Sherborne Preparatory School
School summary
Set in Sherborne, Dorset, this small independent prep takes children from ages three to thirteen and offers both day and boarding places. With just over 200 pupils and a generous pupil-to-teacher ratio of around eight to one, classes are intimate and individual attention is built in. The Independent Schools Inspectorate judged the school excellent for both education quality and personal development, while compliance standards were met. Under the leadership of Head Mrs Annie Gent, it suits families seeking a nurturing, closely supervised start to a child's education.
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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Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 27 January 2026
Teaching & academics
An ISI rating of excellent reflects strong teaching across the prep years, supported by small classes that allow pupils to be known well. Around 15 per cent of children receive SEN support, suggesting a school comfortable adapting to a range of learning needs. Academic scholarships are available alongside awards in sport, music, art and drama.
Head · Mrs Annie Gent
Beyond the classroom
Scholarship routes in sport, music, art and drama point to genuine breadth beyond the classroom, giving children scope to develop talents in several directions. As a boarding school, it also offers a structured rhythm to evenings and weekends.
School life & ethos
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 15.15%
- EHC plans
- 0.51%
Mobile phone policy
Pupils don't bring mobile phones to school – except boarders, who hand them in on arrival and can use them for a short time each evening to call family.
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £9,000 - £23,400
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £31,890 - £33,660
Means-tested bursaries, taken up by five to 10 per cent
Schools nearby
Sherborne Boys
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
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A small, close-knit prep with an excellent inspection record and a calm approach to childhood, including a sensible mobile phone policy. A good fit for families wanting individual attention through the primary and early secondary years.
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.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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Sherborne Preparatory School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.