The Foundation exists to support the continuing development of Sherborne School as a leading academic institution offering the widest range of opportunities for growth and fulfilment outside the classroom.
We are extremely grateful for the generosity of all our supporters, including Old Shirburnians and current and former parents. Thanks to their commitment, the Foundation has successfully enabled over 50 projects which have enhanced the boys’ day to day experiences across the breadth of School life. Most recently it has provided significant funds to allow a major refurbishment of the McNaughten Library, a project that fittingly marks the Foundation’s 20th anniversary.
The following pages highlight some of the many projects that have been made possible by the work of the Foundation and the philanthropy of our supporters.
Dr Dominic Luckett Headmaster
Facts & figures
£12,055,718
Total raised over 20 years
30%
Nearly 30% of all OS have given to the Foundation since 1999
529
Parents have supported the Foundation since 1999
57 Successfully completed projects
2,092
OS have given to the Foundation since 1999
197
Bow Society members with over £5m pledged in total
Academic
LIBRARY COMPUTER SYSTEM
Sherborne’s library includes a rare and historical collection (some of which is housed at the County library on semi-permanent loan) dating back to the first recorded gift of books to the School in 1639. Particular treasures include first editions of Johnson’s dictionary and Pope’s Iliad, and Wesley’s autograph in a copy of Xenophon’s Cyropedia. The most ancient book is a 1493 edition of Aquinas’ Opus Aureum.
The Foundation provided the funding to furnish the School library with a fullycomputerised stock-control, filing, security and reference system.
CLASSICS ANCIENT HISTORY VOLUMES
Thanks to our donors, the Foundation purchased the University of Cambridge’s most comprehensive set of volumes for the teaching of Ancient History within schools and universities.
“The volumes are a magnificent work of scholarship that focuses on the ancient world in all its complexity. Its pages contain a definitive account of society, of connections between different peoples and of the geography, both political and physical, of the ages.”
Martin Brooke, then Head of Classics
VIRTUAL INTERACTIVE LEARNING SUITE FOR LANGUAGES
The virtual interactive learning suite consists of 24 workstations linked to a central point where teaching staff can use a range of multimedia to teach their subject. Different lessons can be taught to different boys simultaneously according to abilities allowing each boy to work at his own pace.
THE MATHEMATICS EXPLORATORY
The Mathematics Exploratory is a new approach in which students are encouraged to explore Mathematical concepts in a practical way. This ranges from elementary investigations to mechanics demonstrations for Further Mathematicians at A-level. The aim of the Exploratory is to promote and encourage the study of Mathematics and to make exploration and interaction an integral part of the learning process.
FOUNDATION FELLOWS
Thanks to the generosity of many Old Shirburnians and other supporters, and in particular the American Friends of Sherborne, the School is able to appoint Foundation Fellows each year – recent high flying graduates who teach and help at the School for a year – who bring with them a wealth of academic and sporting achievements and experiences which the boys tap into during the year. To date the Foundation has funded 12 Fellows.
BOARDING HOUSES COMPUTER NETWORK
As its first project in 1999 the Foundation wanted to support new technology. In any school with boarding houses spread about the town, the problem of computer networks is largely a matter of logistics. Following advice, the Foundation installed radio receivers in ‘line of sight’ of each other across Sherborne which act as booster signals for the School’s internet and intranet networks, allowing every boarding house to install work stations for the boys.
WRITER IN RESIDENCE
The School, with the help of the Foundation, funded a writer in residence, providing boys with the chance to work with a literary specialist. The boys also gained from the insight into a literary career and masterclasses, and the writer was also available to academic staff for consultation.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND
The purpose of this Fund is to develop the boys’ business skills; for example: leadership courses for potential prefects, time management, team working and pastoral care skills courses. It also includes presentational and interview skills courses for applications to university and beyond. As an example, the Fund was used to enable Careers trips to the City for Lower and Upper Sixth boys.
HIGH FLYER FUND
The Fund was first used in 2007 to support the Fifth Form Reading Week and has subsequently supported boys wishing to undertake advance courses at university to enhance their application to those universities.
THE OLIVER HOLT GALLERY AND KILN
The Oliver Holt Gallery was named after the late OS and member of staff at the request of his family who provided the gift. It has proven to be well loved by the boys as it offers them space to learn how to exhibit their work in a professional manner. The Gallery also acts as a public and school gallery space for local, national and international artists.
LIBRARY REFURBISHMENT
The Library refurbishment will take place in the summer of 2019 as the 20th Anniversary project.
ASTRONOMY DEVELOPMENT
The Foundation purchased a portable telescope that can be used both on site and in the field, thanks to our supporters. It has links with powerful image processing software and offers boys the chance to perform their own experimental astronomical work.
“For some time, students have been asking me if they can do practical work when they study astronomy. This telescope, linked with powerful image processing software on computers in the department, gives students the chance to perform their own experimental work, or perhaps make a discovery of their own”
Ben Ryder, then Head of Physics
ACADEMIC FESTIVALS
Hearing from leading academics and professionals in person, with the chance to question and interact with them, is core to academic enrichment at Sherborne. Through academic festivals, the School aims to inspire thinking beyond exam specifications and school textbooks and develop a new generation of leaders and world-changers. Not just among its own boys, but across the community’s wider senior schools, whose 11-18 year old pupils are invited to participate.
The
Sherborne Sessions
Our successful literary festival, a biennial festival of good writing first run in 2012, is now held at the School, thanks to support from the Foundation’s Annual Fund.
Science Festival
The Science Festival brings eminent professors and doctors to the School to help almost 2,500 young people imagine and prepare for an unknowable but unstoppable future.
Inspirational Speaker Programme
The Inspirational Speaker Programme is one of Sherborne’s several academic enrichment programmes, helping prepare boys to engage confidently with the changing wider world.
Music
ROCK MUSIC EQUIPMENT
RocSoc is one of the most active and popular extra-curricular societies within the School. At RocSoc boys develop their skills and experiment with creating contemporary rock music, which is of an extraordinarily high standard. One of the first Foundation projects was to provide musical equipment for the RocSoc. including amplifiers, keyboards, speakers, a mixing desk, electronic keyboards and a drum kit.
THE MUSIC SCHOOL
On its 10th anniversary the Foundation looked to fund a flagship project.
The Music School, opened in 2010, comprises a state-of-the-art, purpose built centre including a recital room to seat 120, a recording suite and a range of group and individual teaching and practice rooms. All are fully sound-proofed and ideal for music.
“A base for daily practise and rehearsal, for hosting masterclasses and concerts, for teaching and socialising, the building is so much more than its component parts. It is an inspiration to all who make music in it – from jazz impresarios to orchestral musicians – and has undoubtedly played its part in our being named one of the best non-specialist schools in music. We enjoy every moment in the building and remain grateful indeed to those who enabled such a transformational development.”
James Henderson, Director of Music
PATRICK SHELLEY RECORDING STUDIO
A state-of-the-art recording studio allows musicians to record their work professionally. GCSE and A level syllabuses require recorded instrumental recitals, and many GCSE Music students now continue their studies to A level and beyond. The Studio was named after the late Patrick Shelley, former Director of Music.
ELECTRIC STRING INSTRUMENTS
The Foundation has further supported the Music Department by purchasing a second electric violin, an electric cello and an electric viola in order to have a full electric string quartet. Whilst acoustic instruments are far from being forsaken, the electric string quartet has given boys an added dimension to their creative music making.
Sport
RE-LAYING OF THE UPPER CRICKET SQUARE
Cricket was first played on the Upper in 1856. With no record of the cricket square ever being properly laid, it has always had the reputation of being of low bounce and slow pace. These elements have now been improved with replacement soil, 25mm boards and the seeding of dwarf perennial ryegrass.
THE UPPER PAVILION
The Upper Pavilion has witnessed many a triumph and many a tragedy. For over a century it has played host to the spirit of Sherborne: endeavour, courage, achievement, teamwork, magnanimity in victory, equanimity in defeat.
Thanks to many donations to the Foundation, the Upper Pavilion was totally refurbished to provide new showers and toilet facilities, a first aid room, a staff/ officials changing room and a new kitchen upstairs to provide adequate hospitality facilities for both players and spectators. It has a single-storey extension to the side which has additional changing rooms with self-contained showers and toilets.
ALL-WEATHER CRICKET NETS
Thanks to the support of an OS cricketer, the School has been able to lay eight artificial cricket nets on the Upper and four on Careys field to allow extended times and facilities for cricket training.
FITNESS SUITE
Following the support of an anonymous donor, the School was able to completely refit its fitness suite to be suitable for the needs of modern sporting boys. This included a mezzanine floor with conditioning fitness equipment and free weights, a complete new set of aerobic equipment and new treatment rooms for the physiotherapists. This facility is also made available to the public and local sports clubs.
IMPROVEMENTS IN TENNIS
The School and the Foundation enhanced the provision of tennis coaching with the employment of a professional coach and resurfacing the Hyle Farm courts. These courts have been improved and porous tarmac courts created. The courts are now more playable in the late Lent term as well as the Trinity term.
HUGHIE HOLMES ALL-WEATHER PITCH
Sherborne was one of the first schools to lay an all-weather surface, back in 1979. Whilst this made it a market-leader, it also ensured that Sherborne would be one of the first schools to suffer from the dreaded ‘wear-out’ of such a surface.
Following the support of two anonymous donors, the Foundation supported the development of a new pitch with floodlighting and at their request the pitch was named after Hughie Holmes, their Housemaster and former head of Hockey.
SPORTS SCIENCE GAME ANALYSIS EQUIPMENT
Technology plays an important part in the teaching of Sports Science at Sherborne. Over recent years, Sports Science has become more technologically advanced, and to support these developments the Foundation funded specialist equipment for the recording of sports activities for further analysis in the classroom. This equipment enables further advancement in the teaching of sport in the School and provides the opportunity for team coaches to analyse and improve the performance of individual athletes.
SPORTS COACHING FUND
The Sports Coaching Fund enables the boys to access high level coaching in a variety of sports. Boys have benefited from time spent with experts who are able to help them make the slight modifications to their tactical and technical abilities and thereby improve their overall performance.
“The Coaching Fund ensures that we are able to help a vast
number
of
boys achieve their potential in the wide range of sports available at Sherborne School.”
David Guy, Director of Sport
TRAVEL AND TOUR BURSARY FUND
Each year, the School offers boys a range of trips, each giving an insight into other countries and cultures; for example: a cricket tour to South Africa, a rugby tour to the South Pacific, art tours to New York and Madrid and expeditions to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. The Travel and Tour Bursary Fund helps those already receiving financial support to attend important trips. At least 60 boys have been supported over the past 20 years.
“The opportunity to travel around the world, to explore foreign countries and cultures may only happen once in my lifetime. I only got this chance at Sherborne via the Travel and Tour Bursary Fund. On the Australian rugby tour I got the chance to improve my sporting skills against sides of great strength and ability. Looking back on it I will never forget it and I will be forever grateful for the opportunities that the support of the Fund has given to me.”
FIVES COURTS
The Foundation provided funds for a new roof, improved lighting, full redecoration and heating of the Fives Courts.
Since completion of the refurbishment, the University Fives and West of England championships have been to Sherborne, and more importantly, the numbers of boys playing Fives has increased.
RACING 420 DINGHIES
Thanks to a generous anonymous donor, the Foundation and the OS Sailing Society, who funded the last two boats, six racing dinghies (420s) were purchased in 2014.
“We now have a tip-top fleet and I am sure this will show through in the overall sailing experience for boys both in School and beyond.”
Angus Cater (c, 1970), Commodore, OS Sailing Society
ANDREW YORKE SAIL TRAINING FUND
Shortly after the death of Andrew Yorke in 2005, we set up the Sail Training Fund in his memory. The aim of the Fund was to enable boys at Sherborne to gain RYA Instructor Qualifications thereby allowing them to teach younger boys whilst at the school and to gain work as instructors whilst on their gap years and at university. Enough support was secured to fund a boy to be trained each year for 37 years, the number of years Andrew served the School.
RIGID INFLATABLE RESCUE BOAT
The Foundation funded the purchase of James Auckland III, a rigid inflatable safety boat for the School sailing society.
Bursaries
THE EGLINGTON BURSARY
Charles Eglington (g, 56) was a very generous supporter who had an esteemed career in the City and was an incredibly influential member of the School’s wider community, not least through the new ideas he brought to Sherborne. Charles died in February 2018, but his wishes were to support bursaries in perpetuity. He left £2m in his letter of wishes and we are now looking to build on that generosity.
ED MOORHOUSE FUND
Edward Moorhouse (f, 1990) had a glittering Sherborne career as an academic, actor, chapel warden and playwright. Subsequently, he was a successful Morehead scholar at Chapel Hill University, North Carolina, USA. Edward died from cancer in 2006, and this fund was established in his memory to enable Sherborne’s high flying pupils to undertake enrichment courses which developed their academic abilities and enhanced applications to universities in the UK and overseas.
BURSARIES
Ten boys have now experienced the lifechanging opportunity of an education at Sherborne thanks to bursarial support from the Foundation and we continue to build funds to support deserving boys. Bursary funding also assists boys whose families have fallen on hard times to remain at the School when they would otherwise have to leave.
EDBROOKE SCHOLARSHIP AND BURSARY
Owing to the generosity of Foundation supporters, Mr and Mrs Edbrooke, a scholarship and bursary fund was established to assist parents. This fund was used to award scholarships to boys who have just missed out on the standard awards, or to assist parents of boys already at the School who were facing financial difficulties.
Ten boys have now experienced the life-changing opportunity of an education at Sherborne thanks to bursarial support.
Robert Ham Robert joined Sherborne from a local school and it soon became clear that he was going to excel in all subjects, especially music. He became the Head of School and went on to complete undergraduate studies at Hertford College, Oxford, and is now on the NHS management training scheme. SHERBORNE
Adam Ferris Adam was the beneficiary of the Owl Bursary and Scholarship given by a local person who wanted to help a boy join because he was so impressed by the behaviour, smartness and politeness of the boys. Adam is now a trainee lawyer in London.
Crispian Poon Crispian joined Sherborne from Hong Kong and soon became immersed in Shirburnian life. A high achiever, Crispian moved on to Imperial College securing a place on an undergraduate degree and has since gone on to gain his masters.
David Kirk David joined Sherborne in 2000 and became a star of the Fives Court and Head of School House. An early winner of the Bow Award for pastoral care, he went on to Birmingham University to read Human Biology and then joined the Royal Marines.
The Future
Finally, like all good fundraising operations, we must look to the future. We are launching our Sherborne 360 º campaign to support the delivery of an all round excellent education – we are now working on some adventurous projects, relating to boarding, bursaries and sport, for the next phase of our endeavours.
