Parent Information

Sherfield School is an independent co-educational day and boarding school providing a holistic education within a caring environment, and one which will enable its pupils to fulfil their academic potential and develop essential life skills to become caring, honest, and considerate contributors to both national and global society.

The acquisition of the school by Education in Motion (EiM), has created a dynamic integration of internationalism with the solid tradition of an independent British Education.  The EiM community of schools is committed to the development of a pioneering spirit across its student body, leading to an exceptional blend of innovation and opportunity, and providing all students with unique perspectives on the issues and challenges facing the world today.

At the heart of the EiM vision is a strong commitment to putting students first and to support and develop the specific strengths and distinctive educational cultures of each of the individual schools in the EiM family.   

Sherfield and its manor are steeped in history. In the late twelfth century, the manor was given independence by Henry II who granted it to his Marshall, William Fitz Aldelin. For the next few hundred years, the manor passed between noble families until 1572 when it was divided and sold as two lots.

From then on, it changed hands frequently until the estate was bought by the Marquis of Winchester whose estate borders with the Duke of Wellington’s Stratfield Saye Estate.

Archer Lodge, the original house, burnt down after 300 years. The second house, built in 1870, was named Buckfield Manor after the wood in which it was built. In 1897, Buckfield Manor was encased and extended, which included changing the fenestration, the brickwork and the name to Sherfield Manor.

The residents of the manor included Mr Paynton Piggott Stainsby Conant Esquire (1770 – 1862) a powerful landowner, Mr Bramstone Stance Esquire who was very involved with the local church and paid towards its upkeep and Mr Charles Lethbridge who was a local sheriff and his family.

Lord Benjamin Taylor, an influential and powerful man, was responsible for the rebuilding of the present house.

John and Emily Liddell lived in the house from 1908 and were much loved by the locals. They hosted the last ever Court Leet. In 1926 the house was sold to the 13th Earl of Winchelsea and passed to his son on the Earl’s death the following year.

The Manor played its part in the Second World War when it was turned into a military hospital. In 1947 the house became North Foreland Lodge, an independent girls’ boarding school and the following years saw a number of other wings and additions to the school to provide further teaching and residential facilities.

In 2004, Sherfield reopened under the management of GEMS, Global Education Management Systems, and is now owned and managed by Education in Motion (EiM). The School has increased from 73 pupils to around 600 today.

Sherfield School believes that the purpose of formal education is to develop the necessary skills to maximize young learners' potential, enabling them to lead quality lives.  Such skills can only be fully developed within a cohesive and supportive community and through a curriculum of opportunity, where curiosity is valued and encouraged, and each student can experience personal, physical, creative, and aesthetic expression within a strong and rigorous academic framework.

Furthermore, compassion and a strong values framework must lie at the heart of the educational process and, collectively and individually, all members of the Sherfield community should, through discernible action, demonstrate a concern for the welfare and support of others.

The process of educating children is a partnership between home, school, and the wider community.  EiM believes that parents should be informed about their children's development stages and should understand the learning strategies underpinning the school’s approach. Understanding the strategies that are being applied in school – and why – is an essential responsibility of parents, and to this end, EiM is committed to an ongoing dialogue through presentations and workshops for the parent body. 

The education of children is a joint venture involving school, home, and the broader community – it is a social enterprise.  It is especially important that all parents who entrust their children to the care of Sherfield understand, share, and accept the philosophical framework and policies, and are willing to actively support the operational and educational guidelines articulated by the school.

It is hoped that all parents and employees will also be able to act as ambassadors for the quality of social and civic responsibility that these guidelines represent.

Further, as partners in the educational development of children, opportunities must be provided throughout the school year for parents to understand the basic educational approaches of Sherfield School and the underpinning educational philosophy of EiM.

Communication

The quality of relationships within a community relies upon the methods and ease of communication.  Getting this right is always a challenge.  While the school will do all it can to deliver information promptly, there are always occasions when a communication policy is compromised by emergency considerations.

Pathways to communicate with appropriate members of staff are explained in each of the School Section handbooks and it is important that for most routine issues these guidelines are followed.

All communications between staff members and parents should be devoid of any form of verbal abuse or threat.  If a complaint is felt necessary, it must be made without rancour, and be measured, polite and constructive; all teacher's communications to parents must reflect the same.  If an issue is not resolved it can be escalated according to the handbook instructions.

All anonymous communication will be ignored.  All individual concerns will be addressed, but no parent has the right to speak on behalf of others.

Please note that any attempts to intimidate, threaten or inflict hurt through direct communication is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. 

Online and Group Chat Communication

While such groups can be extremely positive for communities, they also have great potential for harm.  Online speculation by teachers or parents about school-related issues should be avoided but specifically:

• Sharing information or opinion to a wider group concerning a member of the Sherfield staff, another family, or a child other than one’s own.
• Sharing information that has not been verified or is injurious to another person.
• Using such platforms to activate a lobby or protest group; any individual issue should be addressed directly to the school. It is the school’s responsibility to determine how widespread a concern is and to respond accordingly.

[Please note that there are legal implications around all of the above]

Any communication on-line or otherwise that is detrimental to the well-being of a child or another family at Sherfield, or that damages the reputation of a member of staff or of the school, will be viewed as a breach of trust, and will not be tolerated.

All concerns brought to the attention of the school need to be resolved as quickly as possible but at times this may require an internal, and occasionally prolonged, investigation.  An acknowledgement of the concern should be received immediately, with a timeline for a formal response or an appointment time for a meeting to discuss the concern with an appropriate member of the senior staff at school.

Any reported abusive or impolite communication from any employee will be investigated and, if appropriate, will be dealt with as an internal disciplinary matter.

School Regulations

It is imperative to the smooth operations of a school – and its image in the wider community – that all pupils conform to a code of behaviour and standards of personal presentation. To this end, clear guidelines have been produced.

Please note, however, that it is the parent responsibility in the first instance to ensure that these standards are maintained.  It is a condition of entry into the school that parents will fully understand the requirements and sanctions of the school and support them, especially within the wider community and with their children. 

Attendance

Regular attendance is not only a key requirement, but it is a legal obligation of the school to monitor and to report to the local authority when this is not maintained to a satisfactory standard. All requests for absence should be formally made to the school to enable it to fulfil its statutory obligations.

Additional holidays should not be taken during term time, and aside from ill health, only important events or occasions will be accepted as suitable reasons for absence.

Punctuality is also important in a school, not only for students but also for all school employees. Records of punctuality will be maintained.

Uniform and general standard of dress

Placing a child at Sherfield is also a commitment to its uniform policy – it is an outward expression of identity and of acceptance of the values and ethos of the school.  Adherence is, on occasion, a contentious issue with some pupils, so the school and parents must work together to ensure that standards are maintained.  Failure to do this could lead to a disciplinary problem which has the real potential to undermine the relationship between a child and the school. 

Ensuring that all children are dressed appropriately and well-equipped for school is fundamentally the primary responsibility of parents. The school, in turn, also has a responsibility to ensure that the uniform and general appearance guidelines are applied firmly and consistently across the school.

– a guide to the standards expected of pupils at the school

Philosophy of Approach

The school’s policy on behaviour is founded upon restorative principles rather than upon those that are punitive, and all pupils are taught, encouraged, and expected to develop and maintain a strong personal integrity that is truthful, generous, courteous, and considerate of the needs of others.

Pupils are expected to have a positive and purposeful attitude to their studies and school lives, and to their relationships with staff and other pupils, and this is recognised as an important part of the education journey. 

The pupil interactions with the school should, at all times, reflect a clear understanding of school regulations, and of the school’s values.

Food and Drink

Pupils are not allowed to bring food or drink from home. A water bottle may be filled from the dining room or the sports hall. Water bottles must only have water in them during school; no juice or squash. Energy drinks will be confiscated.

The common courtesies

Each year the development of young people brings growing maturity and increasing responsibility.  It is expected that all pupils will progress smoothly to a point where there is an instinctively positive and mature response to others around the school.  The common courtesies to which all our pupils strive are identified as:

• Movement around the school should be with respect for others who share the same space.
• Interaction with other pupils should always be appropriate but especially showing kindness and consideration to those younger or less confident.
• Offensive language is not acceptable and only serves to diminish those who resort to it.
• Interactions with teachers or other adults in the school should be courteous at all times; hands should be removed from pockets when addressing adults.
• Doors should be opened for all adults to allow them to pass through first.
• Acknowledgment of kindness with thanks.

Classroom Etiquette

Pupils are responsible for ensuring that each lesson can begin promptly and that the teacher can teach effectively:

• All pupils must arrive on time for lessons with the correct books and equipment.
• If a teacher is not already in the classroom, pupils must line up quietly from the door. This is especially the case for science laboratories, DT workshops or sports facilities.
• All pupils must follow the usual protocols for lessons and follow teacher directives; teachers will elicit feedback from pupils at appropriate times.
• Only the teacher will determine the end of the lesson, and pupils should leave the classroom in an orderly manner and in the condition in which they found it.
• No items are to be taken to class that are likely to cause a distraction or an obstruction.

Movement around the school

• Pupils should walk when in the school corridors and narrow pathways between buildings.
• As a general rule, everyone should keep left when passing in corridors.
• Consideration and patience are required when queueing is necessary in the school.

Travel to and from School and on School Visits

Pupils are expected to pay particular attention to conduct and appearance while travelling in public places, and courtesy and consideration must be given to all members of the public.  Behaviour that may offend or intimidate members of the public or damage the reputation of the school is regarded as a serious breach of discipline.

The School Environment

One of the joys of being at Sherfield School is that the beautiful grounds are accessible to pupils.  This exceptional environment needs to be treated with the utmost respect, and whatever activities occur during formal lessons or during break times this asset must be preserved.  Every care must be taken to protect the flora and fauna, and all litter should be deposited in the bins provided around the school.

Carelessly discarded chewing gum has the potential to cause damage. Gum is not allowed in school, including at the end of the school day and during after-school activities. The sanction for chewing gum is likely to be community service such as litter picking with gloves and litter pickers.

Mobile Phones and other electronic items

Pupils are not allowed to bring mobile phones or iWatches onto the school site.  Should a mobile phone be temporarily required, permission must be sought from the Head of Phase. All mobile phones and electronic devices should be handed to reception for collection at the end of the day.  Phones should not be used in the school following the end of the school day. Any unauthorised phone or iWatch use will result in confiscation.

Exceptionally, the Sixth Form students are allowed to use their mobile phones in the Sixth Form Centre only.  Outside of the Centre, mobile phones must be switched off and stored in a bag or locker.  The phone will be confiscated if it is used during the school day outside the Centre, without the permission of a member of staff.

Electronic communications

Pupils must not post negative comments about the school or school staff on the internet, and must not send derogatory texts, emails, or electronic messages or engage in any form of cyberbullying. Photographs of pupils must not be circulated electronically.

Failure to comply with this could result in exclusion.

Academic

All pupils should complete work to the best of their ability and on time.  If a problem meeting a deadline is an issue it should be discussed with the teacher concerned before the work is due.

Pupils must avoid copying or any other form of plagiarism as it subverts the assessment process, is a breach of academic and personal integrity and undermines the standards and reputation of the school.

It is the pupil’s responsibility to ensure that all appropriate and necessary equipment is taken to each lesson.

Damage and Loss

Pupils will be held responsible for any damage they cause to school property.  The school reserves the right to charge collectively for any damage done by a group of pupils irrespective of each individual’s contribution to that damage.

It is expected that valuables remain at home rather than be brought into school.  If there are unusual circumstances where valuables need to be brought into school, these should be deposited with the class teacher or tutor for safekeeping.  The school cannot be held accountable for any valuables lost or mislaid.

Uniform

Sixth Form:  Sixth Form pupils follow an alternative dress code to the rest of the school and concerning the use of make-up. Further information may be found in the sixth form handbook link below.

There are clear expectations of student appearance while in school or on school-related activities elsewhere.  Directly students, by their appearance, are representing the ethos of the institution.  The uniform details and policy for the school can be found on this link (click here).

Pupils should always be dressed smartly and according to the uniform policy, this includes journeying to and from school, between lessons, for assemblies, and during breaks and lunchtimes.

A school or sports uniform is an essential part of being a Sherfield pupil, and it is a visible representation of the values held by the institution.  As such all pupils should ensure that they conform to the guidelines and take pride in representing everything for which the school stands.

You can view the uniform handbook here.

Jewellery

All pupils from Year 5 may wear watches and plain metal stud earrings. No other jewellery is allowed to be worn.

Hair

Hair must be neat and tidy.

Long hair should be tied back for practical lessons (e.g. Technology, Science, P.E.) with navy or black hair ties.

Shoes

Shoes must be clean, black and of traditional design: no ballet shoes; flat up to Year 6; raised up to 2cm from Year 7. Traditional navy or black school sandals and white socks may be worn with the school summer dress. Only navy tights or school socks must be worn up to the end of Year 11.

Make-Up

Make-up should be discreet, if required, and not cause comment. Excessive makeup will result in being asked to remove it. Nail varnish is not permitted in school.

All UK schools are bound within the legal framework of national safeguarding legislation, and this imposes very strict guidelines and obligations upon schools.

Sherfield School has strong safeguarding protocols and a team of designated trained safeguarding support teachers.  Safeguarding officers are identified on posters around the school and by their orange lanyards. 

At Sherfield, the lead safeguarding officer (Designated Safeguarding Lead, or DSL) holds the senior position of Deputy Head Pastoral and oversees the safeguarding and well-being of pupils throughout the school and closely monitors the school’s reporting system.  Any concerns or issues may be reported directly to a safeguarding officer by any member of the Sherfield community.

Anti-social behaviour

Sherfield is committed to providing a caring, friendly, and safe environment for all our pupils and staff members and will not tolerate any form of intimidation; bullying of any kind is unacceptable.

The school defines bullying as ‘physical and/or verbal assaults on others, or behaviour which is deliberately hurtful’.  It is not uncommon for those who resort to bullying behaviour bullies to excuse such behaviour as ‘banter’ or as ‘making a joke’ or ‘having fun’.  From a school perspective it is the harm caused that defines when bullying occurs.

If harm does occur, pupils should be able to tell someone (a trusted adult) and feel safe to do so. This means that anyone who knows or feels that bullying is happening is expected to tell a member of staff.

Intimidating, bullying behaviour includes, though is not limited to, each of the following:

• Emotional: being unfriendly, excluding, encouraging others to exclude, tormenting (deliberately hurtful).
• Physical: any use of intimidation that involves force over another, or physical hurt.
• Racial: comments, taunts, graffiti, or gestures; attempts to exclude or denigrate.
• Sexual: unwanted physical contact or comments relating to sexuality; comments relating to the physical or emotional characteristics of a person.
• Verbal: name-calling, the spreading of rumours, sarcasm or teasing.
• Technological: using online and social network applications to humiliate or threaten another person; online intrusion.

All reports of bullying will be investigated, and sanctions may ultimately include fixed-term or permanent exclusion.  However, in most, if not all cases, those who have bullied others are also in need of help and support, and every effort will be made by the school staff for restorative action and reconciliation.

A written record of proven incidents of bullying will be kept in the School Pupil Database.  In all matters of bullying, parents will be informed and required to discuss the matter.

At Sherfield we have a dedicated Health Centre staffed by two fully qualified paediatric nurses and includes a treatment room and a bedroom where pupils can rest when unwell during the school day before collection by parents if needed or before returning to the boarding house if a boarder.

The Health Centre is open from Monday to Friday 0800-1630 and handover for boarding pupils with the boarding house staff occurs each day in the morning and evening to ensure consistency of care. If a boarder is unwell, they will be cared for in the boarding house by the houseparent on duty, who are all first aid trained, in consultation with the school nurses. Boarding pupils are registered with our local GP surgery and
accompanied to all appointments by a houseparent or nurse.

The School Nurses provide first aid for minor injuries and care for childhood illnesses, they also ensure children who have a temporary or long-term condition have their medical and support needs met through care planning and staff training.

Emotional Health and Wellbeing is important to the whole school environment and the Lead Nurse is also trained as a Youth Mental Health First Aider. The School Nurses pride themselves in having a warm and friendly department where pupils who may need some emotional support can come to when they need to. She works closely with parents in these situations and external agencies if applicable.

Our School Nurses and Head of RSE support our health education programme which covers a range of topics including preparing for adolescence and adult life, drugs, alcohol and smoking. You will be informed of the contents of the sex education module and may withdraw your child from this if you so wish. Such requests must be put in writing to the Head of School.

Health-related policies are provided on registration and are accessible on the school website.

Your child’s key worker, class teacher or tutor should always be the first point of contact. If they are unable to answer any questions, they will forward your query to the appropriate person.

We employ various methods of communication about your child’s progress and the events that are happening within the school. If you feel there is something else you would like to receive information about, please contact your child’s tutor or class teacher.

In our iSAMS Parent Portal/ iParent App you can find your child's timetable, reports, achievement points, attendance and exam timetable. You can also find quick links to some of the tools below including our school calendar, after-school club booking, sports and fixtures, parents' evening bookings, ParentMail and make absence requests.

Click here to view our Term Dates.

SOCS

Pupils, parents and staff can access the calendar, fixtures and extra-curricular activities in one place. You can also sign up for clubs and enrichments here. Additionally, it offers live updates, so if fixtures or clubs are cancelled you can immediately see this.                                                                       

In the calendar, you can view events and fixtures as a list or grid, weekly or monthly view. You can also filter the calendar by phase e.g. Seniors; categories e.g. Careers and sports fixtures e.g. Cricket. You can also sync the calendar to your default calendar app if you would find that useful. On the Sports landing page, you can view all the upcoming fixtures and results.

School Cloud

This is our parents’ evening and event booking system. 

ParentMail

We use ParentMail to send out notices, information, invites to events and forms to complete including ticket requests for events. These emails should come directly to your email address. You can also log in to the app or desktop site to see all the messages and forms sent using ParentMail.

Tapestry/Seesaw

These platforms are used to share information and pictures of what your child has done at school from Nursery to Year 6.

Weekly Round-Up Emails from tutors/teachers

Those parents of pupils in Reception to Year 8 will receive a weekly summary email from the class teachers and tutors which highlights any notices, celebrations and diary dates.

Parent Liaison WhatsApp Groups

Each year group or class has a ‘parent liaison’ who manages a WhatsApp group chat. These are used as a communication tool to send messages from our Friends of Sherfield parent association to parents.

For more information on how to be added to one of these groups, if you’re not already, please email hmpa@sherfieldschool.co.uk

Weekly Newsletter

An email which goes out every Friday, during term-time, which includes a summary of any news, notices and events, recent achievements, calendar dates and fixtures for the following week and house points.

We use our newsletter and website to highlight our pupils’ outstanding achievements both inside and out of school, therefore if you have any news stories and photographs, please share with your teacher/tutor who will be happy to pass them to our Marketing team.

Compliments and Complaints
We very much value your opinions and like to hear of compliments as well as any concerns you may have. Should you have a concern which you consider to be urgent, please contact main reception immediately and you will be directed to the appropriate member of staff. Our complaints policy is published on our website.

Keeping Us Informed of Your Details
The school must have up-to-date records at all times. We send out an annual contact information sheet to ensure we have your correct details and ask that this is returned prior to the start of each new academic year.

Please keep us informed of all current personal details, i.e. address, telephone contact numbers or any other information which you feel may be relevant to us. Please ensure this information is sent to us in writing or is updated via the Parent Portal. It is also essential that the school is aware of any allergies or medical problems concerning your child. Information should be directed to the school nurses, who will ensure that the form tutor and any other staff who need to know are properly informed.

Parent Consultations
Parental consultations are held twice a year to discuss your child’s progress and are detailed in the school calendar. You will be invited to book a time to see the staff relevant to your child via the online booking system (School Cloud).

Emergency Closure Arrangements

If it is necessary to close the school early (for example due to a power cut or severe weather conditions), every effort will be made to advise all parents of the decision before closure via email, text, the parent portal and the school website. Pupils will not be released from school without contacting you.

What specification of device does my child need?

The information below explains the requirements for a device to use in school and can be used as a reference if you are wishing to buy a device. Not all devices are suitable for various reasons and some will not work on our wireless network.

Therefore, we recommend the following minimum specifications:

• Battery length should be at least 6.5 hours.
• Screen size should be 7 inches or larger, preferably at least 11 inches.
• Recommend 8GB RAM or higher.
• The device must be durable, and it should be noted that we strongly recommend that it is covered on your home insurance/other insurance. The school will take no responsibility for any damage or loss that occurs on site or any repairs that are required. We require that the device is kept in a protective case unless in use as directed by a teacher.
• Only WiFi-enabled devices should be used in lessons and students will be expected to connect to the internet via the school network.
• 3G, 4G or 5G packages that can be bundled with a device should be avoided in order to ensure students use the filtered connection provided by the school.
• The device should be installed with Google Chrome and able to use the following Chrome Applications:
  • Google Suite (Docs, Slides, Sheets)
  • Google Drive
  • Google Classroom
• In addition to the Google application suite, we recommend the following applications are installed on the device:
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Anti-virus software if a PC or Mac is used (free or paid)
• Work will primarily be delivered using Google Suite.
• Linux devices are not permitted in school.
• Please note that tablets are not suitable for the school environment.

School Fees

Main school fees are due on, or before, the end of the first day of term. 
Any additional expenses which are charged, such as after-school clubs, teas, trips etc, are billed in advance.
If you have a query with your invoice, in the first instance you should contact the Finance Team.

Examination Fees
Unless the school is instructed otherwise, the school will enter pupils for those examinations appropriate to their course of studies and progress and bill for these accordingly. Details of examination fees are available from the Finance Team.

Insurance
Please make your own insurance arrangements if you require cover for your child’s personal property whilst at school. Your child is included in an obligatory personal accident insurance scheme, the charge for which is included in the fees.

Work Experience Fees
All pupils from Year 10 have the opportunity to take part in our work experience programme and as such placements have to undergo checks to ensure they meet the current legislation in the workplace. There is an administration charge for this and it will be added to your invoice.

Terms of Notice

From Pre-Reception to Year 12. If you wish to withdraw your child from Sherfield School (or reduce your child's sessions in Pre-Reception) you must give one full term's notice, in writing. A term’s fees in lieu of notice are charged if notice is not given. For more information please see our Terms and Conditions.

Friends of Sherfield (FOS) is an integral part of the school community. FOS has raised thousands of pounds for equipment and resources to enhance our children’s educational experience, the school’s facilities, and for the charities chosen by the parents. However, FOS is about much more than simply fundraising.

FOS exists to provide closer links and communication between home and school, via Parent Liaisons for each year group/class. It is an excellent way to bring staff, parents and friends together socially in support of the school, working towards a common goal.

It is fun too - just ask any of the Committee members or FOS helpers - and with the continued support of parents and staff, FOS continues to succeed in its efforts.

We encourage parents and members of the school community to get involved, even if they only have a small amount of time available. Full membership is open to all parents and guardians of children enrolled at the school.

FOS is extremely conscious of the ethos and diversity of the school, and tries very hard when organising and planning events to respect this. Not all of our events are run as fundraisers. FOS also helps at events, such as Sports Day and the Firework Spectacular to name but a few, with the aim of giving the children a good time and as a way of thanking families for their continued support to FOS. Other events organised over the years have included Charity Balls, Quiz Nights, Christmas Markets, Pamper Evenings, Family Fun
days, plus various coffee and cake mornings.

If you want to know more about FOS contact us via main reception or connect to our Facebook group.

Please click on the links below to view the handbooks:

Early Years Centre Handbook

Pre-Reception and Reception Handbook

Junior Prep (Year 1 to Year 4) Handbook

Senior Prep (Year 5 to Year 8) Handbook

Senior (Year 9 to Year 11) Handbook

Sixth Form (Year 12 and Year 13) Handbook

Boarding Handbook

If you have a query that is not answered below or in the handbooks please contact the school Main Reception on +44 (0) 1256 884 800

Lunch Menus

Uniform Lists

Calendar

Sports Fixtures

Term Dates

Staff List

Policies

Virtual Tour