Curriculum

At Sherborne House, our curriculum is designed to inspire and empower pupils through a thematic, knowledge-rich and skills-based approach. We offer a broad and balanced range of subjects, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to explore their interests and develop essential skills. The Sherborne House academic advantage is encompassed by our thematic curriculum, which allows pupils to take an active role in shaping their educational journey, providing input on topics and subject matters that captivate their curiosity. This student-centered approach ensures that learning is not only relevant and topical but also deeply engaging, fostering a love for discovery and a passion for lifelong learning.

As a skills-based curriculum, teachers integrate the trans-disciplinary skills of OUR STORY into the learning journey. Collaboration, questioning, reflection, taking ownership, taking risks, connecting, and articulation are embedded across all areas of the curriculum, and can be applied to a wide range of learning experiences. Children are encouraged to reflect on their learning, using the skills of OUR STORY to identify where they have been successful and how they can generate next steps to further their learning. This is particularly evident in termly child-led conferences, during which pupils share chosen aspects of their learning journey with their families.

Curriculum Insights

English

Writing

All children have the right to be taught how to write creatively across a range of genres. Through a literature-rich writing curriculum, staff at Sherborne House want all pupils to become curious and to question the texts that they read, to understand how and why grammatical aspects work; to understand their relevance and to become independent thinkers in order to continuously improve their writing. 

Through a literature-rich English curriculum, children are engaged and supported to become motivated, creative and independent readers and writers. The use of high quality and exciting books is at the heart of the school’s successful approach to teaching and learning. With a broad and balanced variety of literature in each year group, we strive to improve outcomes for learners in spoken language, reading and writing, which complement and challenge current practice. 

Reading

In EYFS and lower school, reading skills focus on phonics and decoding initially. Alongside building these essential skills, the children are asked questions when reading and have short tasks to complete – for example, making predictions or retrieving information. 

In upper school, we couple reading outcomes with writing lessons. We deliver guided reading sessions through the VIPERS approach, which exposes pupils to the skills within reading and engages pupils with a wider range of texts. 

The 6 domains focus on the comprehension aspect of reading and not the mechanics: decoding, fluency, prosody etc (although shared reading is often implemented). As such, VIPERS is not a reading scheme but rather a method of ensuring that teachers ask, and students are familiar with, a range of questions. They allow the teacher to track the type of questions asked and the children’s responses to these which allows for targeted questioning afterwards. 

In Years 5 and 6, pupils are also exposed to a wide range of 11+ materials, including multiple-choice and written response comprehension, as well as spelling, punctuation and grammar cloze practice. 

Mathematics

At Sherborne House, we believe that every child has the right to be taught mathematics in a way that fosters curiosity, deep understanding, and practical application. Through a dynamic and engaging curriculum, we aim to develop all pupils into confident problem solvers who can apply their mathematical knowledge to real life situations. Our approach encourages students to question, investigate, and explore mathematical concepts independently, ensuring they are well-prepared for the next stages of their education.

Through a well rounded and carefully structured curriculum, pupils at Sherborne House are introduced to key mathematical concepts in a logical and systematic way. Teachers use a wide range of resources and techniques to support and challenge learners; our goal is to develop a positive attitude towards mathematics, inspiring pupils to take risks, be reflective, and to take ownership in their learning.

In the Early Years and Lower School, the focus is on developing a solid understanding of number sense, pattern recognition, and basic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division). Children are encouraged to explore mathematical concepts through play and hands-on activities, building a strong foundation in number fluency and mental arithmetic. As children progress, we introduce more structured methods, incorporating practical applications of math in everyday contexts. Alongside these skills, children are encouraged to explain their thinking and approach, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving from an early stage.

In the upper school, maths classes are set into flexible groups to enable support and challenge to be correctly targeted, ensuring each individual is taught at the pace and level that is right for them. We continue to build upon the strong foundation from lower school, with a deeper focus on reasoning, application, and more complex operations. Problem-solving becomes a key element, with students encouraged to approach problems logically and systematically, using a range of strategies to find solutions. Lessons are interactive and engaging, combining direct instruction with collaborative work and independent challenges.

Fluency is a central focus in our mathematics teaching. Pupils are taught how to recall key facts quickly and accurately, while also developing the flexibility to apply their knowledge to a variety of problems. This is supported by our number bonds and times tables progression programme, which aims for children to be fluent in both multiplication and division facts up to 12 by the end of year 4.

In Years 5 and 6, pupils are exposed to a range of materials to support their preparation for 11+ exams and secondary school. Pupils practice problems in the style and format that will be used in 11+ exams, ensuring they feel confident and prepared to take on their next challenge.

By the end of their time at Sherborne House, we aim to create independent thinkers, with a love of mathematics, who can confidently apply their mathematical skills in a variety of situations to enable success in their future education and beyond.

Science

At Sherborne House, science education is delivered through a carefully planned and personalised curriculum that emphasises both foundational knowledge and the practical application of scientific methods. The curriculum is closely aligned with the national curriculum, ensuring comprehensive coverage of key scientific concepts while also fostering curiosity and a sense of wonder in students.

From Reception through to Year 6, science teaching at Sherborne House is characterised by hands-on, inquiry-based learning. Students are encouraged to ask questions, conduct experiments, and engage in the scientific process. The approach progressively builds on students’ skills, starting with simple observations and gradually introducing more complex scientific techniques and concepts as they advance through the school.

In the lower years, the focus is on introducing basic scientific vocabulary and methods, with increasing independence expected as students move up through the school. By Year 6, students are planning their own experiments, recording and analysing data, and discussing how scientific ideas have evolved over time. This approach not only prepares students for their future studies, but also instills a lifelong love of learning and exploration in the field of science.

Humanities

Humanities lessons combine the teaching of history, geography and RE, so that children are taught to make links between these areas of learning, with the aim of developing engaged, motivated and curious learners that can reflect on the past and make meaningful links to the present day. Teachers are encouraged to be creative, developing links between existing curriculum topics, but also taking the learning in a direction of the children’s choosing, so that they remain inspired and engaged in their learning.

Humanities learning is skills-based, so whilst children are gaining a broader knowledge, they are simultaneously building on their ability to access learning in a meaningful way. Skills coverage in each year group has been considered so that it is progressive during childrens’ time at Sherborne House. Whilst the learning content can be flexible, teachers must ensure they are covering the key skills appropriate for their year group so that each child is prepared for subsequent learning and skills to be covered in the following year. This allows children and teachers alike, the flexibility and freedom to carry their learning where they choose, within a framework that ensures children are making progress.

Creative Arts

Our yearly overview provides a balance of art and design technology, ensuring the children develop a vast breadth of skills, knowledge and techniques as they move through the school. Our skills-based objectives in art and design allow the children to first begin developing their fine motor skills in drawing and painting, which provide children with a foundation of knowledge towards developing their abilities with various materials. In art, children have the opportunity to develop skills working with sketching, watercolours, acrylic, mix media collage, charcoal, printing, clay and more.
From Year 1, children will focus on a minimum of three artists throughout the year, exploring their history, technique and style. This will lead to the children having a vast knowledge of artists when they leave in Year 6. Three half terms are dedicated to design technology, where the children will build skills towards understanding how to develop an idea through the process of ‘the design cycle’; investigating, planning, creating and evaluating. Children will design products exploring; wood work, textiles, sewing, modroc, architecture and food technology. There are further opportunities in extra curricular activities to explore art and design, including our wonderful forest school and art scholars in the upper school.

Languages

At Sherborne House School, we believe that learning languages is essential in our interconnected world, offering far more than just a competitive edge. It shapes us into better communicators and more compassionate human beings, fostering understanding and empathy across cultural and linguistic boundaries. Teaching languages goes beyond vocabulary and grammar; it involves nurturing the natural curiosity of children, encouraging them to make connections between languages, cultures, and their own experiences.

By providing students with the tools to explore the world through language, we empower them to become thoughtful and caring global citizens. Our approach aims to instill a deep thirst for knowledge, motivating students to embrace the diversity of languages and cultures with respect and appreciation. We create dynamic and immersive learning experiences, where students can practise their skills in meaningful contexts. Roleplays and interactive exercises allow them to apply their language abilities in scenarios that mimic real-life interactions, fostering confidence and fluency.

To further enhance their learning, we offer opportunities such as a trip to France, where students can immerse themselves in the language and culture, putting their skills to the test in an authentic environment. This hands-on experience not only solidifies their language proficiency but also deepens their cultural understanding and respect for differences. Through this holistic approach to language teaching, we aim to develop students who are not only linguistically proficient but also culturally aware, empathetic, and eager to explore the world around them.

Children learn French and Spanish in KS1 and KS2. Yr 6 children will also do a half term of German.

Performing Arts

Sport

Sport has always been an important part of life at Sherborne House. The values taught through lessons and fixtures are tightly intertwined with our whole school Golden thread.
At Sherborne House every child receives high quality PE and games lessons taught by specialist teachers and are given the opportunity to attend clubs during, and after school with a range of sports on offer. Lessons are skills focused and give children the opportunity to experience the skills needed in a range of sports from an early age.
We believe that sport is accessible by all and hope that all our children leave the school with a passion for a sport that suits them. Encouraging a life long love of sport and embracing the life skills within it.
We have successful teams competing in regional and national competitions as well as regular games fixtures against local schools. This is often the highlight of their week!
Alongside our curriculum we provide a sports leadership programme, where children are given the opportunity to plan and deliver lessons to younger children as well as assist in the organisation of the wonderful sports events we host at Sherborne House.
Pupil voice is an important way of growing and developing our department which is why we have a peer-selected Sports Council, with regular meetings across the academic year.
Also, with many past students being offered sports scholarships we are now supporting children in their applications by providing a weekly sports scholars club.

Forest School

Sherborne House Forest School is a child-centred and inspirational learning process that offers opportunities for holistic growth through regular sessions. It is a long-term process/program that supports play, exploration and supported risk taking. It develops confidence and self-esteem through learner inspired, hands-on experiences in our Schools natural setting.

The process/programme helps and facilitates more than knowledge-gathering, it helps learners develop socially, emotionally, spiritually, physically and intellectually. It creates a safe, non-judgemental nurturing environment for learners to try stuff out and take risks.

Forest School inspires a deep and meaningful connection to the world and an understanding of how our pupils fit within it. Our approach to risk means that learners constantly expand on their abilities by solving real-world issues, building self-belief and resilience.

We believe that risk is more than just potential for physical harm, but a more holistic thing, there are risks in everything we do, and we grow by overcoming them. Forest School therefore provides our pupils with a safe environment to participate in supported risk taking  and become healthy, resilient, creative and independent learners.

Forest School’s learner-centred approach interweaves and moulds the ever-changing moods and marvels, potential and challenges of the natural world through the seasons to fill every Forest School session and programme with discovery and difference. Making each session and every experience a valuable one.