School Chooser

Sherborne School for Girls

Independent · ages 11-19GirlsIndependent (grammar)Church of England456 pupilsSixth formSherborneDorset
School Chooser ScoreNot scoredWe don't score this type of school.
Strong pass in English and maths0%England 46%
Places54 spare456 pupils, 510 places
Average A level gradeB2024/25
Pupils on roll456Census January 2024

Sherborne School for Girls is an independent school in Sherborne for girls aged 11 to 19. It has 456 pupils and room for 510.

Bradford Road, Sherborne, DT9 3QN01935 812245sherborne.comDr Ruth Sullivan headteacherAll details

Inspection

This private school is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, not Ofsted. Its reports are at isi.net.

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

78 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.

Average GCSE score34.3
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths0%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths0%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Trend
Average GCSE score
2018 to 2025
2018: 32.832.820182019: 36.236.220192022: 37.437.420222023: 37.537.520232024: 39.739.720242025: 34.334.32025
Since 2018: +1.5
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018DorsetEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11788783948089
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 834.339.737.537.436.232.842.946.8
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths0%0%0%0%0%0%38%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths0%0%0%0%0%0%60%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score3.463.893.823.973.833.143.774.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry0%0%0%0%0%0%37%41%

Subjects

Results came out for 16 GCSE subjects in 2025. Each figure is the share of pupils who got a grade 5 or better, next to the average for state secondaries in England.

Strongest subjects

Food Preparation & Nutrition100%grades 9 to 5, England 52%
Geography91%grades 9 to 5, England 51%
Drama96%grades 9 to 5, England 60%
French87%grades 9 to 5, England 60%
What is taught hereOffers triple science, 3 languages, computer science, music, classics.

The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.

Every subject against England, 2025
Geography43 entries
91%England 51%
62%England 36%
Biology38 entries
97%England 82%
Physics38 entries
84%England 82%
Chemistry37 entries
92%England 81%
Art and Design32 entries
84%England 58%
French30 entries
87%England 60%
Spanish25 entries
68%England 54%
Drama24 entries
96%England 60%
100%England 52%
Music12 entries
100%England 61%
80%England 58%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
Geography4363%91%98%51%
Combined Science395%62%100%36%
Biology3863%97%100%82%
Physics3863%84%95%82%
Chemistry3770%92%100%81%
Art and Design3256%84%97%58%
French3057%87%100%60%
Spanish2536%68%84%54%
Drama2450%96%100%60%
Food Preparation & Nutrition2286%100%100%52%
Music1275%100%100%61%
Classical Civilisation1030%80%90%58%
Religious Studies944%100%100%60%
Other Modern Languages60%0%0%49%
German633%83%83%63%
Computer Science633%67%83%56%

In combined science each pupil gets two grades and we count the lower one. Rankings only include state secondaries where 20 or more pupils sat the subject.

A level and sixth-form results, 2025

84 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeB38.8 points per entry
A level progress+0.24Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
AAB or better18%with two subjects universities favour
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018
Students849710184176176
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry38.7943.5041.8547.1842.5140.32
Average A level gradeBB+B+A-B+B
Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS38.6642.2542.0446.6242.5339.89
AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects18%24%26%26%24%26%
A level progressA level value added+0.24+0.26+0.21-0.07

A level subjects

19 A level subjects had results in 2025. Each figure is the share of students who got an A* to B, next to the average for state sixth forms in England. When only a handful of students take a subject, its figures jump around from year to year.

Strongest A levels

Psychology81%A* to B, England 46% · 26 entries
Geography80%A* to B, England 51% · 15 entries
Fine Art80%A* to B, England 65% · 10 entries
A levels taught hereThe small number is how many students sat each one in 2025.
SubjectsMathematics28Psychology26Business Studies20Biology16Geography15Economics14Chemistry11Fine Art10Physics10History of Art9Sociology9English Language7Design and Technology (Textiles Technology)7History7Physical Education / Sports Studies7Government and Politics6Religious Studies6Spanish5Photography5
Every A level subject against England, 2025
Mathematics28 entries · 39% A* or A · 96% passed
57%England 60%
Psychology26 entries · 50% A* or A · 100% passed
81%England 46%
Business Studies20 entries · 30% A* or A · 90% passed
55%England 47%
Biology16 entries · 31% A* or A · 100% passed
50%England 49%
Geography15 entries · 53% A* or A · 100% passed
80%England 51%
Economics14 entries · 36% A* or A · 93% passed
64%England 57%
Chemistry11 entries · 36% A* or A · 91% passed
55%England 53%
Fine Art10 entries · 60% A* or A · 100% passed
80%England 65%
Physics10 entries · 10% A* or A · 100% passed
30%England 51%
History of Art9 entries · 33% A* or A · 100% passed
89%England 54%
Sociology9 entries · 11% A* or A · 100% passed
56%England 49%
English Language7 entries · 14% A* or A · 100% passed
71%England 44%
Design and Technology (Textiles Technology)7 entries · 0% A* or A · 86% passed
43%England 43%
History7 entries · 71% A* or A · 100% passed
86%England 55%
Physical Education / Sports Studies7 entries · 43% A* or A · 100% passed
71%England 41%
Government and Politics6 entries · 50% A* or A · 100% passed
50%England 55%
Religious Studies6 entries · 67% A* or A · 100% passed
83%England 50%
Spanish5 entries · 0% A* or A · 0% passed
0%England 59%
Photography5 entries · 0% A* or A · 0% passed
0%England 58%

A levels only. BTECs, T levels and other courses are in the table above. Subjects with fewer than five students aren't published.

Getting a place

Grammar school. This is a grammar school, so places depend on an entrance test. As a Church of England school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.

Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Dorset council's admissions booklet, send it to us.

Who goes here

Who the school teaches, from the latest school census.

Pupils on roll456Census January 2024
Places51089% full
Pupils from low-income familiesGet free school meals
Pupils getting extra support48%220 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan0%0 pupils with a plan
Boys and girls0 / 456
How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll456466475489484475
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals0%0%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language0%0%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support36%38%34%30%27%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans0%0%0%0%0%

What pupils do next

After sixth form

Where the 101 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training71%and stayed there for at least six months
Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers
Still in education, work or training71%62%64%
Education43%33%32%
Apprenticeship1%0%0%
Work28%29%32%
Not in education, work or training16%30%19%

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m13912 months to June 2026, mostly anti-social behaviour
Local crime rate59 per 1,000 people35% lower than the England average
Typical house price£345,000Dorset
Nearest bus stop180 mSherborne Hotel, 4 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Sherborne Preparatory SchoolIndependent580 m204Not inspectedCompare
Sherborne SchoolIndependent (grammar)720 m538Not inspectedCompare
Sherborne Abbey Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy990 m336Report card 202619Compare
Harbour Vale SchoolAcademy alternative provision sponsor led0.7 miles23Good 2024Compare
Sherborne Primary SchoolAcademy0.8 miles304Report card 20269Compare
The Gryphon SchoolAcademy0.9 miles1,569Good 202347Compare
Thornford CofE Primary SchoolAcademy2.7 miles104No overall grade 202459Compare
Trent Young's CofE Primary SchoolAcademy2.7 miles143Not inspected90Compare

Questions parents ask

Is Sherborne School for Girls a good school?

We don't have enough published data to score Sherborne School for Girls yet.

How good are Sherborne School for Girls's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 0% of pupils got a grade 5 or better in both English and maths. Across England it was 46%. Its Attainment 8 score, which is the average grade across a pupil's best eight subjects times ten, was 34.3, against 46.8 for England.

How many pupils does Sherborne School for Girls have?

456 pupils aged 11 to 19 were on the roll in January 2024. It has 510 places, so it is 89% full. It is a girls' school.

Does Sherborne School for Girls have an entrance exam?

Yes. It is a grammar school, so places depend on an entrance test, usually sat in September of Year 6. Check the school's admissions page for the test dates and the pass mark.

Does Sherborne School for Girls have a sixth form?

Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was B. 19 A level subjects had results in 2025; the full list is in the results section.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Bradford Road, Sherborne, DT9 3QN
Telephone
01935 812245
Website
www.sherborne.com
Headteacher
Dr Ruth Sullivan
Type of school
Independent school (Other independent school, independent schools)
Phase
Independent school, ages 11-19, with sixth form
Gender
Girls
Religious character
Church of England
Local authority
Dorset
Ward
Sherborne West
Constituency
West Dorset
Setting
Urban: Further from a major town or city
Opened
1 January 1908
URN
113919 · LAESTAB 8386024 · UKPRN 10005803

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from