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Strategic Framework

Since the formation of Sherborne Schools Group (SSG) last year, we have been developing a strategy for both the Group and each individual school.

Our shared vision is to be recognised as the UK’s leading group of independent schools, known for a character-led approach that blends academic excellence, personal growth, wellbeing, and 21st-century skills.

To bring this vision to life, we have drafted a Strategic Framework built around five Key Pillars.

Our aim is to deliver a forward-thinking, Transformative Education that respects tradition while boldly embracing the future.

Grounded in excellence, driven by character, and powered by innovation, we prepare every pupil to be not just successful, but significant - leaders, creators, and changemakers in a fast-evolving, globalised world.

Our strategic priorities deliver The Sherborne Difference on the ground, translating the Group vision into daily learning experiences, character development, and innovation, equipping pupils to solve complex challenges and make responsible, measurable contributions to society.

Our Five Key Pillars —

Character & Leadership
We will embed character development and wellbeing across all aspects of school life, through daily experiences that teach the girls resilience, kindness, creativity and responsibilty. 

Our priorities:

  • Encourage girls to explore, reflect, and support each other, developing independence, confidence, and imagination.
  • Leverage the full-boarding experience to develop empathy, leadership, service, and community-mindedness.
  • Strengthen pastoral, tutoring, and mentoring systems to support whole-pupil wellbeing, resilience, emotional literacy, self-awareness, and ethical decision-making.
  • Embed the SSG Framework for Character & Wellbeing Education across academic, co-curricular, and boarding life.
  • Provide structured leadership opportunities across school and boarding life, cultivating initiative, accountability, and self-reflection.
  • Celebrate each girl’s individuality and provide space for playful, experiential learning, fostering curiosity and joy in growth.
  • Leverage SSG-wide experiences to broaden learning, collaboration, and personal growth.
Academics & Futures
We will deliver a personalised, innovative education that equip pupils with the knowledge, practical skills, and mindset to thrive in their senior school and beyond.  

Our priorities:

  • Provide individualised academic pathways with tutoring, mentoring, and coaching to enable every pupil to reach her potential.
  • Maintain academic rigour while promoting interdisciplinary, inclusive, and self-directed learning.
  • Develop critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity and ntellectual curiosity across all subjects.
  • GOffer real-world design and project experiences to build technical skills, resilience and a maker’s mindset.
  • Strengthen relective learning habits through feedbacik goal-setting, and pupil-led review
  • Encourage girls to discover and pursue their own academic interests, preparing them for success in senior school and beyond.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship
We will embed creativity, entrepreneurship, and future-ready skills across all years, giving pupils the confidence to try, experiment, and learn from both successes and setbacks.

Our priorities:

  • Foster an entrepreneurial mindset through innovation projects and collaborative problem solving.  
  • Embed our skills-based Enrichment Programme — the Hanford Hundred — to extend learning beyond the classroom.
  • Leverage school grounds, facilities and outdoor learning, to inspire creative thinking, and practical experimentation. 
  • Integrate design thinking, maker projects, and real-world problem-solving across the curriculum
  • Encourage pupils to take risks, learn from failure, and build resilience through creative endeavours.
  • Connect with SSG Turing Centre and external partners to introduce emerging technologies and applied innovation.
Partnership & Community 
We will ensure community remains at the heart of a Hanford education; cultivating a warm, family-like environment where every girl is known and valued.

Our priorities:

  • Strengthen links with parents, alumnae and the wider community to celebrate Hanford’s traditions and shared values.
  • Develop service, volunteering, and local engagement opportunities that teach empathy and social responsibility.
  • Foster school spirit and belonging through traditions, events, and shared experiences.
  • Maximise collaboration across SSG while retaining Hanford's unique character and identity. 
  • Encouragte teamwork, communication, and mutual respect in all school and boarding experiences.
  • Empower pupils to contribute to community projects, dveloping leadership, initiative and civic awareness.
Sustainability & Humanity
We instil care for the environment and awareness of global responsibility from an early age, ensuring cherishing childhood goes hand in hand with protecting the world around us.

Our priorities:

  • Embed sustainability into daily school life, outdoor learning, and school projects to make environmental caretangible.
  • Support pupil-led initiatives that build awareness, agency, and responsibility for local and global issues.
  • Develop climiate literacy, systems thinking, and responsible decision-making across the curriculum.
  • Provide hands-on, experiential opportunities for environmental stewardship and innovation.
  • Model sustainable practices in school operations and culture, supporting SSG’s Net Zero goals.
  • Encourage reflection, gratitude, and thoughtful action, connecting ethical choices to the wider world.

Through The Sherborne Difference, we will cultivate ethical, innovative, and globally-minded leaders prepared to navigate and shape the challenges of the 21st century.

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