39 Acreman Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3NY
10 reasons to choose Sherborne Preparatory School
Top line
Sherborne Preparatory School has a Schoolsmith Score® of 88. It is one of the best independent prep schools in and around Sherborne and one of the 4 best primary schools for 5 miles.
School fundamentals
Sherborne Preparatory School is an independent prep day and boarding school for boys and girls (70%/30%) between the ages of 3 and 13 years. Boarding from Year 3 for the 10% of pupils who board. 90% are full boarders and 10% are weekly or flexi boarders. It is a Church of England school, open to all faiths and none. The school has a non-selective admissions policy. It is a standalone prep school, not tied to any one senior school, and is a member of the Sherborne Schools Group. Sherborne Preparatory School fees range from £3,000 (Rec) to £7,800 per term (2025/26). Full boarding fees range from £10,630 to £11,220 per term. Fees include VAT and lunches.
Average class size
Sherborne Preparatory School usually has one class per year rising to two and an average class size of 13 pupils.
Leavers' destinations
Destinations for Sherborne Preparatory School leavers are one of 10-15 local day and boarding schools. Up to 50% of leavers go to Sherborne School (a group school) or Sherborne Girls. On a five-year average, 38% of pupils win scholarships.
The Sherborne Preparatory School curriculum
School curriculum is based on the National Curriculum and the Pre-Senior Baccalaureate. It also includes PSHE, French, Latin. The school broadens the curriculum with Saturday morning optional activities, which include sports, drama, art, music, introductory language classes, and visiting speakers. Also, the weekly ‘Enrichment Hour’ explores topics such as zoology, philosophy, current affairs, and sports leadership. Each pupil may participate in over 10 different extra-curricular academic activities or hobby clubs.
More on the curriculum
There are regular educational trips for all year groups, visiting speakers, Forest School to Year 4 and residential trips from Year 7.
Specialist teaching
Specialist teachers for music, languages and sport throughout, and for most subjects from Year 5.
Sport at Sherborne Preparatory School
School offers over 15 different sports through the year, through both the curriculum and extra-curriculum. Competitive teams in major sports from Year 3. In recent years the school has enjoyed national success in hockey, karate, netball, rugby 7s, swimming.
The Arts at Sherborne Preparatory School
Art, music and drama are taught as discrete curricular subjects to all pupils. All pupils learn an instrument in class and nearly all take extra-curricular instrument lessons from Year 3. Five choirs, orchestra and over 10 instrument ensembles. The school is one of the top 50 UK prep schools for the breadth of its creative and performing arts extra-curriculum.
Wraparound care
Wraparound care from 8.00am to 6.00pm. Minibus service. Occasional boarding facility.
Find another school near Sherborne Preparatory School
Leweston Prep (3.1 miles); Hazlegrove Preparatory School (9.3 miles).
Thornford Church of England Primary School (3.5 miles); St Mary’s Church of England Primary School, Bradford Abbas (3.8 miles); Preston Church of England Primary School, Abbey Manor Park (7.7 miles).
Sherborne School (0.5 miles); Sherborne School for Girls (0.8 miles); Leweston School (3.1 miles).
The Gryphon School (1.4 miles); Sexey’s School (13.9 miles); Gillingham School (14.4 miles).