Pupil Leadership

At Sherborne House, we believe in nurturing confident, responsible, and forward-thinking young individuals through a wide range of pupil leadership opportunities. From roles such as Senior Prefects, School Council representatives and House Captains to Sports Leaders and Digital Leaders, our pupils are encouraged to take on meaningful responsibilities that help shape school life. These positions not only allow pupils to have a voice and make a difference, but also to develop key skills such as collaboration, communication, and problem-solving. We call this the leadership advantage—the opportunity for every pupil at Sherborne House to grow as a leader and thrive both in and beyond the classroom.

Steps to Leadership

Our STEPS to Leadership Programme is offered to the pupils in Years 4, 5 and 6. The Sherborne House STEPS to Leadership programme promotes a range of activities and experiences for our pupils that will help them to develop leadership skills for the future, in addition to the activities of everyday school life.

The five strands of: Skills, Team-building, Experiences, Partnerships and Service have been devised to encourage the children to plan and take part in flexible activities that can be undertaken at home or in partnership with school, without being prohibitive in terms of cost or resources. The children will very much be taking the lead on what they do, when and how they do it, as well as keeping track of their achievements.

In recognition of achievement at three different levels within the programme, children are awarded a STEPS to Leadership badge.

Roles and Responsibilities

Pupils at Sherborne House have the opportunity to take on roles of responsibility throughout their time in the Prep school. It is important that children have the opportunity to learn the value of leadership and responsibility. Some roles are applied for, some are voted on by peers and others are nominated and voted for by staff.

Senior Prefects

Children, while in the final term of Year 5, can apply to become a Prefect. The applications are submitted to the Deputy Head and Head.

All pupils with an additional role or responsibility are, on occasion, expected to give up their time for meetings or tasks. All children that hold a position of responsibility are expected to fulfil the role to the best of their ability. We, as a school, look to these children as leaders and role models to their peers.

Finally, we look to our leaders to propose changes and improvements in the way the system operates. All ideas proposed are considered, to investigate their benefit to the children.

School Council

Each form (from Reception to Year 6) puts forward two members of the School Council. These positions are voted for by their peers within their form classes. The council members hold the position for the academic year, allowing them the opportunity to develop their communication skills, both whilst in council meetings, raising issues and in the classroom, reporting back to their form what was discussed.

House Captains

Each of the three school houses; Oaks, Pines, and Beeches, have two pupil Heads of House. These are Year 6 pupils who are appointed by the Head and hold the position for the entire academic year. Their role is to assist with the organisation of the children within the house at house events, including Sports Day and various Inter House Competitions. As well as this, they are responsible for counting up the amount of house points awarded to pupils in their house each week. House point tokens are added to house bowls, which are kept on display in the main house. Also as part of their role, House Captains are expected to drive the accumulation of house points for their house.

Digital Leaders

Year 4 to Year 6 are offered the opportunity to become a Digital Leader, whose role it is to support the use and to further the development of ICT in school. As part of the role, they may be required to carry out the following duties: test and review new digital resources (websites, computer software, hardware or apps); give ideas to teachers about future development of technology; lead lunchtime computing clubs; support teachers in using technology in the classroom.

Sports Leaders

In Year 4 to Year 6, pupils are afforded the opportunity to become Sports Leaders. This means that they attend regular sessions during Golden Thread Time to develop their leadership skills in sport. This enables them to support various school events and activities including: inter-house competitions, Sports Days and open events. They also lead sports sessions for younger pupils.

House System

At Sherborne House, the long-established House system is an integral part of daily life and gives each child the opportunity to get together with siblings and children from other year groups to compete, to perform and to celebrate.

The House names represent our location and the mature trees within our grounds: Oaks, Pines and Beeches. Upon entry to Sherborne House School, each child and member of staff is allocated to either Oaks, Pines or Beeches and this remains their House for the duration of their Sherborne House career.

Each child becomes a proud member of their House community; adding a ‘vertical’ pastoral system which celebrates House identity, strength and uniqueness. This vertical system ensures children have friends outside of their year group. The children in Year 6 take on further responsibility for groups of younger children as House Captains, acting as ambassadors for their House.

At Sherborne House we take pride in awarding children house points for courtesy, for kindness, for diligence and for a pride in their efforts (both academic and pastoral). These house points are collected and celebrated weekly within our assembly, with recognition for individuals who have earned the most for their House and for the House who has collectively earned the most points.

When it comes to the numerous competitions between the Houses, that are taking place in a growing range of activities (in a range of disciplines), there is expression in a healthy competitive spirit. Each child has a part to play in the success of their House; through application of talent, enthusiastic participation, or through the support of their peers. This House spirit is none more evident than on our annual Sports’ Day in the Summer Term, where each child wears their House Shirt and House colour with pride.