Sherborne House School

What Sherborne House School does

Sherborne House School is an independent preparatory school located at 39 Lakewood Road, Chandler's Ford, Hampshire, operating as a private educational institution serving families with children aged 6 months through 11 years. The school delivers a continuous educational pathway comprising Nursery, Pre-Reception, Reception, Lower Prep (Years 1-2), and Upper Prep (Years 3-6), with a dedicated 11+ Pathways programme that positions it as Hampshire's only standalone 11+ prep school. Curriculum delivery draws on a thematic approach built around proprietary frameworks including "Our Story" (a trans-disciplinary skills framework emphasizing ownership, collaboration, and reflection) and "Golden Thread" (a virtue-based character education programme). Pedagogical methods include specialist teaching from Early Years across Music, Languages, Sport, Drama, and a Forest School outdoor learning programme, supplemented by the STEPS to Leadership Programme (Years 4-6), Zones of Regulation for emotional development, and wraparound care services (Early Morning Club and Lakewood). Class sizes are constrained to 10-20 pupils.

The business model is tuition-driven, with fees set below the 2022 UK national private day school average (£15,655) and supported by an interest-free monthly instalment plan, sibling discounts (10% for first sibling, 20% for second), and means-tested bursaries (10-30% reduction). Ancillary recurring revenue is generated through wraparound care — Early Morning Club at £5.00/hour and Lakewood after-school provision at £3.50 per 30 minutes — paid on a pay-as-you-go basis. GTM is sales-led and admissions-driven, relying on Open Events, personalized campus tours, organic social (Facebook, Instagram), and word-of-mouth referrals rather than paid acquisition. Single-campus distribution limits, with geographic reach modestly extended by a school bus route launching September 2025. The school is governed independently with no disclosed parent company or private equity involvement; leadership is Mrs Cordelia Cripps (Head since September 2023). Recognised outcomes include 100% first-choice senior school placement for Year 6 leavers, 12 scholarships awarded to the Class of 2024 across Art, Academic, Sport, and Music, and AcSEED accreditation (valid until 2026) — making it the first independent school in Hampshire to receive this mental health and wellbeing recognition.

Name

Sherborne House School

Legal name

Sherborne House School

Website

https://sherbornehouse.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Independent preparatory school in Chandler's Ford, Hampshire, providing education for children aged 6 months to 11 years across Nursery, Pre-Reception, Reception, and Prep tiers, with dedicated 11+ exam preparation and specialist teaching in small classes of 10-20 pupils.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Preparatory School

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

General Preschools (Play-Based) (EDACABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor/Nature/Forest Preschools (EDACABAJ), Enrichment-Focused Before/After Care (Arts, STEM, Language) (EDACAHAI)

Keywords

• Independent preparatory school
• Prep school education
• Early years education
• 11 plus preparation
• Primary school tuition

Headquarters

HQ city

Chandler's Ford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Core revenue from school fees for Nursery through Year 6 education. Fees are set below national average for prep schools, with interest-free monthly payment options and sibling discounts available.
2. Wraparound Care: Before and after school care services including Early Morning Club (7:30am-8:30am at £5/hour) and Lakewood after-school provision (£3.50 per 30 minutes).
3. Sibling Discounts: 10% discount for first sibling, 20% for second sibling attending together.
4. Bursaries: Means-tested financial assistance typically offering 10-30% fee reduction at Head's discretion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sherborne House School is an independent preparatory school in Hampshire providing education for children aged 6 months to 11 years across Nursery, Pre-Reception, Reception, Lower Prep (Years 1–2), and Upper Prep (Years 3–6). It delivers a knowledge-rich, skills-based curriculum using a thematic "Our Story" framework, with dedicated 11+ examination preparation and a "Golden Thread" character education programme. The core offering is complemented by wraparound childcare (Early Morning Club and Lakewood Club), Forest School outdoor learning, performing arts, leadership development via the STEPS to Leadership programme, and enrichment activities.

Product overview

Sherborne House School is an independent prep school in Hampshire offering a unified educational program for children aged 6 months to 11 years. The school provides a seamless progression through Early Years (Nursery, Pre-Reception), followed by Reception, Lower Prep (Years 1-2), and Upper Prep (Years 3-6). As the only standalone 11+ prep school in Hampshire, it offers dedicated examination preparation pathways. The educational offering is complemented by extensive wraparound care services (Early Morning Club and Lakewood Club), enrichment programs including Forest School, the STEPS to Leadership Programme, and Performing Arts. The school emphasizes character education through its 'Golden Thread' values framework, integrating pastoral care, academic rigor, and personal development across all programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nursery (Early Years) Early years foundation programme for children from 6 months, providing a nurturing environment that forms the beginning of the educational journey at Sherborne House School. Designed for families seeking high-quality care and early development for infants and toddlers.
• Pre-Reception Pre-Reception programme preparing children for the transition into formal schooling, focusing on building independence and school readiness skills. Targeted at families with children approaching Reception age.
• Reception First year of formal primary education at Sherborne House, providing a tailored curriculum and a transformative experience as children begin their formal schooling journey.
• Lower Prep Lower primary school programme covering Years 1–2, offering a knowledge-rich and skills-based curriculum aligned with the school's thematic approach. Designed for families seeking rigorous prep school education with small class sizes.
• Upper Prep Upper primary school programme covering Years 3–6, providing academically rigorous preparation for secondary school entry including 11+ examination preparation. For families seeking comprehensive prep school education with senior school transition support.
• 11+ Pathways Dedicated 11+ examination preparation programme as Hampshire's only standalone 11+ prep school, offering expert preparation for grammar and independent school entry. Targeted at families targeting selective senior schools.
• Wraparound Care (Lakewood Club) After-school care provision from 4:00pm until 6:00pm for all year groups from Pre-Reception to Year 6, featuring snack provision, homework support, themed craft activities, and access to outdoor play equipment. Priced at £3.50 per 30 minutes with a late fee of £15 per 15 minutes after 6pm.
• Early Morning Club Before-school care from 7:30am to 8:30am offering breakfast, supervised play, and a calm start to the school day. Priced at £5.00 per hour, runs Monday–Friday.
• Forest School Outdoor education programme using the school's dedicated woodland area, providing hands-on learning experiences in natural settings with activities including bushcraft and after-school enrichment sessions.
• STEPS to Leadership Programme Bespoke leadership development programme for students in Years 4–6, structured around five core strands (Skills, Team-Building, Experiences, Partnerships, and Service), with Bronze, Silver, and Gold badge recognition.
• Enrichment Programme Broad range of extracurricular activities including arts, sports, STEM, languages, outdoor education, and leadership opportunities complementing the academic curriculum.
• Music and Drama (Performing Arts) Comprehensive performing arts programme including LAMDA lessons from Year 4, instrumental and vocal tuition, school productions, and participation in the Southampton Festival of Music and Drama.
• Pupil Leadership Leadership development through roles including Head Boy, Head Girl, Deputy Head Boy, Deputy Head Girl, Senior Prefects, School Council, Wellbeing Ambassadors, Sports Leaders, and Digital Leaders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of pupils secured place at first choice private school; 100% passed grammar school entrance
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• King Edward VI SchoolcoreOthers · 20 March 2024Senior school destination for Sherborne House pupils. One of the schools where Year 6 pupils secured places and scholarships.
• St Swithun's SchoolcoreOthers · 20 March 2024Senior school destination for Sherborne House pupils. One of the schools where Year 6 pupils secured places and scholarships.
• Embley SchoolcoreOthers · 20 March 2024Senior school destination for Sherborne House pupils. One of the schools where Year 6 pupils secured places and scholarships.
• Bishops Wordsworth Grammar SchoolcoreOthers · 20 March 2024Grammar school destination for Sherborne House pupils. Boys' grammar school where Year 6 pupils passed entrance exams.
• South Wilts Grammar SchoolcoreOthers · 20 March 2024Grammar school destination for Sherborne House pupils. Girls' grammar school where Year 6 pupils passed entrance exams.
• The Gregg SchoolcoreOthers · 20 March 2024Senior school destination for Sherborne House pupils. One of the schools where Year 6 pupils secured places.
• Dr Carlos Hoyos (Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2024Guest speaker for mental health parent workshop. Professional knowledge sharing on mental health topics for parents.
• The AcSEED InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2024Charitable organisation promoting emotional wellbeing and mental health support in UK schools. Awarded AcSEED accreditation to Sherborne House as first independent school in Hampshire.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cheam School: Independent co-educational prep school in Hampshire (Headley) for children aged 3–13. Comparable as a Hampshire-based prep competitor with similar fee-point positioning and 11+ preparation focus.
• Farleigh School: Independent co-educational prep school in Redbridge, Hampshire, for children aged 1–13. Comparable by age range, full-day nursery, wraparound care, and 11+ preparation.
• Churcher's College: Long-established independent school in Petersfield, Hampshire, with a junior/prep division. Comparable as a Hampshire prep competitor serving families seeking academic rigour and 11+ preparation.
• Embley School: Independent co-educational school in Romsey, Hampshire, covering Nursery through Sixth Form. Comparable as a Hampshire prep competitor and a senior-school destination partner already referenced by Sherborne House families.
• Hampshire Collegiate School: Independent day and boarding school in Hampshire covering prep through senior years. Comparable as a Hampshire-based competitor for the same fee-paying prep family segment, with broader age range but overlapping admissions catchment.
• Daneshill School: Independent co-educational prep school in Basingstoke, Hampshire, for children aged 3–13, focused on preparation for senior schools and 11+ entry. Comparable by geography, age range, and 11+ positioning.
• Twyford School: Independent co-educational prep school in Twyford, Hampshire, educating children from Reception through to Year 6 (and nursery), with a strong track record in 11+ preparation. Comparable in geography, age range, and prep-school positioning.
• The Pilgrims' School: Independent boys' prep school in Winchester, Hampshire, catering for children from 2–13 with choir-school heritage. Comparable as a Hampshire prep competitor with strong senior-school transition outcomes.

Others

• The AcSEED Initiative: UK charity that audits and accredits schools for emotional wellbeing and mental health provision. Not a competitor, but a key strategic partner that granted Sherborne House its wellbeing accreditation and supports its pastoral-care positioning.

Regional players

• St Mary's School, Southampton: Independent school in Southampton for girls aged 3–16, with overlapping Hampshire feeder catchment. Comparable in target family segment (prep through senior) and fee positioning, though single-sex.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SherborneHouseSchool
• Instagraminstagram.com/sherbornehouseschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/sherborne-house-school

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sherborne House School