Sherborne Schools shortlisted for three categories in the Independent Schools of the Year Awards

Three schools from the Sherborne Schools Group have been shortlisted in the Independent Schools of the Year 2024 Awards. Sherborne School, Sherborne Girls and Sherborne Prep have all reached the next round in their category.

As a result, they are in the running to be named “Independent Boys’ School of the Year”, “Independent Girls’ School of the Year” and “Independent Prep School of the Year” at the awards ceremony in October. The three schools also received a “Commended” rating from the judges, reflecting the quality of their provision.

“It is great to see the Sherborne Schools Group put in such a good showing in these high-profile awards,” said Dr Dominic Luckett, Headmaster and CEO of Sherborne School. “By making the shortlist in all three categories, we show the strength and depth of our offer.”

The Sherborne Schools Group was formed earlier in the year by the governance merger of Sherborne School and Sherborne Prep with Sherborne Girls and Hanford. While the schools operate as discrete entities, they work closely together to maximise opportunity for their pupils.

For the senior schools, such cooperation is seen in their “Separate Yet Together” strategy, combining the benefits of single-sex classrooms with an extensive co-educational co-curricular and social programme.“Our collaboration enables us to give pupils the best of both worlds,” said Dr Ruth Sullivan, Head of Sherborne Girls. “This was a key feature of our entries to the Independent Schools of the Year Awards and I’m delighted to see it recognised by the judges.”

Speaking about the success of Sherborne Prep, the school’s Head Annie Gent said: “We believe we are a special community with kindness and aspiration at our core. Thisachievement shows the power of our values. It is great to be shortlisted alongside other Sherborne schools, with whom we share our ethos.”