Sherborne Girls: Exploring Reviews, Rankings, Fees, And More
Sherborne Girls is more than just a school—it’s a place where students are encouraged to thrive academically, socially, and personally. Whether you’re a parent searching for the right environment or a student exploring your next step, this guide covers everything you need to know. From honest reviews and rankings to clear information on fees, we’ll help you understand what makes Sherborne Girls a standout choice.
Table of Contents
Key Features of Sherborne Girls
- Local authority: Dorset
- Pupils: 461; sixth formers: 172
- Gender: Girls
- Age: 11-18
- Religion: Church of England
- Fees: Day £11,950 per term; Boarding £18,685 per term (inclusive of VAT)
Sherborne Girls School: All you need to know
Sherborne Girls is a mere 3 minutes drive (13 minutes walk) away from Sherborne School. The girls here are friendly, confident, and have each others’ backs, which makes up for a very friendly and comfortable environment. While they are one of the best girls boarding school in the UK, they manage this well by organising activities with the boys around the corner.
Since 1899, this school has been grooming excellence among its pupils. Today, it has around 490 girls, with 90% of them being full boarders. Sherborne Girls is situated in a beautiful rural setting (which parents absolutely love), but with a direct train to London (which the girls love).
Confidence without arrogance: The school has done an amazing job in developing the confidence and leadership skills among the girls while keeping their arrogance at bay. They are outgoing, they can express themselves well, and they are just a delight to be around.
When it comes to food, each of the 7 boarding houses has their own chefs that will try their very best to accommodate each student’s dietary requirements and preferences. These individual kitchens will serve all the meals throughout the day for their respective boarders.
Sherborne Girls School Results
Latest Results
- GCSE Results (2025): 50% achieved grades 9-7.
- A Level Results (2025): 40% achieved A* or A grades.
Past Results
- GCSE Results (2024): 57.9% achieved grades 9-7.
- A Level Results (2024): 52% achieved A* or A grades.
Teaching and Learning at Sherborne Girls
Sherborne Girls School in Dorset offers a broad and enriching curriculum designed to develop enquiring minds and instil a strong work ethic. The school emphasises curiosity, compassion, courage, adaptability, and spirituality, aiming to prepare students for a rapidly changing world.
The curriculum focuses on building life skills such as self-confidence, emotional intelligence, and creativity. Students are encouraged to develop leadership abilities and a sense of community responsibility. By maintaining a breadth of experiences, the school fosters mental agility and prepares girls to become successful leaders, communicators, performers, and responsible citizens.
Boarding Facilities in Sherborne Girls
With a staggering 90% of students opting to board, the atmosphere is buzzing with excitement and camaraderie. Students have the choice between full-time boarding or occasional stays as day boarders, adding a touch of flexibility to their residential arrangements.
Spread across seven distinct boarding houses, each catering to different year groups, the boarding experience at Sherborne Girls is nothing short of lively and engaging. From mixed-age houses for girls in years 9 to 12 to dedicated residences for younger and older students, there’s a sense of community and belonging in every corner.
Accommodation ranges from cosy cubicles, affectionately referred to as ‘cubies‘, for the younger ones, to spacious single or double rooms for older students. These cubies are basically long corridors that are split into individual cubicles with 8-ft high curtains between them. This setting gives the girls sufficient privacy when they need it, while still being able to be a part of the larger group. This is something that we rarely see in other schools where individuals can isolate themselves from the group once they shut their room doors.
Unlike many schools, Sherborne Girls doesn’t quieten down on weekends. With around 80% of students choosing to stay, there’s always something exciting happening, from outdoor adventures to movie nights and everything in between. And let’s not forget about the two exeats per term, providing students with the perfect opportunity to unwind and explore new horizons.
Extracurricular Activities in Sherborne Girls
At Sherborne Girls, extracurricular activities are not just about ticking boxes – they’re about discovering passions, building confidence, and having a blast along the way. With over half of the students showing off their musical talents, there’s a bustling scene of orchestras, choirs, and chamber groups. Picture lunchtime strings concerts where Bach meets Lennon and McCartney, or the magical Candlemas service at Sherborne Abbey – it’s all about making music come alive.
But it’s not just about melodies and harmonies. The arts scene at Sherborne Girls is thriving, with the recent opening of the Merritt Centre providing a space for creativity to flourish. From drama performances to innovative art projects, there’s always something exciting happening.
Of course, there’s no shortage of activities to get stuck into. From astronomy to cake decorating, coding to jewellery making, there’s something for everyone. And let’s not forget about the sports scene – it’s not just about lacrosse and hockey (although they’re pretty good at those too). Whether you’re into cross-country, netball, or even boxercise, there’s a place for you to shine.
In the rare case where the school does not have a certain facility to cater to the interests of the girls, they can always arrange a visit to the boys school down the road.
Admissions Process: Entering Sherborne Girls
Sherborne Girls prides itself on a seamless and inclusive admissions process, catering to students at various entry points. Approximately 25 girls typically commence their journey at age 11, while a larger cohort of around 65 joins at age 13. Drawing from a diverse array of preparatory schools such as Hanford, Farleigh, and Sandroyd, among others, Sherborne Girls fosters a dynamic and enriching environment.
Prospective students are encouraged to register at least two years in advance, particularly for entry at age 13 or above. Pre-assessment is conducted in Year 7 for Year 9 entry, with the option of the school’s own entrance test for those not prepared for the Common Entrance examination.
For aspirants to the Sixth Form, Sherborne Girls admits up to 20 new girls annually. Eligibility requires a minimum of six grade 6s or above at GCSE level, ensuring that incoming students are academically prepared for the challenges and opportunities that await.
SEN Support in Sherborne Girls
Here at Sherborne, the team is well prepared to cater to pupils that have the following special educational needs:
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders
- Dyslexia
Sherborne Girls Testimonials and Reviews
A really beautiful school with fantastic teaching, facilities and engaging, caring staff
Absolutely love the school, nice staffs and lovely students
Great facilities, lovely pool. Friendly staff.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sherborne Girls
Whilst they are academically selective, they are not an academic ‘hothouse’.
Develop women of the future. Cultivate a culture of aspiration and ambition. Foster both collaboration and communication with the wider community.
Sherborne School was proud to be singled out amongst the country’s independent schools by The Week in their Best of the Best Schools’ Awards, for the ‘great’ co-curricular provision at the School.
The Choral Society is conducted in alternate years by James Henderson, Director of Music at Sherborne School, and by Sherborne Girls’ Director of Music, John Jenkins.
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