Sherborne International School delivers a strong UK secondary curriculum to students from overseas with lessons taught by teachers with expertise in teaching English alongside academic study.

Sherborne School founded its International School in 1977 for more than 100 students and was, importantly, the UK’s first International Study Centre. It is based in Sherborne yet occupies its own campus, Newell Grange, and shares the outstanding  facilities of Sherborne School.

This full boarding school currently enrols 110 students, with the largest group pf students coming from China, Hong Kong, Russia and Ukraine. 

There are three international houses for girls and boys from eight to 17 years, whose English is not yet at the required standard, where they can spend from one term to two years. Students join from many different educational systems with varying levels of academic experience. It prepares the student to enter the “elite UK boarding school system” and introduces them to the UK education system and to “British culture”, with an additional important aim - to transform their English language skills.

There are only a small number of UK independent schools with a dedicated international campus. Others include The Mount, Mill Hill, Taunton International School, and Kent College International Study Centre. As with its peers, Sherborne offers students a higher level of support to develop their English than you’ll find at most UK independent schools.

The school was rated Excellent in its 2016 Integrated Inspection by ISI.

The curriculum

Courses for 11 to 12-year-olds follow a course based on the English Common Entrance programme, 13-year-olds follow a pre-GCSE curriculum, and 14-15 year-olds follow a one or two year course, with an emphasis on English for these students. They will then be ready to continue their education elsewhere in the UK.

Sherbourne International School’s pre-Sixth Form course can be entered for one or two terms. The classes are very small, with about six students per class. Interviews are via Skype and any tests and references can then be arranged.

The EAL department is excellent and supports boys whose first language is not English. It prepares them for the IGCSEs in English as a Second Language.

Admissions and fees

Annual tuition fees for Years 7 and 8 (Junior) are £33,741; for Year 9, 10 and 11 and Pre-Sixth Form Courses it is £41,994; and the one-year I/GCSE programme costs £43,851.

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