At the end of another busy Sherborne school year, we are delighted to share the Trinity Term Newsletter, showcasing our boys’ recent achievements. In a term which is always dominated by public examinations for the Fifth and Upper Sixth Form boys, there has been a plethora of cultural, sporting, and other achievements and opportunities which we are pleased to share in the following pages.
C O M M E M
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The weather gods blessed us on this year’s Commemoration Day.
After a beautiful Service in the Abbey, we were able to celebrate the successes of the past academic year in the sunshine and bid farewell to the boys leaving us. This year’s Guest of Honour was Sir Dermot Turing, Old Shirburnian and nephew of our greatest alumni, Alan Turing.
Well done to all the boys whose hard work, talent and commitment were recognised during prize giving and particular congratulations go to Rocco Taylor (U6b), who received this year ’ s Bow Award This award is presented to the pupil considered to have shown the most care, concern and kindness to others
The day came to an end with a stunning ball hosted at Sherborne Girls
Sir Dermot Turing, OS
A C A D E M I C
E N r I C H M E N T
C O M p U T E r S C I E N C E
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is undoubtedly one of the fastestgrowing and most versatile innovations of the 21st century, and it’s transforming everyone’s daily life. with around 200 million current users of ChatGpT alone, AI is becoming integral to how we live, work, and learn My name is Oscar revell and I’m in my final year at Sherborne In this article, I will briefly share some of my experiences with AI, especially during the time leading up to my A levels.
A few months ago, I was offered the opportunity to be the ‘guinea pig’ for Sherborne’s very own AI platform, ‘Sherbot’, created and managed by Dr David W ild, Head of Computer Science and Digital Lead at Sherborne. It is difficult to express how much time and dedication Dr W ild has put into this platform to ensure its success However, I hope this article does it the justice it truly deserves
For me, there are three main areas where I believe Sherbot has significantly changed and improved learning at Sherborne
The first is revision – from creating well-structured revision timetables to answering complex questions on specific areas of our courses, this tool has revolutionised how my peers and I revise and learn Secondly, Sherbot includes an impressive built-in language system
Learning a new language is challenging and requires constant focus and attention Sherbot has made this process much more enjoyable by enabling students to input texts in a foreign language and then reading them aloud with accurate pronunciation Lastly, the general learning environment at Sherborne has been enhanced
Teachers are now able to set assignments via the platform, further emphasising the positive impact this tool continues to bring to our educational experience
Looking to the future of AI at Sherborne, this September, students will have the opportunity to apply for roles in testing and marketing Sherbot through what is being described as a ‘Virtual Software Development Company’ Those interested in careers in Software Development, Marketing, or Entrepreneurship, should consider applying for these positions This is a thrilling time for AI, and Sherbot is at the forefront of this innovation right here at Sherborne In a fitting twist, Sherbot itself helped to edit and refine this article, showcasing its capabilities in real-time.
Oscar Revell (U6c)
l I b r A r y
Trinity Term in the library started with the concentrated quiet of exam revision, as the Fifth and Upper Sixth Formers moved in to prepare for their public examinations. During the past two months, there have been many long hours spent making revision cards, practising past papers, and providing moral support, as well as making effective use of our new Study Skills section! we wish them all the best of luck for results day and for their future studies.
Book Trip, the Library’s new book club, drew to a close with a display in Undercroft featuring some of the many trips taken by students and staff, along with their wonderfully insightful comments about the books It has been fabulous to see so many people excited to collect the
next book in their Trip!
Our talented Lego Club builders have been developing their skills this term by building a pinball machine, skate park, and a mythical creature
To celebrate Local and Community History Month and
Mental Health Awareness Week in May, we held another successful pop-up library and archives exhibition in Undercroft featuring a literary walk around Sherborne Books featured on the walk, written by Old Shirburnians, were kindly loaned to us by Archivist Rachel Hassall
May also saw the launch of Sherborne Shadowers, our shadowing group for the Yoto Carnegies Book Awards, which is a national reading for pleasure initiative This year, we shadowed the Illustration Medal and had a dedicated team of Third Formers and Year 6 pupils from Sherborne Prep All the students were very excited to participate in judging the shortlisted titles and
it has been lovely to hear their perceptive thoughts and ideas about the role played by illustration
After a busy term came the enormous fun of Super Sunday! The Library ran a successful paper engineering workshop in which the children made their own snapping head mythical creature There was a great deal of laughter as the children named their
monsters, described its eating habits, and told some grisly tales!
Once again, the Third Form’s annual History project on the Renaissance provides the final flourish to the library year Displayed throughout the library, the exhibition features a varied selection of topics, essays and artefacts
Sue Gransby Library Manager
lower Sixth boys enjoyed a Careers Convention which kicked off with a talk from Ed beckett, Ed pitt Ford and Sebastian Stoddart, ‘How you can use AI to give you the future you want’, hosted by Sherborne pupils Freddie Fineman (l6e) and Ed brooke (U6b).
The event was an immense success thanks to our super careers department who pride themselves on encouraging and supporting boys to find their pathway l O w E r S I x T H
Participants were given top tips on approaching conversations and encouraging discussion to ensure they made the most of the networking session; finding out what these careers are like on a day-to-day basis and discovering how to get into careers they may have an interest in
The following day, boys attended seminars from a range of industries including Technology, AI and Software Development, Entrepreneurship, Film, Production and Creative Media, Law, Marketing and Advertising, Environment and Sustainability, Engineering, Construction, Property and Architecture, Communication and Public Relations, Financial Services and Professional Sport and Sports Management
Fourth form boys enjoyed a Dragon’s Den-style entrepreneurship event which involved pupils working in teams to develop a business plan, including a pitch at the end.
The pupils worked collaboratively and put in a great deal of effort, and there were three winning teams in the following categories: Pitch, Social Impact and Business Idea
A huge thanks to serial entrepreneur, Ben Keene for organising the event
At the end of this term, the Fourth Form GCSE Art boys were treated to an exciting two-day Art trip to Cornwall Thirteen boys and members of staff clambered on a coach and headed west to St Ives After the coach had navigated the narrow Cornish lanes, the boys were immediately treated to a thrilling fast rib ride of St Ives Bay
This was huge fun, and certainly woke everyone up for their visit to the Tate St Ives to spend the afternoon viewing the fabulous art collection including a fantastic exhibition of Beatriz Milhazes’ work Following this there was a rather rainy and soggy to visit the Barbara Hepworth Museum (her former studio and home) to gain an insight into the life and works of one of Britain’s most important twentieth-century artists The boys then had some free time to explore the lanes of St Ives Our
accommodation for the night was a charming hostel tucked away on the outskirts of Penzance W ith all the walking involved throughout the day, combined with lungs full of sea air, all slept well
The following morning with bellies full of a great cooked breakfast we were back on the coach heading towards the Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens to see contemplative and inspiring art installations by internationally renowned artists set within a dramatic landscape of exotic and sub-tropical planting Boys spent the morning exploring the gardens with cameras, sketch books and pencils in hand to practise their observational drawings to inform their GCSE personal projects W ith just enough time remaining for a quick dip in the sea and a game of beach footie at St
Michael’s Mount we then clambered back on the coach, promptly fell asleep and were delivered back to School for evening socials
FOUrTH FOrM
ArT TrIp TO ST IvES
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Matt
Directo
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Bone r of Art
The term had no sooner started than the Sherborne Abbey Festival was upon us with, amongst many high-profile concerts including those by The Academy of Ancient Music and Ex Cathedra, three concerts given by Shirburnians The first, on Friday 2nd May, was the Friday lunchtime recital transported from Cheap Street Church to the Abbey that included the magnificent Brass Quintet performing Victor Ewald’s Brass Quintet no 1 in B flat minor, Op 5; Ian Liu Sch Mus 4d playing Scriabin’s Piano Sonata no 4; a violin quartet playing Telemann’s Concerto for Four Violins in D major; and Music Scholar trumpeters Archie Beardsell U6f, Charlie Burtt U6c and Henry Cannon U6c playing Leroy Anderson’s jaunty Bugler’s Holiday The second concert was in a packed BSR for the Swing Band’s annual festival performance that has become something of hit with local community; with standing room only, those in the BSR were treated to music by Charlie Mingus, Dizzie Gillespie and Glenn Miller while vocal numbers (by James Coleman Sch Mus U6a and Orlando Tavener
Sch Mus U6b) Have you met Miss Jones? and Now ain’t that a kick in the head had the audience stopping little short of joining in The third concert, also a wellestablished tradition in the Abbey Festival, was that of the Chamber Choir and Close Harmony groups in music by Tallis, Lotti, Ronald Binge and Randy Newman
Fast-forward through some very high-quality lunchtime recitals on Fridays, including a valedictory recital by this year ’ s excellent gap year Choral and Organ Scholars, to the feast of music that has become associated with the last week of term leading to
Commem Saturday First was the annual Patrick Shelley Music Competition for Advanced Instrumentalists and Singers on Sunday 23rd June, this year adjudicated by T imothy Noon of Exeter Cathedral, with winners Hector Kennerley U6g (overall cup winner); Ian Liu 4d and Gareth Kwong U6e (piano); Marc Fung 5a (strings); Louis Rippon 4e and Archie Beardsell U6f (brass); Thomas Arbon Valderrama U6e, Ian Liu 4d, Benji Rimington 4c and Jack Arnold L6e (woodwind); Hector Kennerley U6g, Edward Kennerley 3g, and Charlie Burtt U6c (singing)
Tuesday evening, 25th June, saw Jazz for a Summer’s Evening featuring both the Swing Band and the Jazz Ensemble actually taking place outside, in the Bridge Amphitheatre, for the first time in many years The Catering Staff worked wonders with the completely sold-out event by serving excellent food from a gazebo in the Music School garden, and the atmosphere was that of ‘yesteryear’ as both bands performed music from 1937 onwards As the day started to close, outdoor lighting with a blue hue lit the amphitheatre and the staged performance space whilst Blue Moon appropriately
kicked off the vocal sets that finished around 10.00pm.
Battle of the Organs featuring the Chamber Choir took place on the Wednesday evening in the Chapel Our two organs the 1985 mechanical action instrument by S F Blank and the Hauptwerk-Hereford organ of 2018 battled for winning tempos and dynamics (loudest seems to be a good strategy) in music by J S Bach, Karg-Elert and Thalben-Ball, played by four Shirburnian organists and some of the music staff Meanwhile the Chamber Choir sang men ’ s voice arrangements of Brahms Geistliches Lied and Bairstow Blessed City, Heavenly Salem
amongst other music by T ippett and Stanford.
The 2024 Leavers’ Concert, in the T indall Recital Hall on Thursday 27th June, featured some of the most outstanding leaving performances that we have heard at Sherborne for several years This has always been a very special occasion when we hear, for the last time, solo and small ensemble performances from our Leavers This year we were treated to a Piano Trio, created and led by Cassius Hammick U6m from the double bass and with Henry Cannon Sch Mus U6c playing masterful jazz-piano and Alex Swann Sch Mus U6m living up to his strong reputation on the
guitar, playing Softly as in a mor ning sunrise. An octet of music scholars with Toby Bemand U6a on drum kit, gave an exacting rendition of Charlie Mingus’ Moanin that showcased Thomas Arbon Valderrama Sch Mus U6e on the baritone saxophone
Friday night’s Gala Concert was this year billed as “The Big Gala Concert celebrating twenty years in post of retiring Director of Music James Henderson ” The Headmaster, Dr Dominic Luckett, and Head of Instrumental Studies, Mrs Clare Jackson, had invited some fifty or so Old Shirburnian musicians (the oldest was 32) to take part in the Radio
Orchestra (New York, New York), the Chamber Choir (Dyson in D Magnificat) and the Swing Band (a nine minute ‘extended play’ version of the ubiquitous Pennsylvania 6-5000 with instrumental breaks for current and Old Shirburnians including three sets of brothers who have continued with their music professionally). Stellar performances were also given by the Concert Orchestra, Brass Band, W ind Band, Symphonic Strings, and the Chamber Choir without its older contingency
Finally, the familiar brass fanfares for the Commem hymns in the Abbey now showing their age at between sixteen and nineteen
years of use since their composition before even the 2010 Music School existed accompanying the rousing singing of the school that has characterised all Abbey services this year gave a fitting lead to this most major of services in the school year W ith the 103-strong TTBB Choir singing Stanford’s Laudate Dominum, Haydn’s The heavens are telling (from Creation), and Parry’s I was glad, this was certainly a wonderful final service for this retiring Director of Music to remember for many years
James Henderson Executive Director of Music
D R A M A
A PLAY BY WILLIS HALL, BASED ON THE NOVEL BY ALEXANDRE DUMAS
The junior school play provided us all with a hugely enjoyable time – there was humour, drama, adventure, and romance. One could heave a sigh of relief when the villains were defeated after much toing and fro-ing (figuratively and literally) That was, however, tempered by melancholy, as Constance and d’Artagnan’s love for each other came to a desperate end (she was poisoned).
The twenty plus boys and girls on stage put on a such a good show for us that I am finding it hard to single anyone out! Coco Gibbons did a really good job at portraying her character, Constance, evolving from being distant to d’Artagnan, then being in love with him I found memorable about the Queen (Jane Wong) her ability to hide her agitation, when the King (Arthur W ilson (3f)) confronted her with his suspicions (about Buckingham): no, no - just the chilly night wind, she said (though in a queenlier manner than my paraphrasing) What trouble she would have been in if she had not been able to convince him! The guard really were fine fighters - they gave the play plenty of energy I thought Solomon Macaulay (4a) was well-
cast as Richelieu - his voice suited the role of the mighty Cardinal D’Artagnan had much to do on stage! Apart from having a lot of lines to learn, he (Anton Krnc (3a)), like Constance, had to evolve over the course of the play: initially ready to pick a fight almost literally at the drop of the hat (because his father (James Holden (4g)) had told him not to let anyone get the better of him), he became increasingly mature, ready to help defend his Queen’s honour I did not instantly recognise Olly Macdonald (4a) in his garb of the Musketeers’ leader, Treville; he certainly was good at keeping his troops in order! All others please accept my apologies for not mentioning everyone individually - I genuinely enjoyed how each of you played I
am really glad I came judging by the laughte all the audience!
A play also needs cost lighting – I thought th magnificently with the which it is set – a huge the-scenes team!
My conclusion? The P again the scene of suc enthusiastic boys and schools, who gave us We are lucky to have s Department! Thank yo
I M p r E S S I O N ?
to see this play, and, er and applause, so did
tumes, scenery, and ese worked story, and the time in e ‘bravo’ to the behind-
owell Theatre was once ccess for a group of girls from our two all so much enjoyment such a fabulous Drama ou all!
Cedric von Studnitz (4a)
On Tuesday 30 April 2024, the Third Form Drama classes were lucky enough to be part of the Drama Festival, hosted by Sherborne School Drama and Admissions we were joined by sixty-eight pupils from Sherborne prep, Sunningdale, Highfield and bookham, port regis, and Farleigh schools, all who have a passion for Drama.
We started the day off with a warm welcome from Mrs Clayton, Head of Drama: Sherborne School, after which we were split up into several groups We took part in three out of four activities on rotation I took part in Improvisation, Devising and Puppetry. Improv was led by Natasha Nixon who is a Theatre Director and Performance Practitioner & works with the National Theatre/Royal Court We were working on improving our ensemble and improvisation
Improv helps you think on the spot and be more creative
The Devising was run by Emma Earle who is a co-Artistic Director and Director from Pins and Needles Productions She helped us write short, 1-page passages using two themes we picked out of a bag Puppetry was led by Zoe Squire who is also from Pins and Needles Productions She showed us how to make creative W izard Puppets made from milk bottles! Unfortunately, my group did not have Musical theatre as we only had time for three activities however many have told me that they massively enjoyed it They were acting small extracts from Matilda The activity was led by Romilly Swingler who works at Sherborne as our in-house Director and a LAMDA Teacher
After a delicious lunch and a break, we all congregated in the Drama classroom to watch a Drama Scholars’ play A group of Scholars from Third Form to Upper Sixth performed an interactive Court Scene of a boy with a sick mother who stole from a jewellery store to pay for medicine The play involved you, the audience, being the jury and deciding whether the boy should be convicted or not We chose for the boy to not be convicted and to be put on medical benefits so he could go back to school The actors then acted the aftermath putting them on the spot and testing their Improv skills
Thank you to Mrs Clayton, Zoe Squire, Emma Earl, Natasha Nixon, Romilly Swingler and the Sherborne School Admissions Team
Henry Brodrick (3f)
T H I r D F O r M D r A M A
when I first joined Sherborne, my very first lesson was Drama. From the start, we were introduced to each other through a series of interactive games that ensured we knew each other’s names and an interesting fact about each of our fellow Third formers. This was just the beginning. Throughout the year, we engaged in many more interactive challenges, activities, and lessons.
In our first term, we read through Hansel and Gretel as a class, which set the tone for our Drama careers at Sherborne In the Lent Term, we were assigned a group devising task on the theme of a key that unlocks your potential We were put into groups of four or five, further strengthening friendships and bonds throughout our year group. We also went to see Bluebeard at Bath Theatre, significantly improving our knowledge of dramatic techniques
This term, every Third Form Drama pupil participated in the Sherborne Drama Festival, where we were split into groups and engaged in various activities with visiting Prep school pupils It was a pleasant experience to introduce potential future Shirburnians to Drama at Sherborne We also learned from the Prep School pupils, making it an enriching experience for everyone involved
Throughout the year, I have learned so much and experienced many activities as part of Third Form Drama, from interactive games to introducing future generations of Shirburnians to Drama at Sherborne We owe a great deal of thanks to Mrs Clayton for organising such events, helping Drama pupils at Sherborne excel in the dramatic arts, and ensuring that every Drama pupil has thoroughly enjoyed every activity they have experienced during her extensive time at Sherborne
Mark Geweiler (3g)
C O - C U r r I C U l A r
N E w S
D U k E O F
E D I N b U r G H ’ S
A w A r D
This Trinity Term saw all of our Duke of Edinburgh’s Award participants out on expeditions across bronze, Silver, and Gold. From traversing the mountains of Snowdonia, to dodging cows and tractors in our local Dorset countryside, the DofE participants have truly made the most of the time, and enjoyed what the Uk’s countryside has to offer.
We kicked the term off with 92 Third Formers taking on the Dorset countryside for their Bronze Expeditions Starting with a campout on Carey’s to learn essential expedition skills, the boys were spoilt with the weather as they walked across Dorset the following weekend on their Qualifying Expedition Camping out near Stourton Caundle, they enjoyed a night away from School and the challenge of navigating on their own, cooking an evening meal, building friendships, and making memories
Our Silver participants, made up of 34 Fourth Formers, traversed the Exmoor wild country for their Qualifying Expedition. Camping at
some of Somerset’s most beautiful campsites, the boys successfully completed a three-day expedition that brought them closer together and allowed them to overcome many challenges Their perseverance and endurance prevailed as they showed incredible camaraderie and behaviour that reflected the values that DofE stands for.
The 18 Gold Walking teams joined the Sherborne Girls participants from their highlight expedition in Snowdonia, Wales For four days, the teams navigated across the Rhibog mountains, with a spectacular summit of Cadair Idris on day three. Although challenging, the boys and girls found the journey
rewarding, and many came back with newfound appreciation of the wealth of beauty found in the UK
This term also saw many of our Gold Award achievers attend the Buckingham Palace Gold Award Celebration Event Hosted by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, many of our boys and Old Shirburnians attended the celebration in the Buckingham Palace Garden
Speeches from Clive Myrie, Alun Wyn Jones and other celebrities were enjoyed by the attendees and the event was a highlight of the year for our boys, and the perfect end to their DofE journeys.
Well done to everyone who completed their expeditions and to those who excelled across all sections of the award! From working diligently in the Music Department, to taking home wins on the sports pitches, our boys truly make the most of what the co-curricular programme at Sherborne has to offer when competing the other sections of the award: Volunteering, Physical and Skills
Congratulations also to the 45 boys who completed their Bronze Award this term and to the 20 who completed Silver
Thank you to all the staff who support the DofE programme at Sherborne, from writing reports, facilitating activities, and supporting the many expeditions W ithout these dedicated staff, Sherborne DofE would not be the massive success it is!
A huge congratulations to Veljko Kosijer (U6b), Angus Bushby (23m), Otis Hillenbrand (U6d), Thomas Langley (L6e), Arthur Macdonald (U6a), Freddie May (U6a), Tom Alers-Hankey (U6c), Max Dangerfield (U6m) and Kiptala Kiptoo (U6g) for completing their Gold Award this term!
Mark Stuart DofE and Outdoor Education Assistant
This term the CCF has been including mountain biking, kaya pulling the Field Gun and m experienced the buzz of par Parachuting Association and th Field Trips which is the culmina the CCF Our Royal Navy sect boarding at Portland whilst o cadets went sneaking around t even had the thrill of seeing s involving Royal Marines 34 cad summer holidays adven
Rob Le P CCF Contingen
doing a rotation of activities aking, target shooting, archery, much more. Intrepid cadets achuting through the Army hen all attention turned to the ation of the academic year for tion went sailing and paddle our Royal Marines and Army tunnels at Scraesdon Fort and nippets of an actual exercise dets spent the first week of the ture training in Norway
Poidevin nt Commander
The 2024 season has seen the Cricket Club play a century of matches, of which 45 resulted in victories for the School. Alongside this total, 12 boys have represented their counties from Under 14 level all the way up to men’s 2nd xI. The final week of term has also seen our second ruth Strauss Foundation Cricket week, in which 30 matches have been played over six days to raise funds for this wonderful charity, and we are closing in our target of £5,000 If you wish to donate to the cause, please do so via the Qr code below.
The Mini Colts teams have started their Sherborne careers with great promise, with a number of pleasing results and over half of their matches won overall Fin Gardner (3m) showed himself to be a batter of great promise, most notably with an innings of 81* against King’s Taunton, but the greatest highlight was the demolition of Cheltenham at the Stowe Festival this week, as Hugo Bolton’s (3d) 5-wicket haul helped bowl our opponents out for just 80 on our way to victory by 76 runs.
The Junior Colts squad has also enjoyed a successful season overall, with the A XI reaching the Final of the Dorset County Cup a particular highlight, and it is clear that several of these players have the potential to play in the higher teams next year
In the senior teams, Mr Howden’s 4th XI and Mr Thurman’s 3rd XI were – statistically – the most successful teams, each with an 80%-win rate, whilst the 2nd XI made it to the Final of the DISC100 tournament. With a lot of players returning next year, there will be plenty of competition for places in 2025
The 1st XI won a total of 8 matches alongside a thrilling tie with Radley, with their run to the South West Final of the National Under 18 T20 Cup the show-case for much of their best cricket Wins over King’s Taunton and the Pilgrims after half term also demonstrated the side’s ability. Individually, four batters have scored over 400 runs: Tom AlersHankey (U6c), Barney Talbot-Williams (U6a), Will Tatham (L6d), and Fourth Former Fergus O’Connell (4c), who led the run scoring list with nearly 700 runs Amongst the bowlers, Third Former JP Tatham (3d) topped the averages with a hugely impressive tally of 31 wickets – over ten more than the next best performer, whilst Charlie Robinson (L6m) took a hat-trick. JP also put his name on the Honours Board twice in consecutive weeks, with a 5wicket and then a 6-wicket haul In the first of these against Canford, he was almost joined by his brother, Will, whose innings of 98 was the highest score of the season.
At the end of the season, we say farewell and many thanks to the departing Mr Howden and Mr Debney, as well as expressing our gratitude to the ground staff, the caterers and all the coaches In particular, a huge thank you to Mr Buckley for all his tremendous efforts and the enormous impact he has already had on Sherborne Cricket, as well as to Mr Reynolds for his wonderfully enthusiastic support in coaching the 1st XI
Tatham Master i/c Cricket
Hugh
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THE PERFORMANCE GYM AT SHERBORNE: A GAME-CHANGEr FOr STUDENT ATHlETES
The 2023-2024 academic year has seen a remarkable transformation in the athletic development of Sherborne students, thanks to the enhanced utilisation of the school’s performance gym. This brandnew facility has become a hub of physical improvement and technical refinement, offering students access to coach-led training sessions and tailored strength programs A team of coaches who have made the performance gym a thriving centre for athletic development and have brought their wealth of experience and expertise to guide students through each session Their presence has ensured that students receive not just access to equipment, but also invaluable instruction on proper technique, injury prevention, and targeted training methods.
The range of sessions offered has been impressively diverse, catering to students across different age groups and sporting disciplines
Early morning sessions for the Third Form High Performance Programme (HPP) have given younger students a strong foundation in strength and conditioning principles These sessions have been crucial in instilling good habits and building a culture of athletic excellence from an early age In the evenings, the performance gym has been a hive of activity with squad sessions for senior Rugby, Football, and Hockey teams These sport-specific training sessions have allowed teams to work on strength, power, and conditioning tailored to their onfield requirements The results have been evident in improved performance, reduced injuries, and increased team cohesion as players work together to push their physical limits
The structured strength programme developed by the coaching staff have been a key component of the gym ’ s success These programmes have been designed to progressively develop students’ physical attributes,
considering their age, sport, and individual needs The emphasis on proper technique and gradual progression has ensured that students can safely and effectively improve their strength, power, and overall athletic ability The impact of the performance gym has extended beyond just physical improvements Students have reported increased confidence, better understanding of their bodies, and a greater appreciation for the role of strength and conditioning in their overall athletic development The gym has also fostered a sense of community among athletes from different sports, creating a supportive environment where students encourage and motivate each other
Looking ahead, the future of the performance at Sherborne appears even brighter The most significant development is the introduction of a full-time Strength and Conditioning coach, which represents a major investment in the athletic development of
herborne students This new osition will allow for even more ersonalised attention, expanded rogram offerings, and greater onsistency in training approaches cross all sports It also signals herborne’s commitment to staying t the forefront of athletic evelopment in schools, ecognising the crucial role that trength and conditioning plays in modern sports performance
As the performance gym continues o evolve and expand its reach, it tands as a testament to herborne’s dedication to nurturing well-rounded athletes By providing tudents with access to excellent acilities, expert coaching, and tructured training programs, herborne is not just developing etter athletes, but also instilling felong habits of fitness and health he success of this year has laid a olid foundation for what promises o be an exciting new chapter in herborne’s sporting legacy
Barnaby Allen Head of PE
S w I M M I N G
This term the swimmers have been training hard and, in a term, where exams quickly take their toll on squad numbers they squeezed in two home galas with Sherborne Girls W ith Taunton in the mix at the first gala it was always going to be an uphill struggle, but this has never deterred the swimmers and they gave their all against a much stronger squad Some great times were achieved with the U14s making their first outing In the second Gala it all came together for the U16 and U14 squads with both taking first position A fantastic finish to the year and proof that fielding a full team and supporting your friends as they individually compete really makes a difference
Andrew Griffin-Raphael Master i/c Swimming
w AT E r p O l O
Boys have continued to enjoy Water Polo both as a Thursday sport and a Monday evening club The Water Polo team enjoyed a friendly game against the Yeovil Spartans, with a 10-4 win for Sherborne The highlight for many Third and Fourth Formers was the Junior House Tournament After a nail-bitingly close final against School House, Harper eventually seized the trophy with a 7-6 victory
Claire Greenrod Master i/c Water Polo
T E N N I S
Tennis continues to go from strengthto-strength culminating in another successful year with the introduction of W inchester and Bradfield College proving good additions to the fixture calendar We have fielded more teams than ever before and have had encouraging results against many schools with the highlight being big wins against Millfield
Fabian Simanjuntak (3e) won the Road to W imbledon which leaves him competing for a place in the national finals played at W imbledon should he win his county final in Bournemouth. Whilst the teams have been performing well, we have also seen great numbers with over 170 of you selecting tennis as your sport this term The Sherborne School Championships have concluded with Billy Baker (L6c) as the winner of the seniors and Xavier Aparicio (3g) the winner of the juniors
Thank you to all the staff who have run tennis this term and to the grounds team who have maintained the pristine grass courts
Richard Keen Master i/c Tennis
p O l O
The grass polo season may have officially started in April, but the weather had other plans Early matches were delayed and in some weeks the training sessions had to revert to the arena as wet pitches caused havoc. Despite these setbacks, training continued weekly.
In early May, Sherborne took on Marlborough in friendly chukkas These games provided invaluable experience, allowing the team to hone their skills and strategies
The highlight of the season came with the match against Eton in Berkshire in June Sherborne took an early lead and dominated throughout the game thanks to great teamwork By the end of the third chukka the score was 6-1 5 to Sherborne but Eton mounted a late comeback in the fourth, to produce a final score of 7-4 5 to Sherborne All players on the pitch scored goals during the match; Teddy Instone (3c), Josh Spolton (3m), Jake Bamford (5b), Ben Spencer (U6g)
The much-anticipated SUPA (Schools and Universities Polo Association) tournament was due to be held at Kirtlington Polo Club north of Oxford, where two Upper Sixth (Cassius Hammick, U6m and Ben Spencer, U6g) were set to make their final appearances Expectations were high for an exciting tournament with chukkas against Radley, Stowe and Cheltenham However, just half an hour into the journey down the A303 it was called off due to rain, leaving players, pony hirers and parents all very disappointed
Cassius Hammick and Ben Spencer have been dedicated and extremely valuable polo players in their time at Sherborne and they will be greatly missed on the team next year, although there are some very promising players lower down the school
Julia Slade Master i/c Polo
S A I l I N G
Sailing has had another all-time high of record participation this term Over 30 boys have represented the school at sailing this term.
Such is the disparity of the standard between Sherborne and the local competition, the first team’s fixtures have been limited to the regional events, which attracts the top competition from around the country, in which they have been placed 2nd, 3rd and 4th Credit must go to the second and indeed junior teams who in many instances have been victorious over the first teams of such opposition as Clifton, Bryanston, Milton Abbey, Radley and Millfield
The first team achieved 8th place in the senior division and 7th place in the junior division at the BSDRA National Team Racing Championship in the last week of term
On the 6th and 7th July, George Gillespie (U6c) and Eddie Esdaile (4c) came 8th in the Itchenor Firefly Schools fleet racing championships closely followed in 9th by Olllie Thompson (U6f) and Yasha Malikov (U6f) in a fleet of 58 boats
The current first team helms of Oliver Thompson (U6f), George Gillespie (U6c) and Sam Nokes (U6g) sadly leave us and will leave a big hole to fill, but as ever we have plenty of talent coming up through the ranks
The fleet of boats at Sutton Bingham has, as ever, been reshaped and now comprises matched flights of six 420s, six Fireflies, six Lasers and five Picos
Michael Ewart-Smith Master i/c Sailing
G O l F
The golf teams have enjoyed another good term, even more so because the sun finally appeared from behind the rain clouds An enthusiastic Lower Sixth 2nd team enjoyed matches against King’s Bruton and Clayesmore, with the road trips providing as much amusement as the golf itself W ith some really promising talent lower down in the School the Under 16 team, with Jinmo Koo (4b) leading the way, played against Milton Abbey, Downside and a strong Blundell’s side, only losing on the final hole when their last par showed Rory Mcllroy how to do it, holing a crucial putt from 5 foot to win the match And finally the 1st team sadly had their fixtures curtailed by exams and the poor early weather of April/May so a season which had seen much success, including reaching the regional final of the ISGA Singles competition, rather petered out Although Captain of Golf, Theo Anderson Gannon (U6e) continued to perform with success at the highest level representing Somerset at the Men’s County Southwest Week W ith all the boys now receiving weekly coaching from the Professionals at Sherborne and Yeovil Golf Clubs, and the simulator continuing to provide a superb (and dry) place to practice and play golf, Sherborne Golf continues to flourish
Alistair Hatch Master i/c Golf
S p O r T S
C E N T r E
O p E N I N G
We were delighted to welcome the Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset to formally open our new Sports Centre in the heart of the School in June. The Centre is a game changer for the school and local community. Thank you to all our supporters who made this possible.
C H A r I T y &
C O M M U N I T y
O U T r E A C H
The Harper House Charity: Sherborne Primary School
Twelve boys from the Third Form and Lower Sixth visit the school on a weekly basis, giving up an hour of their time to run activities and games outside, whatever the weather and it has been thoroughly enjoyed by the young children at the Primary School and our pupils (‘chaos tag’ being a particular favourite but also some classic sports day activities like the egg and spoon race)
In order to raise funds, we also held a Harper House Charity Garden Party one
sunny Sunday afternoon for boys and parents It was a wonderful occasion and lovely to see so many boys and parents enjoying one another’s company in the beautiful surroundings of the Harper garden. I am delighted that so many were able to come along, and because of their generosity we have so far raised over £1,300, which is wonderful. All of this will go to Sherborne Primary School, who we are absolutely delighted to be able to support
Nick Scorer Housemaster, Harper House
Lyon House Charity:
Prodigal Bikes
Well done to Lyon House boys who each cycled 10km on a spin bike in Sherborne’s Sports Centre on Sunday 19 May 10km is the average distance a child in Tanzania has to travel to school every day A great effort raising funds for their house charity: Prodigal Bikes
Prodigal Bikes is a charity that brings hope and changes lives in both Africa and the UK In the UK they refurbish bikes donated to them, teaching engineering skills and giving work experience to those who need that second chance. These bikes are then either shipped to Africa or given to refugees and asylum seekers here in the UK In Africa, their bikes are used by patients to access healthcare, and by school children and teachers to get to schools.
This year’s CourtsFest was a resounding success once again as the big School room and the Courts were transformed into a mini festival for the Sixth Forms at Sherborne School and Sherborne Girls Music was at the heart of the event, with more than two and a half hours of performances showcasing the talented bands and DJs from both Schools, which was livestreamed on a big lED screen in the Courts. we were fortunate that the weather remained dry while Sixth Form pupils enjoyed wood-fired pizza, fresh churros and drinks The funfair stalls and games also proved to be very popular, as did the big inflatable prizes
Throughout the organisation process, there was a strong emphasis on sustainability which led to a few changes to the event this year, including the introduction of re-usable cups for the boys and girls to drink out of and then to take away as a souvenir from the event In addition to avoiding single-use plastics and helping to minimise waste, the cups featured the new CourtsFest logo that was skilfully designed by our School Prefects
A few days prior to the event, we also delivered an assembly to the Sixth Form, focusing on the importance of environmentally friendly practices during CourtsFest We hope that events such as CourtsFest will continue to not only entertain, but also to educate the pupils and set a positive example for the School community
Abi Guiton Events Manager
C l U b S & A C T I v I T I E S
H I G H l I G H T S
b O A r D G A M E S
Board Games Club is the undisputed highlight of a Monday afternoon for those in the know
This term’s games have included Settlers of Catan, Trial by Trolley, Don’t Mess with Cthulhu, Poetry for Neanderthals, Citadels and Battle Sheep New members are always welcome to join this relaxed and friendly group
Claire Greenrod Teacher of MFL
H I S T O r y O F A r T C l U b
The History of Art club hosted Old Shirburnian and one of the world’s most renowned art dealers specialising in 19th century British art, Rupert Maas, for a special talk
The talk included the Lower Sixth art historians, many irregular club attendees, as well as several members of staff - a wonderful mix that really enhanced the variety of questions asked at the end
Rupert took us on a fascinating journey from his beginnings as an art dealer through to career highlights, as well as a “behind the scenes ” peek For instance, the fact that he made more money by selling the photo of Leighton’s Flaming June to the Bridgeman Art Library than by selling the painting itself caused the audience a little shock of delight
The current Lower Sixth art historians are studying the very paintings that Rupert has dealt with in the past, including works by Lord Leighton and the Pre-Raphaelites, so this was a spectacular opportunity for them Thanks to Sherborne’s archivist, Rachel Hassall for helping to organise this event.
Rupert is a true expert on the 19th century and his profound insights on the cultural value of British art of this period will help and inspire the future art historians at Sherborne
w E l l b E I N G
In Wellbeing this term there have been a range of events including an Equality and Diversity talk led by the Assistant Chaplain of the Sherborne Girls to both boys and girls in the Third Form.
In addition, boys in the Third and Fourth Form were given a talk on the effects of drugs and vaping by Aric Sigman before Easter. Fifth Form have engaged in the topics of healthy balance and how to manage exam stress and the Lower Sixth, joined by Sherborne Girls, were spoken to about university options. There have also been some boy-led events including a discussion on Identity and Masculinity led by the Lower Sixth prefects.
Wellbeing lessons this term have been focused on Living in the Wider World, exploring concepts of government, the environment and the rights and responsibilities of UK citizens.
