A UNIQUE BLEND OF TRADITION + INNOVATION
Sixth Form - Information Booklet
Welcome from the Headmaster
It is an extraordinarily exciting time to be a pupil here and I hope that you will discover the sense of excitement and myriad opportunities both inside and outside the classroom, particularly in the stories you hear and in the people you meet.
The boys are very fortunate to benefit from an outstanding body of staff, both teaching and operational. They are dedicated and professional, have the boys’ best interests always at heart and provide an all-round holistic education and environment. At the centre of this 21st century fullboarding experience is a commitment to the development of a boy’s whole character, to prepare him for the world, give him the skills and experiences to flourish and to give him the humility and perspective to give more to the world than he takes.
At Sherborne we have the best of both worlds; an outstanding single-sex educational experience, set in the context of a wider school group which brings benefits of scale and opportunity, especially within a co-educational sphere. Geographically located in one of the most beautiful and desirable towns in the UK, the co-location of Sherborne Girls means we are separate, yet together, providing an outstanding preparation for life.
The history of the School stretches over many centuries, yet, whilst we respect and understand the importance of the past, we remain focused on the next stage of Sherborne’s existence in order to create an inspirational and innovative educational offering for the boys, preparing them to be the world’s future leaders.
Simon Heard Headmaster
Welcome from the Deputy Head (Sixth Form)
At Sherborne Boys we talk a great deal about pathways. We want our pupils, parents and staff to be aware of the many exciting opportunities that lie ahead. On entering the Sixth Form, boys will continue the process of exploring Post-18 global pathways - supported by their peers, the Careers and Pathways Team, their Tutor and Housemaster – until they find one or two that feels right for them. Boys will then begin the process of preparing for specific pathways, which will have different academic/ practical considerations depending on specific entry requirements. Finally, boys will apply for their chosen pathway and then work towards attaining the best grades possible, whilst enjoying school to the max, before moving on to the next stage of their educational journey.
We also talk a great deal about leadership. Knowing that all our boys will go on to be leaders in one way or another, we consider it vital that leadership is placed on the curriculum so that pupils have the opportunity to consider the importance of followership and the importance of serving others and one’s own best interests. Both Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth pupils experience a wide range of talks, workshops and seminars on leadership and character development. In addition, our School Prefects undergo a robust and thorough leadership training programme which empowers their own leadership to have a positive impact upon the entire pupil body and our wider community. We want our boys to leave with a leadership toolkit so that when they are put into leadership roles and responsibilities later on, they are able to lead with confidence, kindness, authenticity and skill. Below are our core leadership values:
Serve others – we exhibit kindness, compassion, humility and moral courage.
Pursue lifelong learning – we embrace global diversity and the opportunity to learn from other cultures.
Build successful teams – we motivate, inspire and move people towards achieving positive change. Communicate with skill – we present with clarity, passion and authenticity.
Our Leadership and Character Development Programme is run in parallel with our sister school, Sherborne Girls. There are many opportunities throughout the Sixth Form for the boys and girls get together to socialise, and learn from and with each other. Although we are a single-sex school for boys, we enjoy many wonderful co-educational moments with Sherborne Girls. This is an important and unique part of our Sixth Form offer. Every weekend in the Sixth Form, the boys and girls come together for Saturday night socials which vary from being House Dinners, Ceilidhs, Sixth Form Socials, Unplugged events, and the wonderful annual CourtsFest event. Pupils from Sherborne Boys and Sherborne Girls also interact in many sports, clubs and societies including CCF, tennis and sailing.
We offer a diverse range of Sixth Form subjects at Sherborne, which matches the diverse range of learners that we nurture and celebrate at our school. Many boys who previously found academic life and GCSEs extremely challenging can go on to absolutely thrive academically in the Sixth Form and end their time as top grade attainers. At the same time, boys who have been high achievers throughout school will enter an academic culture in which they are challenged, pushed and celebrated. The inclusive Thinkers Society, shared with Sherborne Girls and The Gryphon (a local state- maintained school), provides a weekly forum for our brightest and most curious minds to come together, learn and think hard in a welcoming and stimulating environment.
We are proud of our Sixth Form offer. We believe that everything we do is focused on providing an exciting, enjoyable, challenging and highly fulfilling programme, which enables the young men in our care to develop and access wonderful pathways, whilst making a positive difference to the wider world.
Alex Boyd-Williams Deputy Head (Sixth Form)
Sixth Form Admissions Process
Registrations to join the Sixth Form should be received by mid October of Year 11. Candidates will then be invited to join us for assessment at Sherborne in November. Although we recommend attending in person, online assessment and interview can be arranged for candidates applying from abroad.
Our general entry assessment process involves a CAT4 online cognitive test, two interviews and a supportive reference from the boy's current school.
Sherborne Boys also invites talented and enthusiastic boys to apply for up to two of our Sixth Form scholarships (Sport, Music or Academic).
Please note that owing to the levels of commitment required of successful candidates, boys are not able to apply for both a Music and a Sports Scholarship.
Place decisions are announced on 1 December, with place offers to be accepted a week later by payment of a non- refundable deposit and a signed parent contract. After this date, unaccepted offers will be released to those on the waiting list.
Applications after the November Assessment Day are subject to places being available. We understand you may be considering Sixth Form options if your son is currently in Year 10, and welcome you to visit us at any stage by booking onto one of our Tour Mornings or an individual visit.
For further information about the admissions process, please contact admissions@sherborneboys.group or call the Admissions Team on 01935 810403
Year 11 Timeline for Sixth Form Admissions Process
SEPTEMBER
Sixth Form Tour Afternoon
OCTOBER
Registration deadline
NOVEMBER
Sixth Form Assessments and Scholarships
1 DECEMBER
Place decisions (offers to be accepted within 7 days)
FEBRUARY
Subject choices confirmed
APRIL
House Allocations confirmed
JUNE
New Boys’ Lunch & Webinar (for those unable to attend New Boys’ Lunch)
AUGUST
GCSE results (forward to Sherborne for verification)
Sport at Sherborne
Sport at Sherborne
There are a huge number of sporting options for boys joining the Sixth Form whether they arrive to be part of our performance pathways or they just wish to take part in the plethora of sports that the School has to offer. While we are well equipped to bring out the very best in elite sportsmen, we are just as committed to the participation of every single boy at School.
For us, sport is a success if a boy finds an activity that he enjoys and will stick with once he leaves School. We want to form habits of healthy living; shaping a commitment to regular exercise because we recognise its importance to both physical and mental wellbeing.
Outstanding Facilities
Our state-of-the-art Sports Centre opened in September 2023 and includes a refurbished pool, a new climbing centre, two sports halls plus four squash courts, two multi-purpose studios, a golf simulator, physio facility, a fully equipped fitness suite and a dedicated performance gym. The new facilities have enhanced the sporting experience not only for boys who choose indoor games such as badminton, basketball and squash but they have bought significant benefits for boys looking to improve performance in indoor hockey, cricket and athletic development.
Performance pathways
At Sherborne Boys, we foster strong partnerships with external providers, allowing our high-performance pupils the opportunity to train and compete at a level beyond the School environment. We have built strong relationships with numerous partners including Bath and Exeter Rugby, Dorset and Somerset Cricket, Dorset Football, Bath Buccaneers Hockey Academy and Dorset Athletics.
Our High-Performance Programme is specifically designed to empower our athletes to reach their maximum potential. Through a carefully crafted and monitored combination of enrichment activities and physical development, we provide a structured platform that enables them to work efficiently and effectively towards their goals. Our aim is to cultivate an elite environment within the School, fostering a strong educational foundation necessary for success at the highest levels of sports performance.
Under the careful oversight of our team, the HighPerformance Programme ensures that pupils receive personalised strength and conditioning programmes. It will also deliver seminars, lectures and group sessions covering many crucial topics such as nutrition, sleep, psychology, culture and values, leadership, teamwork, performance lifestyle, time management, and video analysis. This comprehensive approach provides our athletes with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive both on and off the field.
While the High-Performance Programme is compulsory for boys who have received a sport scholarship or award, it is also open to those who demonstrate exceptional talent, dedication, and aspiration to achieve the highest standards in their respective sports.
Several sports awards are available for boys demonstrating exceptional talent and potential in their chosen sport or sports. One of the Sixth Form awards is the Walford Award, named after Micky Walford, a Schoolmaster at Sherborne who represented GB in hockey at the 1948 Olympics, played cricket for Somerset and trialled for England at rugby.
MusicMusic runs right through the heart of Sherborne. The Music School is fantastically equipped with state-ofthe-art technology, spacious practice rooms with pianos which are on a continuously rolling programme of replacement, performance studios that have tielines to the Recording Studio, and two music classrooms that contain thirty composing workstations between them. A Levels are offered in both Music and Music Technology, with numbers opting for both subjects being unusually high, and reflecting the high status of Music in the School.
Sixth Formers have instrumental and vocal music lessons scheduled for them at fixed times during the day that are identified as being free. Those learning more than one instrument may on occasion be asked to have their lessons taught quite late in the evening.
The Music School is open from 7.30am to 10.00pm Monday to Friday, and pupils may practise at any time they wish. On the rare occasion when there is a shortage of practice rooms, gap-year Music Assistants (Choral Scholars) enable a system of room rotation.
From the 109-strong Choir that sings in the Abbey during whole-school services twice a week — singing is “cool” at Sherborne — to the smallest instrumental duo, there is quite literally something for everyone.
The Wind Band is enormous and has to be capped at 65, so subsidiary groups flourish. There are also smaller groups that cater for all standards. The auditioned Swing Band is one of the finest big bands in the South of England.
The two orchestras are joint with Sherborne Girls and The Gryphon School and achieve a high standard of music-making through auditioned entry. Chamber Music proliferates with several ensembles entering national competitions each year. Rock and Pop groups are pupil-led and focus upon the annual CourtsFest (a large screen open-air performance each summer) whilst there is also a further performance opportunity each term and at least two “Unpluggeds” per year. For advanced instrumentalists there are performance opportunities every Friday lunchtime in public concerts held in a nearby church, and informal concerts and masterclasses, competitions, and internal workshops are open to all. Many pupils learn more than one instrument. As the School in which Chris Martin of Coldplay attended, Sherborne provides musical opportunities of which a Sixth Former would be remiss not to take advantage.
Music Scholarships are available at Sixth Form entry for those of Grade 7 standard on two instruments. The opportunities for Music Scholars are limitless and include auditioned places in the School’s many advanced instrumental ensembles, the Chamber Choir and the Close Harmony group. A member of the Music staff acts as mentor and Music Tutor to guide scholars through an individual programme involving Grade 8, ATCL and LTCL Performance Diplomas, including prestigious and unrivalled performance opportunities.
Activities
We offer boys the chance to participate in all sorts of activities, including debating, archive club, campanology, radio broadcasting, philosophical discussion, charity work and volunteering. Examples of the opportunities available include:
° AI in Education
° Art Club
° Art Society Sundays
° Barbell Club
° Basics of Jewellery Making
° Beginners’ Arabic
° Bell Ringing
° Biology Society
° Board Games
° Cecil Society
° Chess
° Chinese Philosophy
° Classical Music Appreciation Society
° Classics Society
° Clay Club
° Coding Club
° Creative Writing
° Crossfire
° Debating Society
° DJ Practice Club
° Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Workshop
° Electronic Music Club
° Environmental Action Group
° Fencing
° Football - Goalkeeping Club
° Football - Monday Night Football Club
° Gaming and Creative Coding Club
° Gardening Club
° Golf Club
° High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)
° History of Art
° International Society
° Joint Badminton Club
° Joint Francophone Club
° Joint Japanese Club
° Joint Life Sciences Society
° Joint Schools' Caledonian Society
° Joint Schools' Debating Society
° Joint Thinkers
° Languages Society
° Meditation - Freeing Your Mind
° Model United Nations Club
° Medics Vets Dentists Club
° Philosophy Symposium
° Physics Olympiad Club
° Poker Club
° PsychSoc
° Pupil Librarians
° Radio Sherborne
° Reeling Society
° Screen Print Club
° Social Squash
° Turing Virtual Reality Club
° Water Polo
“I
took advantage of a lot of the different extracurricular opportunities in sports, in drama, everything I did before, but I just notched it up a level.”
Charity and Outreach
The Charity and Community Outreach programme is a central part of the Sixth Form offer. Boys participate in numerous events including, non-uniform days, sleep outs and concerts raising money for causes such as Save the Children, the DEC Turkey Earthquake Appeal, a number of Ukraine appeals, Papyrus, a men’s mental health charity and ‘Help and Care’.
It is through time and not money that we aim to focus our attention. The boys work alongside local groups such as Yeovil Pen Mill Football Club, the Yeatman Hospital, the Fire Service and Sherborne Community Kitchen. There are many Sixth Formers involved in the Schools Community Hub. Every school in Sherborne is represented, and the boys share ideas and interact with primary school children, Sherborne Girls, and the Gryphon pupils. We look to enhance this outreach further through work with a local bike charity that sends old bicycles out to Africa, and a link with a local animal charity. We want our Sixth Form pupils to take the lead and come up with new initiatives, whilst ensuring that the initiatives already in place continue to thrive.
CCF
“The one big piece of advice I would give to anyone joining in the Sixth Form is to throw yourself into everything and take advantage of every opportunity. These next two years for you will go so quickly - it feels like yesterday since I joined. So really maximize the time that you spend here.”
CCF offers pupils in the Sixth Form opportunities to develop their leadership skills. Character education is at the heart of CCF and the skills our pupils develop are of great utility, no matter what direction life takes them. Sixth Form pupils deliver large chunks of the CCF training and are supported by a Senior Cadet and experienced staff members. Sherborne CCF is a joint endeavour with Sherborne Girls and our Sixth Form cadets really thrive as part of the leadership group.
We have three sections in the CCF: Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Army. Each section does something different whether sailing, field craft and tactics, military knowledge, or handling a weapon safely. Our Sixth Form cadets receive leadership training and on a weekly basis Sixth Form cadets instruct and support our younger cadets. Arguably, CCF provides leadership opportunities that are not on offer in other areas of school life. The training leads towards termly Field Trips which are considered by many cadets to be the highlight of the CCF year. These trips involve visits to military training areas such as Salisbury Plain, HMS Raleigh and Scraesdon Fort where cadets run through tunnels and fire blank ammunition!
We enter national competitions such as the Rifles Cadet Cup, the Pringle Trophy and the CCF Sailing Regatta. Sixth Form cadets also experience an annual Black Tie military dinner, as well as parading for Remembrance Sunday and the Biennial Inspection, where a high-ranking officer watches a parade of the cadets. We offer lots of camps and courses in the holidays and we have been adventure training in Norway and Transylvania in recent years. We also have an annual parachuting trip for the more intrepid cadets!
“Sixth
Form was by far the favourite part of my time at Sherborne, it allowed me the freedom to grow and pursue the things I most cared about alongside my academic and other commitments.”
Outdoor Education
Outdoor Education gives boys the opportunity to extend their experiences beyond their comfort zone. We aim to provide opportunities to learn skills such as navigation, campcraft and rope work through activities such as sport or challenges. The main opportunities available include Ten Tors, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) and Climbing.
The Ten Tors challenge is tackled as a mixed team of six, jointly with Sherborne Girls, over 45 miles across Dartmoor. The Ten Tors is a challenge of perseverance and determination to navigate and cross some of the most demanding terrain in the UK. Run by the Army, it is a self-sufficiency exercise over two days and requires the team to wild camp on the moor. Training occurs throughout the Lent Term and the event is usually held in May.
DofE Gold is also available to those who wish to sign up after their 16th birthday. Activities must be completed across the standard four sections (Volunteering, Physical, Skills, Expedition) in addition to a fifth element; organising a residential experience. The DofE website has many examples and opportunities to explore for ideas to complete each section and how to organise an approved residential. The School arranges some expeditions including walking or canoeing and these are also conducted jointly with Sherborne Girls.
Climbing is a sport option all year round and held in our state-of-the-art climbing centre. The bouldering wall can be used to develop strength and technique whilst the almost ten metre roped wall pushes stamina and rope control. There are competitions both locally and nationally such as the annual Independent Schools’ Climbing Competition. In the summer we often use the cliffs of Portland to test the skills learnt indoors on real rock. All safety equipment is provided, and instruction given by qualified staff.
“I’m amazed by everything the school provides to me, and to all the boys.”
Boarding Life at Sherborne
Boarding at Sherborne enables our boys to live within a close, supportive community and make the most of the opportunities on offer in our full boarding environment.
By living alongside our boys and watching them grow together, we are able to provide unrivalled pastoral care. We work closely with parents to give every boy the best possible chance to thrive. Boys understand that they represent Sherborne in the local community, that membership of the School confers certain privileges and certain responsibilities. Each individual knows that they play a role in helping the whole community to thrive, and acquire habits of kindness, compassion and thoughtfulness that set them up for life.
Boys form strong bonds across year groups, underpinned by mentoring between the junior and senior boys. With the Boarding House at the heart of their experience, it quickly becomes a place to call home - somewhere they are encouraged to be themselves and relish the fellowship of their friends.
As a Sixth Form pupil there is an expectation of positive leadership, whether you are in the Upper or Lower Sixth. You are role-models to the junior years, which comes with a good deal of responsibility. We ask all boys to take initiative, contribute ideas and lead by example, through purposeful action to create a supportive and welcoming atmosphere within Houses and across the whole School community.
Many Sixth Form entrants become House and School Prefects and a number have been Head of School in
recent years as we recognise the talents and contribution of all individuals, regardless of how long they have been in the School.
The Boarding Houses are busy places both during the week and at weekends. A typical weekend will start with Saturday morning lessons, usually followed by a whole School Lecture often delivered by someone outside the School – we’ve had explorers, mountaineers, athletes, academics and businesspeople in recent years. Saturday afternoons are given over to the School’s extensive sports programme, in which every boy has a chance to participate, before they gather in Houses for Assembly in the evening. Supper is followed by a programme of social activities, together with Sherborne Girls.
On Sunday mornings, breakfast is followed by quiet time in Houses, during which boys catch up with work and prepare for the week ahead. Various trips take place on Sundays, including outdoor activities for example, paintballing, go-karting, zorbing or visits to watch professional sports matches or perhaps the cinema. Inter-House competitions are regularly scheduled for Sunday afternoons as well as during the week, in activities as diverse as Debating, Football and Water Polo. Most weeks, the whole School comes together on Sunday evening for a service in the Abbey.
Above all, as a result of the encompassing nature of boarding life, Shirburnians know that they are cared for and that the whole community is looking out for them; celebrating their highs and supporting them during the challenges of teenage years.
“The boys in my house immediately accepted me as if I was one of their own since day one, as if I’d been here since Third Form, and I've made amazing connections with a lot of them.”
“I went to a local co-ed school and then for Sixth Form, I thought now is the perfect time to join - I'm ready. So, I took a leap of faith, joined Sherborne and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I was a bit apprehensive about boarding at first, but all the boys in my house have really made me feel part of the team and the tribe.”
The Sixth Form Curriculum and Entry Criteria
The Sixth Form programme centres around three main subject choices. Occasionally, and by individual agreement, we are able to arrange for a boy to take a fourth subject off-timetable (e.g. if a boy is fluent in a second language), or for a pupil to take fewer than three subjects, but the overall curriculum is built around three choices. In this regard, BTECs and A Levels are completely interchangeable – i.e. you can take up to three of either course. Supplementing your three options, everyone also studies PSHEE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) and one or more enrichment subject.
The overall structure is as follows:
° 1st choice A Level*
° 2nd choice A Level*
° 3rd choice A Level*
° Wellbeing (PSHEE)
° Enrichment option(s)
° Study Periods
* One or more of these A Level options may be replaced with a BTEC alternative.
There is one exception to this pattern which applies only if you want to take Further Mathematics A Level. Further Mathematicians may take FM as a fourth A Level on two conditions:
a) That you pick Mathematics as one of your three main A Level choices;
b) That you accept that you will be able to choose from a more limited range of enrichment options. This is because FM sits within the enrichment structure and not in the main curriculum blocks.
Entry Criteria:
In order to be eligible to study in the Sixth Form you need to:
° Achieve an average of a 4 (a C grade) across all of your (I)GCSEs
° In order to transfer automatically to a subject at A Level you need to achieve at least a grade 7 (an A grade) in the subject at (I)GCSE
° No additional criteria are required to gain a place on a BTEC course.
In the case of subjects which have not been taken at (I)GCSE, we will take into consideration your performance in other relevant supporting subjects. For example, if you wish to study Business at A Level and have 7s or above in supporting subjects like English or Maths, that would certainly serve as a ‘green light’ for you to take Business at A Level.
Grades 1-4 (C grades or lower) are not a viable basis from which to start an A Level course. If you have a 4 or anything less you will need to reconsider your options and choose a different course.
If you have a 5 or 6 at (I)GCSE (a B grade) and wish to study that subject at A Level, we will discuss this possibility with the relevant Head of Department to determine whether or not you have a strong enough foundation to be successful on that A Level course. In many cases (but not all) this will be deemed to be the case. However, for heavily factual subjects like the Sciences it is unlikely that you will be allowed to continue with the subject at A Level unless you have a solid A grade in either the supporting (I)GCSE or in that specific subject component if you have completed the Dual Award Science (I)GCSE.
A further exception is Mathematics, for which you must have an A* or A, or a 7, 8 or 9, in Mathematics (I)GCSE to progress onto the A Level course. Indeed, because you can achieve an A grade in Maths (I)GCSE with as little as 60%, boys who have a relatively weak A grade in (I)GCSE Maths are advised to seek specific advice about whether continuing onto A Level is a sensible option for them.
Courses on offer: A Level or BTEC
You can study two different types of qualification in the Sixth Form: BTECs and A Levels. All Shirburnians choose three options for their Sixth Form studies and you can pick either a programme that contains only A Levels, one that just incorporates BTECs, or a combination of both types of course. A Levels offer the ‘traditional’ route into university and, from that respect, are tried and tested. However, as with A Levels, BTECs have been extensively reformed over recent years and are now a very popular and wellrespected alternative to A Level study. Where A Levels tend to focus on the academic subject itself, BTECs are much more applied, focusing more on actually doing that subject in a work environment. As such, they emphasise skills, especially those needed for work, or to progress to university: indeed, UCAS highlights that over a third of pupils enrolling on undergraduate courses in September 2021 had studied either BTECs only, or a mixture of BTECs and A Levels in the Sixth Form. Because of this focus on applied knowledge, a number of employers have begun to express keen support for BTECs (e.g. the Army) and their popularity has grown rapidly.
Similar to the EPQ, BTECs can be studied at different ‘levels’. However, we are only offering BTECs at level 3 national extended certificate level because this is exactly equivalent to A Level, both in terms of the time required to complete the course and the ‘value’ of the grade achieved at the end.
Key elements of the A Level and BTEC courses are listed below:
A Level
° Terminally examined – i.e. all of your exams happen at the end of your Upper Sixth
° Graded A* - U
° No re-takes available
° Large syllabus content
° Emphasis on comprehension, and theoretical application of concepts
° Assessment is predominantly through written examination/s, although practical subjects have some internally assessed components
° Accepted by all universities
° 360hrs of teaching per year
BTEC
° Exams available in Lower and Upper Sixth and some units are available both in winter and summer exam seasons
° Graded Pass, Merit or Distinction
° Re-takes available
° Smaller syllabus content
° Emphasis on skills and practical applications of concepts
° Assessment is a mixture of written examination/s, and internally assessed components, including coursework, presentations etc
° Accepted by the majority of universities
° 360hrs of teaching per year.
Example Sixth Form Subjects:
Art and Design
Biology
Business
Chemistry
Classical Civilisation
Computer Science
BTEC Creative Media TV and Film
Design and Technology: Product
Design
Drama and Theatre
Economics
English Literature
BTEC Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
French
Geography
German History
History of Art
Latin Mathematics
Further Mathematics
CTEC Media TV and Film Pathway
Music
Music Technology
Physical Education
Physics
Politics & International Relations
Psychology
Religious Studies
Spanish
BTEC Sport
Examined Enrichment
Though enrichment is not mandatory, all pupils are strongly encouraged to consider taking either an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) or one of the examined courses below. The option you pick is up to you. Most boys choose to pick one enrichment course though, where the timetable allows it, you may be able to pick two. You’ll be asked to choose your enrichment option/s alongside your subject choices in February. However, you can change your mind at the start of September.
Options include:
° Art
° Core Maths AS
° Greek AS / A Level
° Modern Foreign Languages
Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
It is possible to take an EPQ and an examined course, so please don’t worry if you would like to do both. The EPQ project is a fantastic opportunity to research something you are interested in: your EPQ can literally be about anything you like. Doing the EPQ also helps you to develop project management, communication, and analytical and evaluative research skills that are essential for success at university and in most forms of employment.
The EPQ is a stand-alone qualification completed during the Lower Sixth. It is worth more than half an A Level and you’ll finish up with a grade somewhere between A*-E (hopefully the former). The EPQ project itself usually takes the form of a 5000-word essay exploring a question of your choosing, but could also be an experiment, writing a piece of music, or producing some other artefact. That’s exciting because it means you can base your EPQ on any topic you like (as long as it is suitably different from something you’ve been taught in lessons).
Post-18 Prep
In the Upper Sixth, pupils receive lectures covering a range of topics, with a primary focus on preparing pupils for the next stage of their lives. We recognise that the academic demands will intensify significantly, whether pupils are studying A Levels, BTEC qualifications, or a hybrid of both courses.
Post-18 Applications and Support
Pupils will be completing their Post-18 applications during this crucial year and will receive comprehensive support from multiple sources:
° Their Housemaster
° Their Matron
° Their Tutor
° The Careers and Pathways team
° All subject teachers
We are committed to ensuring that pupils have absolute clarity about the entry requirements for their chosen Post-18 pathway, and that they receive the appropriate level of support to achieve these requirements.
At this level and age range, it is essential that pupils take ownership of their learning journey. While comprehensive support surrounds them, the work must ultimately be completed by the pupils themselves. They need to be leading themselves towards meeting their entry requirements.
Embracing School Life and Independence
We want our pupils to fully enjoy their final year at school - participating in clubs, societies, music, and sport, while maintaining an active social life. This includes interactions with pupils from Sherborne Girls, going to the gym, trips into town, and enjoying coffees with friends.
Our Commitment as a School
We aim to provide our Sixth Form pupils with:
1. Accountability - Ensuring pupils remain on track through regular monitoring and check-ins
2. Self-Regulation Skills - Developing the ability to manage their own learning and progress independently
3. Self-Belief - Fostering confidence in their abilities and potential
4. Peer Support - Encouraging pupils to support one another, creating a collaborative environment where they help their friends and peers make good choices and hold themselves accountable to deliver on those choices
5. Independence and Future-Facing Skills - Helping pupils develop the independence and skills they need to thrive in the world beyond, preparing them for the demands and opportunities of the mid-21st century
This holistic approach ensures that our Sixth Form pupils are not only academically prepared but also equipped with the personal skills, independence, and well-rounded experiences necessary for success in their chosen Post-18 pathways and beyond.
Post-18 Pathway Destinations
As well as choosing a range of courses at UK colleges and universities as their Post-18 pathways, many Shirburnians also experience exciting gap year opportunities, apprenticeships, degree apprenticeships and higher education courses overseas. Global universities currently attended by Old Shirburnians include the following institutions:
• Boston University, USA
• Berklee College of Music, USA
• McGill University, Canada
• Stanford University, USA
• University of Toronto, Canada
“I think the good thing about the Careers Department is that no matter what your goal is, they'll support you in that. So be proactive and try to seek that help because all the opportunities and support are here for you.”
PREVIOUS UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS
University of Glasgow Aeronautical Engineering
The University of Edinburgh Applied Sport Science
University of Manchester Biosciences with a Foundation Year Geography
Cardiff University
Bristol, University of the West of England
Digital Media Media Production
Aston University, Birmingham Marketing
Liverpool John Moores University Sport and Exercise Science
UCFB Sports Management
Business Management with a Professional Placement Year History Sociology and Social Policy
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Business and Management Sport Management
University of Bristol
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Engineering Mathematics
University of Exeter
Accounting and Finance
University of Derby Motorsport Engineering
Aberystwyth University Economics
Hartpury University Business Management
Accounting and Finance with Industrial Experience
Business and Management with Industrial Experience
Computer Science
Economics and Politics
Engineering
Flexible Combined Honours x 2
Finance: Investment Banking with Industrial Experience x 2
International Relations
International Relations and Modern Languages with International Placement
Modern Languages with International Placement
Politics x 2
Politics and International Relations
Bournemouth University
Computer Animation & Visual Effects
Media Production
University of Southampton Business Management
University of Oxford Classics
Computer Science
Music x 2
Heriot-Watt University Engineering with Accelerator Programme
Newcastle University
Business Management
Combined Honours x 4
International Relations
Music
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
Philosophy
Politics and Economics
Politics and Economics
Politics and International Relations
Northumbria University, Newcastle
Business and Entrepreneurship x 3
Business and Marketing x 2
Business and Marketing
Business Management x 2
Sport and Exercise Science Sport Management
Durham University Anthropology Accounting with Placement Year Business and Management Economics with Management Finance Geography Philosophy
University of Leeds Business Economics Philosophy and Politics
University of York History Philosophy, Politics and Economics (with Honours)
University of Nottingham Architectural Environment Engineering
University of Warwick Hispanic Studies and Economics
BIMM University Film and Screen Business
Imperial College London Biomedical Technology Ventures
Oxford Brookes University
Anthropology Architecture
Business Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
Business Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
Business and Finance
Business and Management x 2
Business and Marketing Management
International Business Management
International Relations and Politics
History of Art x2
Real Estate
Sport and Exercise Science
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Sherborne Boys
Abbey Road
Sherborne
Dorset DT9 3LF
United Kingdom
admissions@sherborneboys.group
+44 (0)1935 810403
sherborneboys.group
PART OF THE SHERBORNE SCHOOLS GROUP
Sherborne Schools Group is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales, No. 4002575 and registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, No. 1081228