Strategic Plan 2024 beyond ...
foreword from the chair of governorS Over the second half of 2023, the Governors and Senior Leadership Team (SLT) held formal and informal strategy discussions to develop a plan for implementation from 2024. The external threats we face are well documented; the likelihood that independent schools like Sherborne Girls will have to charge VAT on school fees compounds a complicated financial picture for both the School and our parents coming, as it does, on top of recent inflation across our cost base and especially our utilities. What is clear to all of us, however, is the fact that what we offer and how we deliver that offering is valued by many. It is beholden on us, therefore, to deliver a strategic direction that ensures girls continue to benefit from the Sherborne Girls’ experience during the prevailing turbulence and into the future.
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Strategic goals With this in mind, we believe our Vision remains utterly relevant: to be the leading, full-boarding girls’ school for all-round personal development and academic fulfilment, and to create a community of empowered learners who will be an influence for good in a challenging and changing world. That “challenging and changing world” has led us to conclude that this is not the moment for grand gestures and significant capital expenditure which could test our financial resilience given the state of the economy and level of interest rates. Indeed, remaining financially robust is – as you would expect – one of the key objectives we have set for the coming years. There are likely to be many strands as to how this is achieved, such as increasing non-fee income to remove some pressure on fees, but ensuring we remain a highly attractive alternative in an increasingly competitive market is a central goal alongside rigorous cost control.
Another priority is therefore to make sure we really know what is valued by parents of today and tomorrow for their daughters. More importantly, having harnessed this information, we intend to carry out a full review of everything we do across the School to streamline those areas that are less valued whilst focussing more investment on those where parents and pupils see SG setting itself apart. In this way, we believe we can continue to deliver “all-round personal development and academic fulfilment and a community of empowered learners” without taking increased financial risk. We are incredibly lucky to be able to offer a much-valued single-sex education alongside our brother school, Sherborne School, thereby delivering the “best of both worlds” experience appreciated by parents and pupils alike. The third objective is to continue to develop this partnership to enhance the educational and social opportunities this brings whilst also cultivating our new relationship with Hanford School, to the benefit of all.
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next steps All that we do at Sherborne Girls is underpinned by our values and set out in our core pillars, which we are constantly reviewing. These have recently been updated but, as our strategic plan evolves into actions and conclusions, the pillars, which reflect our educational priorities, will continue to be refined and adapted by the SLT to ensure we deliver what is most valued by our current and future stakeholders. We understand the threats we are facing but believe that, by focusing, investing and developing, we will ensure the highest level of educational offering delivered against a backdrop of the wonderful SG ethos and with financial prudence to ensure we continue to thrive.
louise hall Chair of Governors
introduction from the head
with the celebration of our 125th anniversary in 2024, we recognise the rich heritage, exceptional achievements and lasting impact that Sherborne girls has had on the lives of so many pupils, past and present. For over a century, the School has been empowering young women to discover their passions, develop their talents and pursue their dreams. It has nurtured generations of resilient, independent-minded, and compassionate individuals who have gone on to make significant contributions to society.
Our strategic plan outlines goals that will ensure we build on this legacy by ensuring our educational offering remains world-class and valued by our current and future families; that we are financially resilient in the face of external challenges; and that we are stronger through our collaborations with partner schools. We use the framework of our core pillars to articulate our educational priorities along with specific deliverables. We aim to enhance our position as one of the few remaining, full-boarding girls’
schools in the UK, maximising the structure of a full-boarding week, and ensuring our pastoral and wraparound care is second to none. We remain committed to providing plentiful, diverse and challenging opportunities across every facet of education, including rigorous academic study and an array of co-curricular and enrichment opportunities. Through our culture of individual aspiration, academic fulfilment and personal wellbeing, we will provide the foundations for future leaders,
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nurture pupils to take ownership of their physical health and mental and spiritual wellbeing, create a culture where collective responsibility is a given and empower each girl to make a positive difference. We believe it is a privilege as educators to be able to form habits, shape values and prepare our pupils for the future. To guide them on their way, we will ensure they develop important soft skills to succeed, as well as the personal qualities to lead a meaningful and fulfilling life, such as integrity, humility, courage, intelligence, selfbelief, and a sense of service to others. We also recognise the opportunities technology presents to enhance and personalise rather than replace traditional teaching and learning, as well as foster essential skills for the future workplace. However, we must also ensure our pupils are supported and educated to navigate the digital realm confidently and responsibly.
We will maximise our unique relationship with Sherborne School to enhance our co-curricular, academic enrichment and social programmes and prepare our girls for life beyond school, including higher education and their future careers. Since 1899, Sherborne Girls has been an outward looking and charitably minded school. We will continue to lead in practising and educating on sustainability, engender a culture of philanthropy, and build partnerships with our wider community for the benefit of
the pupils, School, environment, and our position in a global society. Through this strategic plan and our core pillars, I believe we can build on the School’s 125 year legacy and our distinctive culture, preparing and empowering many more generations of girls to take their place in an exciting, challenging and stimulating world.
dr ruth Sullivan Head
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this strategy provides a framework to drive the School forward and allow us to achieve our vision. it reinforces our commitment to our mission and values, as well as our educational philosophy lived out through our learner Skills. it defines strategic goals and outlines our educational priorities under six core pillars.
SHERBORNE GIRLS STRATEGY 2024 AND BEYOND
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Sherborne girls vision vision To be the leading full-boarding girls’ school for all-round personal development and academic fulfilment, and to create a community of empowered learners who will be an influence for good in a challenging and changing world.
mission To provide a broad and enriching, full-boarding education that develops the unique talents of every pupil within a supportive community. To send out into the world young women of character, commitment and compassion who are able to think clearly and creatively, choose wisely and have the courage to make a difference.
values Our five key values: curious, courageous, compassionate, adaptable and Spiritual, along with our fundamental commitment to social and environmental responsibility, remain at the core of all we do and who we are. Curious: Sherborne girls will be intellectually enquiring and imaginative; they will seek challenge and inspiration in the pursuit of excellence. Courageous: Sherborne girls will be bold and adventurous; they will have the courage to take risks, the resilience to overcome adversity and the inner confidence to lead others.
Compassionate: Sherborne girls will be principled, considerate and kind; they will have a sense of responsibility to make a positive contribution to the communities in which they live and work. Adaptable: Sherborne girls will be resilient and flexible; they will be able to adapt to the demands of the modern-day and to respect and celebrate the differences of others. Spiritual: Sherborne girls understand Christian values, they value reflection and well-being in themselves and others.
learner SkillS
critical thinking Sherborne girls can see strengths and weaknesses of their own work; keep going when things are tough; cope with not knowing the answer; select appropriate research resources; improve work by refining and redrafting.
communication Sherborne girls will have strong presentation skills; listen actively and use non-verbal communication; make effective use of visual material; use clear, concise, organised and logical structure; be able to use analogies/rephrase points to be understood.
Complementing our Sherborne Girls’ Values, we have also adopted the following SG Learner Skills, identified by the World Economic Forum as key competencies for the 21st century. These transferable skills underpin every aspect of a Sherborne Girls education, ensuring we prepare our pupils to thrive and make a positive impact when they leave us, whatever their aspiration or chosen path.
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creativity Sherborne girls will trust their instincts; link multiple ideas together; imagine new solutions to problems; allow time to mull over ideas; transfer information from one medium to another.
collaboration Sherborne girls will take part in class discussions and offer feedback; share best practice; recognise strengths of others and share the credit; build on others’ ideas; intervene when there is tension in a group.
Strategic goalS the following strategic goals will ensure girls continue to benefit from a unique Sherborne girls’ experience and world-class education throughout the prevailing turbulence and into the future.
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educational offering
financial reSilience
SuStainable develoPment
we will refine our offering – focusing on what our families value and shaping, adapting and investing in our provision to deliver a world-class education.
we will build financial resilience – maximising our estate, the shape of the School and non-fee income to endure the external challenges and ensure we continue to thrive.
we will realise development opportunities – cultivating our partnerships with Sherborne School and hanford to enhance our reputation and reach, and deliver efficiencies.
We will survey current and future families to understand their needs, aspirations and challenges, as well as identify what they value. This will enable us to review our offering, highlight for investment those areas that are valued most, and streamline and deploy resources from elsewhere. We will reimagine and invest in our facilities and latest innovations in teaching and learning to ensure we continue to deliver a world-class education.
We will continue to undertake scenario planning to prepare for the financial challenges and potential introduction of VAT on school fees and invest in marketing and admissions to reach our target pupil roll of 510. We will conduct a review of our estate to ensure we maximise the use of our resources and facilities, and we will seek opportunities to diversify revenue streams and generate income from our estate.
We will continue to develop our unique collaboration with Sherborne School to enhance the educational and social opportunities this brings, as well as cultivate our new relationship with Hanford School. We will build on these partnerships to enrich our offering, pool knowledge and expertise, share resources and facilities, deliver efficiencies and cost savings, and further strengthen our reputation and reach.
core PillarS our core Pillars provide a framework within which we outline our educational priorities and specific deliverables. they will continue to be reviewed, refined and adapted by the Slt to ensure they reflect the School’s strategic goals and what is most valued by current and future stakeholders.
full boarding
aSPiration & wellbeing
Enhance our position as a leading full-boarding school
Cultivate our culture of aspiration and wellbeing
technology Embrace latest technologies to enhance learning, develop future skills and drive efficiencies
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SuStainability
community
Staff
Lead in practising and educating on sustainability
Foster collaboration and communication with our local and wider community
Strengthen a people-first culture
full boarding We are committed to maintaining our leading position among the handful of true, single-sex, full-boarding schools in the UK. Full boarding at Sherborne Girls means the pupils live, dine and work as valued members of a diverse House community. All boarders reside at the School throughout the week and at weekends, except for exeats and school holidays, benefiting from a wide range of activities, social events and offsite trips. Parents are also very much a valued part of our community, and we welcome them during the week and at weekends to visit and support their daughters. Our long tradition of and commitment to full boarding (around 90% of pupils board), is supported by our staff. With extensive expertise in pastoral and spiritual care, they enable every pupil to be happy, confident and comfortable within the boarding environment, empowering them with the skills to lead fulfilling lives. We will achieve our commitment to supporting each pupil’s personal
development through the following objectives: • Ensure the Boarding House is a friendly, comforting and homely environment, where each pupil is known and cared for individually and has a real sense of belonging, fostered by first-class pastoral and tutorial support. • Maximise the structure of the full boarding week to ensure the pupils have a healthy balance of academic studies, co-curricular and enrichment opportunities and space to relax and socialise. • Enhance the co-curricular programme to provide enriching, inspiring and engaging opportunities, maximising the collaboration with Sherborne School. • Continue to upgrade boarding accommodation, learning facilities and the external campus to reflect SG’s full boarding education as a lived experience that promotes aspiration and supports wellbeing, and where pupils want to come and stay.
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aspiration and wellbeing We believe in a culture of individual aspiration, academic achievement and personal wellbeing, closely supported by exceptional practitioners. We will develop the self-confidence and independence that allows pupils to hold themselves to the highest standards in all they do. They will learn to seek continually to improve themselves and approach the world around them with a questioning mind. We will achieve our commitment to building aspiration and wellbeing in our pupils through the following objectives: • Review and develop the curriculum and academic enrichment programme, informed by research and latest innovations in teaching and learning, to inspire and prepare our pupils for life after school. • Develop further our bespoke tutoring so each pupil is supported and motivated as an individual to recognise her value, set educational aspirations and vocational endeavours and realise her potential.
• Maintain our individualised approach to teaching and learning to ensure every pupil succeeds in raising her attainment level and that our valued-added scores continue to be among the best in the country. • Continue to support the pupils to develop the knowledge, skills and strategies to manage their physical health and nurture their mental and spiritual wellbeing, with the confidence to make responsible and independent choices. • Enhance the careers and higher education offering to prepare and inspire the pupils for the next step in their learning journey whether higher education, university, apprenticeships, or the commercial world. • reimagine learning facilities to create inspiring, flexible spaces, equipped with latest technologies, that facilitate collaborative learning, external connections, and personal development.
technology Building on our Microsoft Showcase Status, we will continue to seek opportunities to develop our digital strategy, embrace responsibly and adapt dynamically to emerging technologies to enhance teaching and learning, access information, engage our community, drive efficiencies and make evidence-based decisions. We will ensure our pupils are equipped for the future, developing their digital literacy and familiarity with latest technologies, as well as fostering essential and emerging skills for the future workplace. We will achieve our commitment to technological awareness and resilience through the following objectives: • Ensure every pupil is technologically intelligent and able to navigate latest technologies with ease and understanding, proactively and responsibly engaging within both the physical and digital realms.
• Develop staff as confident innovators, building their capability and understanding, engaging with experts and best practice across sector, and enhancing their teaching and learning. • Make effective use of the latest technologies, including VR and AI, to enhance and personalise educational experiences, facilitate immersive learning and improve academic instruction. • Employ technology effectively to analyse real-time data on pupils, track progress, generate predictive analytics, support evidence-based decisions and improve communication between relevant staff. • Maximise the use of technology to streamline work process for staff, implementing clear codes of practice with regards to the use of digital communication. • Ensure staff are trained on how the School stores and uses data, as well as latest legislative requirements and compliance.
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Sustainability environmental We aspire to enhance our position as a leader in the sector for environmental sustainability, setting clear targets for the School to achieve Net Zero, as well as driving an innovative and pioneering educational programme that develops the pupils’ awareness and commitment to sustainability and the world around them. We will achieve our commitment to sustainability through the following objectives: • Work in partnership with Planet mark to reduce the carbon emissions of the School and our estate, engaging pupils and staff and instilling principles of sustainability. • Drive a culture of individual and collective responsibility to environmental sustainability, working in partnership with other schools in the area to develop a sustainability programme that is authentic, selfsustaining and empowering for the whole Sherborne community.
• Continue the work with Operation Hope and our Ecologist in Residence on the rewilding and regeneration of the campus, and delivery of an environmental studies course as part of the curriculum. financial We are committed to the long-term financial sustainability of the School, managing our finances carefully and diligently to control costs and minimise the impact on school fees, as well as investing in the ongoing development and improvement of the campus, facilities and educational offering. • Manage finances responsibly, seeking opportunities to reduce costs, streamline and benefit from economies of scale, including the sharing of resource, expertise and facilities with Sherborne School. • Drive additional revenue streams through Sherborne Girls Enterprises. • Mark the School’s 125th anniversary with a fundraising campaign to support the development of the School and widen access through our Candlelight Bursaries programme.
community Since 1899 Sherborne Girls has had a tradition of being an outward looking, socially responsible and charitably minded school. We will continue to build partnerships, locally, nationally and internationally, for the benefit of the pupils, the School, the community, the environment and our position in a global society. Community is the bedrock of our School and the town of Sherborne. The history of the town, Abbey and the honey-stoned buildings add to this very special ethos and deep sense of tradition. We are privileged to live and work in Sherborne which is a centre of educational excellence. We will fulfil our commitments to our School and wider community through the following objectives: • Ensure that a christian ethos remains at the heart of the School, and that all pupils have opportunities to explore and express their beliefs in a diverse and inclusive setting.
• Engender a culture of philanthropy across the School community, and within our excellent community outreach work, so every pupil engages with, contributes meaningfully to, and understands the importance of service during their time at Sherborne Girls. • Seek opportunities to engage with external collaborators, businesses and members of our community to inspire, challenge and empower the pupils, promote excellence, provide thought leadership and encourage discourse. • relaunch friends of Sherborne girls to engage with and build a network of Old Girls, parents and past parents willing to share their time and expertise (mentoring, careers events, inspirational talks). • Strengthen partnerships with neighbouring schools and the local community to share resources, facilities, and expertise, implement positive change and create rich and varied opportunities for the benefit of all.
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Staff In order to nurture inspiring and effective role models for our pupils, we will continue to strengthen our peoplefirst culture. We recognise the expertise of our staff and are committed to supporting and empowering them to contribute to the future development of the School. We will achieve our commitment to developing staff through the following objectives: • attract and retain outstanding staff, and continually review best practice to reflect the latest educational and pastoral research. • Actively encourage staff to drive their own personal development, engage with latest research and seek opportunities to innovate and collaborate with experts and thought leaders.
• Embrace latest technologies to streamline efficient working practice for teachers and support staff. • Develop a stimulating, rewarding environment where wellbeing and life balance are valued, and where individuality and diverse perspectives are celebrated.
Sherborne Girls Bradford Road Sherborne Dorset DT9 3QN, United Kingdom +44 (0)1935 818224 admissions@sherborne.com sherborne.com