Sherborne Boys
School summary
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.
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
54%
National average 23%
A-level A*-A
33%
National average 28%
A-level A*-B
63%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 27 January 2026
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.
Languages
GCSE subjects
Headmaster · Simon Heard
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 245
A-level subjects
Qualifications offered
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.
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1550
- Religious character
- Christian
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 50.96%
- EHC plans
- 0.17%
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.
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £45,570
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £57,600
- Bursaries up to
- 100% of fees
Some means-tested bursaries available
Schools nearby
Sherborne Preparatory School
Sherborne, South West
Sherborne School for Girls
Sherborne, South West
Leweston School
Sherborne, South West
Chilton Bridge School
South West
Marchant Holliday School
Templecombe, South West
Hazlegrove Prep School
Yeovil, South West
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Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
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.
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 Boys 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.