Sherborne School for Girls
School summary
Founded in 1893, Sherborne School for Girls is a small Church of England boarding and day school in Dorset, educating around 461 girls aged 11 to 18. Its 2024 ISI inspection judged it excellent for both education quality and pupil personal development, with all compliance standards met. A considered approach to technology runs through the school, with younger years smartphone-free during the week and devices handed in each evening across most of the school. With 172 in the sixth form, it offers a settled, structured environment under Head Dr Ruth Sullivan.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Latest results
GCSE grade 9-7
49%
National average 23%
A-level A*-A
40%
National average 28%
A-level A*-B
68%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 30 January 2024
Teaching & academics
Results sit well above national benchmarks: 49% of GCSE grades reach 9-7 against a national average of 23%, and at A-level 40% of entries earn A*-A compared with 28% nationally. Sciences feature strongly at both GCSE and A-level, alongside humanities and social sciences such as Geography, History, Psychology and Economics. French, Spanish and German are offered, and pupils can pursue the EPQ alongside their A-levels. A notable 36% of pupils receive SEN support, suggesting individual needs are actively identified and addressed.
Languages
GCSE subjects
Head · Dr Ruth Sullivan
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 172
A-level subjects
Qualifications offered
Beyond the classroom
Sport is a clear strength, with tennis, netball, lacrosse, hockey and rounders forming the core games programme. Scholarships in drama, music, art and sport, as well as academics, point to genuine breadth beyond the classroom.
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1893
- Religious character
- C of E
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 36.05%
- EHC plans
- 0.21%
Mobile phone policy
L4 and U4: Smartphone free, brick phone access 5-6pm and 7.30-8pm, phone-free days Mon/Thu. L5, M5, U5: Smartphone permitted at specific times after school. L6, U6: Permitted during school day in boarding house or off-site. All L4-L6 hand in devices each evening.
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £35,850
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £45,900 - £56,055
Available and generally given in combination with scholarships
Schools nearby
Sherborne Preparatory School
Sherborne, South West
Sherborne Boys
Sherborne, South West
Leweston School
Sherborne, South West
Chilton Bridge School
South West
Hazlegrove Prep School
Yeovil, South West
Marchant Holliday School
Templecombe, South West
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
An academically strong girls' school where high results meet a thoughtful, phone-light boarding culture. Bursaries paired with scholarships help widen access to fees that reach £56,055 for boarders.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
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Sherborne School for Girls 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.