Adventure & Leadership
At Sherborne Girls, our Adventure and Leadership programme is not just about exploration.
It’s about discovering strength, building character and learning leadership skills — and it’s woven into all parts of school life.
Combined Cadet Force (CCF)
The CCF is a chance for girls and boys from Sherborne to develop leadership, teamwork, and resilience. For many, involvement in CCF is a highlight of their time at School; they form lifelong friendships and learn valuable lessons about perseverance, respect and determination.
Girls in the Middle Fifth upwards have the option of joining the Sherborne School Combined Cadet Force (CCF) where they will follow a military syllabus alongside their contemporaries at Sherborne School. They are led by impressive Sixth Formers and supported by committed staff, many who have previous military experience.
The girls will take part in activities such as navigation, field craft, drill, weapons training, first aid, military history, seamanship and leadership. Girls choosing to stay in CCF for the Upper Fifth will participate in a bespoke course which develops their military knowledge and leadership skills further culminating in an instructional techniques course which will enable them to deliver training to junior cadets in the Sixth Form.
Other CCF highlights include field trips which provide memorable experiences including sleeping in woods, cooking rations, putting fieldcraft skills into practice, and sailing aboard Royal Navy vessels. Sixth Form cadets can also look forward to an annual black-tie dinner and opportunities to lead their sections in high profile events in the community such as the Sherborne town Remembrance Parade or Biennial Review.
All cadets have the opportunity to sign up for the summer cadet camps and Sherborne CCF also runs a popular biannual adventurous training expedition to Norway. There are opportunities to parachute, compete in national competitions in shooting, as well as representing the CCF in the Army Rifles Cup or the Royal Marines Pringle Trophy.
Outdoor Education Club & Duke of Edinburgh 
Girls in L5 (Year 9) participate in the Outdoor Education Club where they pick up key skills required to look after themselves indoors and out; building towards two summer term expeditions.
This extensive programme includes a number of day and night walks, environmental projects and other exciting activities such as coasteering, tree climbing, orienteering, sea kayaking and sailing. Girls also bond with each other through their weekly volunteering sessions culminating in a fundraising fair to support local charities.
Importantly, girls in L5 have the option to enrol on the nationally recognised Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme (DoE) taking part in the Bronze Award. Girls in M5 (Year 10) can enrol on the Sports Leaders Award and the DofE Silver Award which includes a 3-day walking expedition on challenging terrain in the UK.
Opportunities for leadership development extend further in the senior years with many girls participating in student-led initiatives such as Model United Nations (MUN) and Eco Club as well as our many house-based charitable fundraising activities.
Many girls sign up to the very popular DofE Gold Award. Recent years have seen a huge surge in the variety of expeditions available, including walking expeditions.
