School Details
- Ages: 13-18
- Student population: 540
- Avg. class size: 14-20
- School type: Private, Boarding
- Curriculum: British
- Religious Affiliation: Christian
Good To Know
- After-school care: No
- Learning support: Yes
- Homeschool support: No
- Sibling discount: Yes
About
Sherborne Boys is proud to be one of the UK’s leading, full-boarding boys’ schools. Established over 900 years ago, the focus on academic fulfillment and all-round personal development shapes boys so they can deal with uncertainty, lead change and make a difference. Their commitment to Character Education helps every boy find his own path; Sherborne's is a vibrant, supportive community where everyone’s talents are nurtured and celebrated.
Sherborne Boys is part of Sherborne Schools Group and their close partnership with Sherborne Girls means they offer the benefits of focused, single-sex classrooms with the social benefits of a coeducational setting. The school's beautiful location, in an historic Dorset market town, has direct rail links to mainline London stations, with Exeter, Bristol and Southampton airports all within easy reach.
They believe every boy should be stretched, supported and inspired to develop a lifelong love of learning. Academic life is built around passionate teaching, a culture of high expectations, and the flexibility to let boys follow their curiosity wherever it leads. However, education goes far beyond the classroom. The school's full boarding model allows Sherborne to offer a rich and varied sport and co-curricular programme that helps boys develop key virtues such as resilience, service, empathy, integrity and respect.
From the start, each boy is treated as an individual and surrounded by a culture that celebrates personal growth as much as academic success. Their transformative education inspires, stretches and affirms. It inculcates habits of being that stay with pupils for the rest of their lives.
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Highlights
- Located in a beautiful, historic market town in rural Dorset
- Two hours from London, escorted transport to major airports
- Partnership with Sherborne Girls; single-sex education alongside joint opportunities
- 90% Boarding, with seven boarding houses, activity schedule and socials programme
- Excellent academic results, preparing boys to thrive in the modern world
- Co-curricular & enrichment opportunities, many in collaboration with Sherborne Girls
- Outstanding facilities, including a brand new Sports Centre
- Excellent careers support and award-winning Old Shirburnian (alumni) network
Boarding 2026-27
Price includes VAT
Facilities
- First rate academic and boarding facilities
- Sherborne Sports Centre – state of the art facility including two sports halls, indoor cricket nets, an indoor hockey pitch, two five-a-side pitches, basketball courts, eight badminton courts, four squash courts, climbing and bouldering area, fitness suite, sports performance area, multiple studios and fully refurbished swimming pool and changing areas.
- State of the art Music School providing GCSE and A Level options in Music and Music Technology. Over half of boys playing an instrument, many more than one, play in orchestras, joint orchestras, bands and the annual CourtsFest, Battle of the Bands, Halliday Cup competition, weekly Cheap Street Recitals are just a few of the many performance opportunities for boys.
- Beautifully refurbished library, providing the perfect learning space for boys
- Stunning Chapel, formerly part of the 15th Century Benedictine monastic building, a place for spiritual reflection and whole school assemblies.
- Fully refurbished and modern dining hall
- The Powell Theatre, used for school plays and joint school productions with Sherborne Girls
- A busy Art department including a ceramics studio and the beautiful Oliver Holt Art Gallery sees boys engaged in art ‘round the clock’ with outstanding teaching support.
- Stunning grounds, sports pitches, astro turf pitches and Pavilion
- Use of Sherborne Abbey for worship, choir rehearsals and choral services
Extracurricular Activities
An extensive co-curricular programme encourages pupils to develop existing interests and foster new talents across a broad range of areas including:
- Drama – multiple productions each year including joint schools’ musical and play with Sherborne Girls
- Music – instrument and singing lessons, choirs, orchestras and ensembles, almost 50% of pupils learn at least one musical instrument, playing to an enviably high standard - Level 6 LTCL and Level 4 ATCL performance diplomas are regular achievements, inevitably preceded by Distinction in Grade 8.
- Sport – rugby, football, hockey, tennis, cricket, swimming, cross-country, athletics, basketball, cross country, fives, shooting, ski racing, water polo, racquet sports, polo, sailing, climbing golf, and other outdoor pursuits
- Adventure & Leadership including Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (Bronze, Silver and Gold) and Ten Tors with Sherborne Girls
- Joint Combined Cadet Force (CCF) with Sherborne Girls
- Academic societies and enrichment
- Debating Society
- Community outreach and volunteering
- Wide selection of additional activities and clubs on offer from computer science, history of art, cooking, languages, chess to gardening and fishing
- Weekend activities including trips to the beach, black tie dinners, balls, trips to local restaurants, go-karting, paintballing, pizza making nights, quiz nights and BBQ’s (many in conjunction with Sherborne Girls)