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Sherborne Girls is committed to the promotion of the life-long physical and mental health benefits associated with regular physical activity, and a healthy and balanced lifestyle. The goal of Sherborne Girls is to provide all pupils with enjoyable and fulfilling life experiences and to help them through education and experience to develop the knowledge and individual tools (strategies) needed to manage their mental, physical and spiritual health & wellbeing.
Focusing on the "Five Ways to Achieving Wellbeing", we promote wellbeing themed months and weeks throughout the year and via posters, in-house presentations and activities, and assemblies led by our three Upper Sixth Wellbeing Prefects and twelve Lower Sixth ambassadors, the wellbeing education programme continues to be delivered to all.
In November 2022, we introduced the concept of Press Pause Day. Pupils and staff were given the opportunity to design their own perfect day, made up of six different sessions. We based our ideas on three core concepts: creativity, physical activity and mental well-being. On offer was a range of activities, from art and craft workshops, gardening classes, well-being and mindfulness talks, group singing, cookery (or just ‘tea and cake’ sessions), quiet reading, colouring and yoga, to dance and fitness classes, five and ten km runs, golf or whole day walks for those who love exercise and the outdoors. Girls and staff also enjoyed a brilliant ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ stand-up comedy show and were invited to a 'Mamma Mia' Sing-a-Long.
The day started with a much anticipated lie-in, followed by a delicious, healthy breakfast specially chosen by our Food and Wellbeing Prefects. Our student Wellbeing Team was instrumental in helping to design and deliver the day and designed beautiful Press Pause Day spaces in the houses where the girls could snuggle up and wind down together.
The pupil's wellbeing is viewed as being as equally important as their academic progress.
Sherborne Girls has been built on a foundation of Christian values including honesty, integrity, thinking of others and regular worship. All girls are encouraged to reflect upon their values and faith, and those of others, whatever their religion or thought.
As a school we meet three times a week for prayers, where staff and girls as a whole school community share thoughts on issues of the day. All girls of every faith are encouraged to take part. Prayer and reflection is an integral part of each boarding house's daily routine.
Sunday services are either in Sherborne Abbey or in the school hall. Every other week there is an opportunity for girls to attend Holy Communion. Roman Catholic girls are encouraged to attend the local Catholic church, where many have been taken for confirmation by Sister Carmel, a regular visitor in school. Anglican Confirmation takes place every year for girls who wish to explore their faith further.
We have a chaplaincy team which includes two prefects and representatives from each house, and a very active events calendar, including PJ prayers, the Lent Project and the Abbey at Night.
Revd. Katie Windle,
Chaplain
The mental health and wellbeing of the girls in our care is paramount.
The pastoral network, the tutors and the huge peer support which is evident in all of our houses, creates an environment where a girl's wellbeing is viewed as just as important as how they are doing academically.
This is why, in addition to the pastoral support we offer the girls, we also have a trained counsellor, Heddy Smith, who, alongside her trusty therapy dog - the adorable Muppet - can provide specific help and counselling for those girls who require it.
The Health Centre provides a service of high quality, evidence-based healthcare with the aim of promoting lifelong physical and emotional wellbeing. The care and wellbeing of all the Sherborne Girls community is at the heart of the Health Centre and the team strive to give the optimum service using a holistic approach. This incorporates treating and taking care of the patient as a whole body, which involves physical, social environment, psychological, cultural and religious beliefs.
The Health Centre is staffed 24 hours a day during term time by a qualified nurse. The team offer a range of services from managing acute medical problems to supporting pupils to manage their own chronic health conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes, asthma, and allergies. In the event of pupils becoming unwell and needing to be admitted to the Health Centre there are eight beds for pupils to be supported as inpatients while they recover. There is also a pupil lounge and a sensory room which provides a space for pupils to relax, recharge and refocus when needed. Assimilated in the holistic approach, a therapy room is available for the use of visiting therapists, currently utilised by a physiotherapist, reflexologist, hypnotherapist and nutritionist.
All boarding pupils are registered with the Grove Medical centre under the care of Dr Thomas and Dr Middle, this is to ensure we have a comprehensive overview of the pupil's health needs. GP clinics within the Health Centre are provided every weekday from 8am-9am. During this time the nursing team are able to give vaccinations, perform phlebotomy and arrange any samples or specimens to be taken to the surgery. The GPs work closely with the nurses, providing support and assistance outside of clinic times.
Sherborne Girls is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all its staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We aim to provide a warm and secure environment, with an open and frank atmosphere, in which girls can feel supported.
The Designated Safeguarding Lead for Child Protection for the School is Ms Leonie Cole (Operational Safeguarding Manager). The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads are Mrs Jessica Briggs, Senior Deputy Head (Pastoral), Mrs Debbie Miller (Assistant Head Safeguarding), Mrs Alice Beard (Health and Wellbeing Lead), Mr Ian McClary (Assistant Chaplain) and Mrs Jayne Dart (Deputy Head, Co-curricular and Operations).
The fundamental right to be protected from harm is an essential part of our pastoral responsibility. That safeguarding responsibility necessitates our having a clear child protection policy and procedures, and means that we many also need to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a girl’s welfare.
You can read our full safeguarding policy here.
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