What makes boarding special?

Boarding is usually a matter of choice rather than being imposed on children these days and at Sherborne Prep we offer a range of full, weekly, flexi and occasional boarding which gives a wide range of different choices to create the best option for you and your child.

Boarding gives children the chance to grow in confidence and independence and develop their friendships and personal skills within a safe, nurturing environment.

Boarding at Sherborne Prep is great fun! We have two boarding houses, Acreman for the boys and Netherton for the girls. The House parents ensure boarding is enjoyable and there is a real family feel to both houses. All staff ensure that boarders are happy, confident and proud of being a boarder. We want their experience of boarding to be safe and enjoyable.

Happy children do well at school and all the staff throughout the School are ready to help if there is an occasional wobble and things don't go quite as intended. There are lots of people to talk to, ready with advice and support to help.

Healthy eating is important and the school kitchens prepare and provide excellent food for breakfast, lunch and supper as well as appropriate choices. All our food is prepared on site and local suppliers are used where possible. Staff keep a watchful eye to encourage children to eat a balanced diet.

The Boarding Team

Linda McCorquodale - Houseparent, Netherton

Before joining The Prep Linda was House Assistant at the Royal Masonic School for Girls and Foremarke Hall (Repton Prep School). Linda ensures that the girls' boarding house, Netherton, is a comfortable home from home, influenced by a strong family ethos. She shares her cat, Millie, with the girls as well as her talent for arts and crafts. She is rumoured to have a black belt in Origami! Linda enjoys pilates, embroidery, jewellery making and walking in the Dorset countryside, especially along its beautiful coastal paths.

Paul Shepherd MBA, TTC - Director Of Boarding

Paul joined Sherborne Prep in September 2009 as Head of Maths, initially as maternity cover for Hanna Crane. When Hanna returned Paul decided to stay and continues to teach in addition to his role as Director of Boarding. He is passing on his enthusiasm for rugby coaching the Under 8 rugby team. He was previously Deputy Head of King's School, Auckland and has two daughters who are currently living in Japan.

Gail Gulston M.Ed, BSc(Hons), Advanced Diploma in Child Development (Open University), Teacher Training Diploma (Durban Teachers' Training College) - Assistant Houseparent, Netherton
Gail, commenced her teaching career in South Africa teaching Science at secondary level before immigrating to Vancouver, Canada. She has lived in Sherborne, Dorset for the past twenty years during which time she has taught Science at Port Regis and thereafter was appointed Head of Science at Hanford School, Belmont Preparatory School in Surrey and Sunninghill Preparatory School in Dorchester. During her tenure as a Science specialist teacher, Gail taught Years 3 to 8.

Frank Bridgeman-Sutton, BA(Hons) Dunelm; PGCE Exeter; CertNat Sci (Open), MCIEA - Assistant Housemaster, Acreman
After graduating in Anthropology and Archaeology, Frank Bridgeman-Sutton put his refined digging talents to use in northern Germany and across Salisbury Plain as an officer in The Green Howards. After a spell as house manager at a top drama school in London, he headed for the North Pennines to restore furniture and antiques, gaining some expertise in Chinese lacquer work and passing his spare time as a member of a mountain rescue team. Having discovered that few mountains needed rescue, he relocated to Dorset in 1998, where he beavered away happily in his shed until vocation called and he re-trained as a teacher. He began his career at a fine prep school in Sherborne where he spent seven years and acquired a slightly geeky interest in assessment data and developing the curriculum. A year working as director of studies in Qatar and another year at Knighton House provided a contrast before he came back here where children are allowed to be children, are allowed to make mistakes, are allowed to think for, and to be, themselves. Somewhere along the way he had the great good fortune to acquire two lovely children of his own.

Kate Fow - Residential Matron
Kate joined The Prep from Sandroyd School where she was a houseparent in the Junior Boys House. She was a houseparent at Ranby House School in Nottingham for three years prior to that. Kate's passion is violin, which she studied at Trinity College of Music. She was highly influenced by her grandfather, the late Max Jaffa, who was also a violinist. Kate has played with many of the London Orchestras and performed much of the solo violin repertoire with many orchestras both in England and abroad, as well as being in the backing orchestra accompanying Elton John on tour. Kate has two sons, the youngest of whom is at The Prep.