Continuity of Education Allowance & Boarding Fees
All the Schools within the Sherborne Schools Group deeply value our military community and we are determined to support them. There are over 70 pupils attending our schools who are from military families, and they form a crucial part of our community.
We recognise that the recent imposition of VAT on school fees together with the associated changes to the Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) have made it increasingly challenging for serving parents to afford our schools. In recognition of this, and to remain consistent with our strong historical support for military parents, the Governors have decided to change the basis on which the CEA discount will be applied.
From September 2025, the total amount payable for CEA funded pupils will be the CEA allowance plus 10% of the prevailing (full) boarding fee (inclusive of VAT).
This replaces all other discounts/remittances previously applied including those associated with a Scholarship/Exhibition, which will become Honorary awards enabling recipients to access all the other benefits of being an award holder, for example, free music lessons or bespoke strength and conditioning. Extras will also be applied in the usual way. This policy will be subject to review and dependent on future adjustments to CEA.
In addition to the fee structures there are many ways that, as a Group, we demonstrate our commitment to the military community. We believe that your sons and daughters thrive at our schools precisely because of our enduring and explicit commitment to values such as service and loyalty together with our clear desire to maximise the potential, in whatever shape it comes, in your children. We intend to keep it that way.
Please contact the Admissions team on 01935 810403 or email [email protected] to discuss any aspect of the admissions process and/or with questions relating to this fee policy.
Boarding School allows a sense of place
With both parents in the Army, ‘home’ has changed frequently. In the four years since I joined
Sherborne, I have lived in four different houses in three different countries. During my GCSE year alone, I moved house (and country) each term: Christmas Term – UK, Easter Term – Italy; Summer Term – Germany.
While my family has moved across Europe, Sherborne has been a constant. Full boarding has meant that my educational experience has been un-interrupted by moves that might otherwise have severely disrupted my progress. As an overseas boarder, full-boarding Sherborne is perfect as everyone is ‘in’ on the weekends thus there is a fantastic communal atmosphere and despite living a great distance away I feel that I do not miss out on not having my family nearby. It is great also not to be in an Army environment all the time.
As an all-boys school, the link with the nearby Sherborne Girls gives balance and allows me to see my sister while simultaneously giving us distance (so that I do not need to see my sister!). Sherborne’s proximity to the train line is also great as it allows me to commute to London and gives access to airports, allowing me to travel to and from Heathrow and Gatwick with ease when travelling home.
Caspar B - Sixth Form at Sherborne School