code lists the various occasions that require different types of outfits.

Don’t forget an alarm clock (as mobile phones are collected at bedtime) and you must bring your own bedding. You may like to bring posters, photos and small personal items to decorate your room, and your favourite teddy.

Coat hangers and a laundry bag are a must, as is a bank card or access to electronic funds. £10 cash is needed each term for use at charity events.

FAQ

Is it useful to have a mobile phone?

Mobile phones are useful but not compulsory. Mobile phones are not permitted in the Main School during the school day

Remember, you can phone home at any time you are in House, even if you do not have your mobile with you. Just ask the member of staff on duty, and they will let you use the House phone in a private space. We also have phone free days which help us to have a digital detox and focus on time with our friends rather than time on a screen

Is there anywhere I can keep my things safe?

We recommend that you hand in anything of value, including money, to be safely locked away All rooms and ‘ cues ’ have a lockable drawer that you can also keep precious items in. Matron will give you a key, but please be aware that, if you lose it, you will be charged £15 for a replacement Passports and other legal documentation must be handed in and signed for in the School Office.

What do I do if I don’t feel well?

Firstly, tell the House staff. If you need to go to the Health Centre, they will call ahead. If you feel unwell in a lesson, your teacher will let the House or Health Centre know If you want to see a nurse but don’t want to tell anyone, then you can ‘drop in’ to the Health Centre any weekday after School

Fire safety

It is very important that you know where ALL the fire exits are in House. In your first 24 hours we will walk around and work out where your escape routes are, so you can get out in the event of a fire. If the alarm sounds, you must make your way as quickly and quietly as possible out of the House. We assemble on the grassed area between Reader Harris and the Health Centre.

You must line up silently in year groups in alphabetical order. The girl at the front of each line must do a quick register before the staff member, so that she can say how many girls from her year are present. This is the quickest way that we, as House staff, can work out if everyone is present We will then do a full roll call to make sure that everyone is accounted for.

The optimum time for us to evacuate and account for everyone is two and a half minutes. This isn’t a long time, so everyone must be sensible and quiet so this can happen efficiently Occasionally when the fire alarm goes off, it is due to a false alarm.

It is possible that, once assembled, we will be notified that the School is having a full evacuation. If this is the case, we will all have to make our way to the pitches where we will reassemble alongside the rest of the School in front of the Pavilion When we line up on the pitches, we stay in House groups.

House contact details:

Mrs Cracknell (Housemistress)

E: f cracknell@sherborne com

House Landline: 01935 818244

House Mobile: 07808 775581

E: readerharris@sherborne.com

www.sherborne.com