BoysIndependentBoarding

Sherborne Boys

Sherborne, Dorset, South West · DT9 3AP

Founded in 1550, Sherborne Boys is a long-established Christian boarding school in Sherborne, Dorset, educating around 570 boys aged 13 to 18. Its Independent Schools Inspectorate report awarded the school the top grade of "excellent" for both education quality and personal development, with all compliance standards met. A pupil-to-teacher ratio of about 14 sits comfortably within the range typical of independent boarding schools, and a sizeable sixth form of 245 anchors the upper years. Half of the boys are recorded as receiving some form of SEN support, suggesting a school accustomed to working with a broad spread of learning needs.

570

Pupils

excellent

ISI

£45,570

Day fees / yr

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Overview & data

Gender: Boys
Type: independent (fee-paying) school
Age range: 13-18
Pupils: 570
Pupil:teacher ratio: 14
Location: Sherborne, Dorset, South West
Website: https://www.sherborneboys.group/
Telephone: 01935 810426

Headteacher

Headmaster Simon Heard

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Latest results

GCSE grade 9-7

54%

A-level A*-A

33%

A-level A*-B

63%

Teaching & academics

Results are solid rather than stratospheric: 54% of GCSE entries reached grades 9 to 7, while at A-level a third of grades were A*-A and 63% A*-B. The curriculum is wide, spanning GCSE, A-level, BTEC and the EPQ, with languages including French, German, Spanish and Chinese on offer. Subject choice is notably broad at sixth form, from Further Mathematics and the sciences through to History of Art, Latin, Economics and Music Technology.

Sixth form

Sixth-form pupils: 245

Popular A-level subjects

SpanishReligious StudiesPsychologyPhysicsPhysical EducationMusic TechnologyFurther MathematicsMathematicsLatinHistory of ArtHistoryGovernment and PoliticsGermanFrenchEnglish LiteratureEconomicsDesign and TechnologyChemistryBusiness StudiesArt and Design

Qualifications offered

GCSEA-levelBTECEPQ

Learning support & SEN

SEN support: 50.96%
EHC plans: 0.17%

Arts & extracurricular

Scholarships

AcademicArtDTDramaMusicSport

Languages

FrenchGermanSpanishChinese

Popular GCSE subjects

Religious StudiesPhysical EducationMusicEnglish LiteratureEnglish LanguageDrama & Theatre StudiesDesign & TechnologyComputer StudiesClassical CivilisationChineseArt & Design

Sport

Main sports

RugbyCricketFootballTennisSwimming

Beyond the classroom

Sport is prominent, with rugby, cricket, football, tennis and swimming among the main pursuits. Scholarships across academic work, art, design technology, drama, music and sport point to strengths beyond the classroom, and as a full boarding school there is scope for evening and weekend activities structured by year group.

Ethos & heritage

Founded: 1550
Religious character: Christian
Boarding: Yes

Mobile phone policy

Boys have access to work mobile devices each day for lessons. Additional mobile devices access varies by year group and increases as they progress. Year 3, 4, 5 boys hand in devices before bedtime. Access to additional devices allocated during evenings and weekends by year group.

Money matters

Day fees (per year): £45,570
Boarding fees (per year): £57,600
Bursaries up to: 100% of fees

Some means-tested bursaries available

Inspection reports

ISI rating: excellent
ISI personal development: excellent
Last inspected: 27 January 2026

Read the full inspection report ↗

The last word

A traditional boys' boarding school with ISI-recognised excellence in personal development and a genuinely wide curriculum. Day and boarding fees sit at the higher end, with some means-tested bursaries to broaden access.

The Passmate verdict