More Than Knowledge – a Toolkit for Life
Because the world’s changing – and we’re getting them ready for it.
At Sherborne Prep, we believe education should do more than fill a brain – it should grow a person. That’s why we’ve adopted an assessment model built around more than just marks and memory. Our approach centres on developing the skills, attitudes, and values that children need to thrive in an ever-changing world.
We’ve embedded a dynamic, skills-based framework into our curriculum – one that shifts the focus from content overload to real-world readiness. It’s about helping pupils become curious, motivated learners who know how to think, not just what to think.
The Six Core Skills
We don’t just teach skills – we live them. These six pillars shape everything from classroom learning to assemblies, sports fields to science labs:
- Leadership
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Independence
- Thinking & Learning
- Reviewing & Improving
They’re not taught in isolation – they’re woven into lessons, feedback, and everyday conversations.
Whether it’s group work in geography, peer critiques in art, or a science experiment gone gloriously sideways, pupils are constantly building skills that go far beyond the curriculum.
Why it Matters
Great grades are brilliant – and our pupils achieve them – but we want more.
We want flexible thinkers. Thoughtful communicators. Independent doers. Children who can lead a group, bounce back from failure, and explain what they’ve learned – and why it matters.
Skills like these aren’t soft. They’re essential. They build resilience, character, and confidence – the kind of foundation that sets children up not just for exams, but for life.
Our curriculum is still rigorous, our teaching still ambitious – but now it’s supported by a framework that gives every lesson, every moment, even more meaning.
Year 8 Extended Project
By Year 8, our pupils are ready to show what they’re made of.
Enter: the extended project – a self- directed, deep-dive inquiry based on their own passions and ideas.
Each pupil researches independently, keeps a logbook of their learning journey, and creates a final piece – either an academic essay or a creative project. They then present it at a celebratory exhibition, talking through the process with parents, teachers, and senior school visitors.
It’s a showcase of everything we value – independence, creativity, communication, and the confidence to stand tall and say, “I did this.” And it’s a brilliant way to see our six core skills in action.
How We Assess
We’ve moved away from a one-size-fits-all assessment model. Instead, we take a broader view – one that celebrates more than just exam performance.
Our approach blends traditional and modern assessment methods: tests, presentations, debates, projects, creative work, and in-class feedback all contribute to a rich, rounded picture of progress. It’s flexible, responsive, and gives every pupil a chance to shine in their own way.
By the time pupils leave Sherborne Prep, they don’t just walk away with results – they carry a confident sense of identity, a toolkit of skills and a clear view of what they can bring to the world.
Where Next?
