Scholarship (HAP) & Support
Stretching minds. Supporting success.
At Sherborne Boys, every boy is encouraged to push further, think deeper, and grow in confidence. Whether through tailored academic support or opportunities for enrichment, our aim is always the same: to help each pupil thrive, both in and beyond the classroom.
Our programme for Sixth Formers is run collaboratively with Sherborne Girls and includes lectures, career events, networking opportunities, and more.
Scholarship
Scholarship is shaped as much by character as by intellect. We believe that true scholarship grows where curiosity, creativity, and criticality meet, and where each of these is strengthened by the shared endeavour of a supportive, purposeful community.
Curiosity is the spark that begins every meaningful academic enquiry. It is the willingness to ask questions whose answers are not immediately clear, to look closely at the familiar until it reveals something new, and to venture into the unfamiliar with humility and resolve.
Creativity enables pupils to move with agility towards and then through complexity. It invites them to occupy intersections, to imagine alternatives, to observe connections across disciplines, and to embrace the possibilities that innovation offers.
Criticality deepens scholarship. It is the discipline of stress-testing ideas, evaluating outcomes, interrogating evidence, and reasoning with clarity and integrity. It demands intellectual honesty and the steady patience to refine a position on any idea or issue. It equips pupils to navigate the information-rich landscape of the 21st century.
Yet none of these qualities operate in isolation. Scholarship is strengthened when it interacts with a community. Our academic identity is therefore both aspirational and grounded. We look to the character that genuine scholarship forms: young people who welcome challenge, who lead with empathy, and who recognise their responsibility to others. In cultivating this balance of intellectual, moral, civic, performance virtues, Sherborne Boys prepares pupils for academic excellence, and for lives of thoughtful leadership in a world that needs them.
Academic HAP Programme
The Academic HAP programme offers intellectually ambitious boys in the Lower 6th the chance to explore challenging ideas in a lively, collaborative environment. Working in small groups with students from the Girls’ School and The Gryphon, participants engage in activities that stretch their thinking and broaden their academic horizons. These include discussing questions drawn from Oxbridge entrance exams, taking part in seminars, and writing their own seminar papers. A Turing-inspired trip to Bletchley Park enriches the experience further, while mixed-school group projects culminate in presentations showcased at an end-of-year celebration. Any boy with academic curiosity is welcome to join, with the programme designed to help him discover where his intellectual interests lie.
In the Upper Sixth, those who choose to apply for Oxbridge or for medical, veterinary, or dentistry courses receive tailored support to strengthen their applications. This includes guidance through the admissions process as well as preparation for interviews, ensuring that each student can present his abilities and enthusiasm with confidence.
Academic Enrichment
Thanks to our full-boarding model, we offer a rich and varied enrichment programme that fosters independent thinking and intellectual curiosity.
Boys attend visiting speaker events – featuring Olympians, entrepreneurs, authors, and more – and take part in subject societies to deepen their academic interests.
Sixth Formers may also complete the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), and we offer AS-level enrichment options across several disciplines.
Our facilities in Art, DT, Music, and Drama are always open, encouraging boys to explore ideas in their own time.
Pathways
We offer a broad range of subjects (35 including enrichment options), reflecting our commitment to individualised education and our desire to balance the traditional and rigorous with the creative and modern.
Our close partnership with Sherborne Girls allows us to diversify further, with both schools offering places to pupils in ‘the other’ school where there is demand (e.g. boys may study Textiles at Sherborne Girls). Whilst the majority of courses are A Levels, our BTEC options are increasingly popular, allowing boys to tailor their Sixth Form pathway to include a blend of applied and vocational options.
Academic Enrichment
Thanks to our full-boarding model, we offer a rich and varied enrichment programme that fosters independent thinking and intellectual curiosity.
Boys attend visiting speaker events – featuring Olympians, entrepreneurs, authors, and more – and take part in subject societies to deepen their academic interests.
Sixth Formers may also complete the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), and we offer AS-level enrichment options across several disciplines.
Our facilities in Art, DT, Music, and Drama are always open, encouraging boys to explore ideas in their own time.
Pathways
We offer a broad range of subjects (35 including enrichment options), reflecting our commitment to individualised education and our desire to balance the traditional and rigorous with the creative and modern.
Our close partnership with Sherborne Girls allows us to diversify further, with both schools offering places to pupils in ‘the other’ school where there is demand (e.g. boys may study Textiles at Sherborne Girls). Whilst the majority of courses are A Levels, our BTEC options are increasingly popular, allowing boys to tailor their Sixth Form pathway to include a blend of applied and vocational options.
Study Courses
Sherborne Newell Grange hosts two outstanding programmes for external and internal students.
In spring, we offer intensive English, (I)GCSE, and A level revision courses, led by experienced teachers who provide targeted help with key topics, exam strategies, and confidence-building. Small class sizes ensure personalised attention and measurable progress.
In summer, our long-established International School welcomes students aged 8–17 from across the world and the UK. Academic sessions focus on English language development and subject-specific learning, complemented by a broad co-curricular programme including sport, activities, and excursions. All teachers are qualified subject experts – many trained in EAL – and class sizes average just eight pupils, ensuring every student receives individual support.
| Our Spring Courses | Our Summer Courses |
Our Learning Support Department offers expert, tailored help for boys with specific learning difficulties, delivered through one-to-one and small-group sessions.
Learning Support
We work closely with pupils, staff, and families to create personalised plans, helping boys meet their goals and build self-confidence.
Our open-door ethos ensures support is flexible, responsive, and empowering.
The Macnaghten Library
Centrally located in The Courts and beautifully refurbished in 2019, the Macnaghten Library is a vibrant academic hub.
Staffed by a team of highly qualified librarians, it offers boys a wealth of support in developing research skills, managing independent learning, and finding sources for super-curricular exploration. The library features a bespoke IT suite, quiet study zones, and curated academic resources tailored to subjects across the curriculum.
It is also home to a busy calendar of literary events and author talks, often hosted in collaboration with departments and enrichment programmes. The Macnaghten Library is not only a place to study – it’s a space that inspires, encourages, and extends learning well beyond the syllabus. Including through the competitive Inter-House Literary Quiz!
