2015 / 16

We are very proud of our school, which attracts students from around North and West Dorsetas well as South Somerset. The School became an academy on 1 August 2012. We are aChurch of England School, but as the secondary school for all children, our religious characteris highly inclusive, embracing those of all faiths and of no faith. Students thrive and succeedin a positive, caring and respectful atmosphere.

Our special culture and ethos focuson high achievement bothpersonally and academically. Thiscomes from the tremendous work ofall our staff and of our students. Westrive to be outstanding in allrespects – this includes continuallyimproving the opportunities for thestudents, the ways of learning andthe facilities.

The Gryphon gains high results forits students at both GCSE and ALevel. Our large Sixth Form of 450students is exceptional. We have anexcellent record of success inuniversity entrance, including placesat Oxford, Cambridge and otherRussell Group universities, as well asfor training places andapprenticeships.

I want learning to be enjoyable butthere is no substitute forcommitment, attention to detail andhard work. We assist thedevelopment of students’ personalattributes such as communication,team working and a strong workethic through the deep care andsupport we provide. I am a strongbeliever in everyday manners –saying please and thank you,thinking of others and being positiveand ambitious. The aim is for a senseof family and belonging, in a largeschool with so many opportunities.Our goal is to see every studentsucceed within that family and wework constantly to ensure studentsthrive in sports, the arts, drama,music, vocational and academicsubjects.

We are the local community school,are outward looking and haveexcellent community links. We havestrong relationships with other goodand outstanding schools across theSouth West and throughout thecountry.

Students here fulfil their potentialand more, are prepared for life afterschool and receive the standard ofsupport and care expected of a high-performing school. Our studentsleave us with the potential to workanywhere in the world and wefollow their successes with pride.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Steve Hillier, Headteacher

Wel

com

e‘Super much sought-after school atthe very centre of its communitytaking on the Sherborneindependents. Truly a model ofcomprehensive education at itsbest – a place for all comers, whichchildren and parents set their hearton, so it bulges at the seams.’ 

The Good Schools Guide2013

At The Gryphon School, we teach a wide range of subjects from the moment a

student joins in Year 7. Our pupils have a comprehensive choice of subjects

for GCSE and for A Level and we also offer a number of BTEC courses. Gifted

and talented students benefit from a diverse range of extension teaching and

activities. Students requiring learning support are assisted, both in the

classroom and in the dedicated Student and Family Guidance Centre, by one of

the best teams in the country.

Our school policies, including those related to special educational needs, the

admission of pupils and disability access can be found on the school website. Su‘The curriculum, advice and guidance leadsto high levels of achievement and excellentbehaviour.’

Ofsted 2014

bjectsArt and Design / Biology / Business Studies Catering / Classics (Ancient History) / Chemistry / Computing (Computer Science, ICT and Digital Literacy)

Cope (Certificate of Personal Effectiveness)

Dance / Drama / EconomicsEnglish LanguageEnglish Literature / French / Geography / German

Health and Social Care / HistoryICT / Latin / Law / Food Technology / Media Studies / Music / Photography / Physical Education

Physics / Product Design

MathematicsPsychology / Religious Education / Resistant Materials Spanish / Sport / Study Plus Programme (English and Maths)Textiles / Vocational Studies / Science – Additional, Core

Our pastoral care is second to none. Each

year group has a team of people who are

always available to solve problems and to

give encouragement and help. The team is

led by a Head of Year and Learning Support

Manager. Every pupil in the school has a

designated Tutor who sees them at least

twice a day, knows them well and gives

constant support. Tutors will, wherever

possible, stay with their Tutor Group from

Year 7 through to Year 11. This system helps

students develop good relationships with

teachers and with fellow pupils.

‘Students are exceptionally well behaved and feel very safe’

Ofsted 2014

As a school we ensure that every childfeels safe whilst they are with us.Students who feel happy and safe learneffectively and get the best they can outof school life. The School Council runs an‘I Am Me’ campaign to help promote a safeschool environment. All students receivePersonal, Social, Health and EconomicEducation (PSHEE) which helps equipthem with a sound understanding of riskunderpinned by the knowledge and skillsnecessary to make safe and informeddecisions. Our ‘Student Voice’ groupsensure senior staff regularly give studentsthe opportunity to have their say.

Rewards play a major part in school lifebecause we want to acknowledge goodbehaviour. Rewards for achievements,attitude and contributions to the schooland the wider community include stickers,commendations, Good News Postcardsand letters home and our annualCelebration of Achievement Ceremonies.

We have excellent links to local primaryschools and all new pupils have extrasupport settling into their new school.

Our Student and Family Guidance Centre(SFGC) is available to all students andtheir families. The school has its ownChaplain who offers a listening ear,pastoral care and prayer for the whole ofthe Gryphon community. We also have anAttendance Officer who provides supportto families and students to make sure allstudents have excellent attendance. C

are

and

Supp

ort

FacilitiesTHE GRYPHON SCHOOL HAS SuPERB FACILITIESACROSS OuR CAMPuS AND WE CONSTANTLYMONITOR THEM SO THEY ARE uPDATED ANDIMPROVED WHEN NECESSARY.

• All classrooms fitted with interactive whiteboards and

multi-media facilities

• Art studios

• Bistro – a training restaurant and kitchen

• café@Gryphon, our spacious dining room, and The

Pod, an additional food outlet in one of our quads

• Careers Centre

• Conference Centre and meeting room

• Design and Technology Workshops

• Drama Studios

• ICT rooms with over 650 computers for student use

• Library/Learning Resources Centre

• iMac Photography Suite

• iPads (the School has over a hundred iPads available

for use in lessons)

• Music Rooms and Recording Studio – Mac computers

with Logic9, Sibelius and Garageband software

• Pottery Kiln

• Science Laboratories

• Sports Facilities include: athletics track (summer

only), artificial turf pitch for hockey and football,

dance studio, dedicated Sports Studies’ computer

room, extensive sports pitches, a state of the art

fitness suite, a large sports hall, tennis and netball

courts

• Remote access to ICT facilities from home

• Sixth Form Common Room and designated study area

• Student and Family Guidance Centre with specialist

support zones

• Therapy Room

• Virtual Learning Environment (accessible from home)

• WiFi throughout the school

‘There is a clear sense that the whole school community

is working together towards the same aims’.

Ofsted 2014

Academic studies at The GryphonSchool are enhanced by the many andvaried opportunities, beyond thecurriculum, available to our students.We believe these are a vital part of astudent’s education and help developthe self-confidence needed tosucceed in the future. There arestudy visits in all year groups, fromthe very successful team-building tripto Carey Camp for all Year 7s in theirfirst term, to visits to the Houses ofParliament for all Year 9s. School tripsalso include theatre visits, the annualMusic Department InternationalSummer Tour, a skiing trip, theHistory trips to Italy and China, the REtrip to India, Sixth Form trips to Japanand Rwanda and language trips toGermany, France and Spain.

Our students can take part in theDuke of Edinburgh scheme and allstudents spend time raising moneyfor charities. This is a RightsRespecting School and throughstudying the Rights RespectingCharter, our students learn aboutchildren less fortunate thanthemselves, many of whom still haveto fight for their basic rights and fortheir education.

Ambitious drama productions are puton regularly, many of which arejointly produced with the MusicDepartment, such as our verysuccessful production of Rodgers andHammerstein’s South Pacific. Wealso compete successfully in RockChallenge uK - a series of performingarts events which promotes healthylife choices.

Our Music Department is very activein the community, giving concertsthroughout the area and as far awayas the Albert Hall. Students all havethe opportunity to join choirs, the BigBand and various music ensembles.music lessons are also available.

We run Maths Challenges throughoutthe school to extend our students andhave lunchtime and after schoolclubs covering many interests fromChess to Wildlife. We have anexcellent sporting record and sportsclubs include athletics, badminton,basketball, cricket, football, hockey,netball, rounders, rugby and tennis.These extra-curricular activities areadded to all the time, often as theresult of student initiatives. A full listcan be found on our website.

Beyo

nd th

e C

urri

culu

m Study Visits and Trips / Carey Camp / India

Japan / Rome / Rwanda / GermanyFrance / Spain / Skiing / Dorset CoastSherborne Castle / Wells Cathedral / International Music Tour

Duke of Edinburgh Scheme / Maths Challenges / Theatre Visits

FUNDRAISING FOR CHARITY / RIGHTS RESPECTING SCHOOL

Drama Productions / South Pacific / Rock ChallengeConcerts / Choir / Big Band / Recorder Ensemble

String Ensemble / Guitar Ensemble Woodwind Ensemble / Music Lessons / Lunchtime and After

School Clubs / AthleticsFootball / Basketball / Cricket / Hockey / Netball

Rounders / Rugby / TennisICT Club / Wargaming ClubKnitting / Film Club / Boys’ Barbershop

HOMEWORK CLUB

‘Students have numerous opportunities

to participate in extra-curricular activities.’

Ofsted 2014

The Gryphon School is proud of its links with parents and the wider community. These links, whichinclude close ones with other local and national schools, bring extra learning opportunities to ourstudents.

We welcome visits fromparents and carers. As well asformal Parents’ Evenings todiscuss students’ work we runmore informal forums likethose on ‘Study Skills’ to helpyou help your child. If youhave any concerns you arealways encouraged to contactus.

We have a thriving ParentTeacher Association (PTA),which regularly runs socialevents and informationevenings at the school.

We have a full time CommunityDevelopment Manager basedwithin the school to promoteand establish new communitylinks. The Gryphon Schoolencourages local communitiesto use the facilities on TheGryphon School site and weare committed to an ongoingprocess of strengthening anddeveloping our links with thewider community.

Our ‘Jobshop’ and ‘Career Café’exist for students to find outmore about the world of work.

Former Gryphon students oftenreturn to school to talk abouttheir careers and are aninspiration to our currentstudents. Local businesspeople join us at our annualBusiness and Enterprise Dayand many are available to helpadvise our students.

Some of our students act asYouth Advisors to the TownCouncil and many are closelyinvolved in local communityprojects such as ‘Sherborne inBloom’.

As a Church of England schoolwe are lucky to have our ownChaplain, the Reverend DianeTregale. Diane, who conductsour regular Acts of Worship, isalways available to supportstudents, staff and parents whowould like her advice and help.

Com

mun

ity

‘Students are strongly involved inlooking at issues beyond their ownlocality and encouraged toconsider the lives of others.’

Ofsted 2014

FAQS‘T

here

is a

str

ong

etho

s of

str

ivin

g fo

r exc

elle

nce,

cou

pled

wit

h a

conc

ern

for t

he w

ell-

bein

g of

eve

ry in

divi

dual

in th

e sc

hool

.’

Ofs

ted

2014

FAQSTRANSPORTSeveral school bus services operate from the surroundingarea. Please contact the Bursary for details. For thosestudents brought to school, there is a dedicated dropoff/pick up area and, for those who walk, a designatedcrossing patrol. Students have the use of bike racks and mayalso obtain a parking permit for cars and motorcycles.

uNIFORMSchool uniform can be obtained from Sporting Classics inSherborne (01935 812232) and consists of a navysweatshirt and white polo shirt, both with the schoolemblem, and black trousers (and/or skirt for girls), socks andshoes. Sports kit must include the School navy blue with redstripe reversible rugby/hockey shirt and navy shorts ortracksuit trousers.

SAFETY• Strict discipline and attendance requirements apply to

all students

• Emergency contact and medical information is regularlychecked

• Mobile phones should not be used in school

• The School has full CCTV coverage for added security

Parents are encouraged to seek advice on any issue aboutwhich they are concerned or unclear.

DININGReasonably priced healthy snacks and lunches are preparedand cooked on the premises by an in-house catering team.These are available during the morning and at lunchtime.

THE LRCThe large Learning Resources Centre has a huge selection ofbooks, online journals and e-books, a stationery shop,photocopying facilities, computers, and areas for quietstudy. The library catalogue is available on all mobiledevices and computers.

The Gryphon School prides itself on its academic excellence and we constantly strive to ensure our students fulfil their potential

Overall attainment is very high and our results are amongst the best in the county, both at GCSEand at A Level. Our students also achieve excellent results in vocational subjects. The

proportion of students achieving A* or A grades at GCSE is well above national averages.Around 70% of Gryphon students will stay on into our Sixth Form to take A levels and ourA level results are also outstanding.

Accordingly our students aspire to top universities, with over 95% usually securinga place at the university of their choice including offers from the universities ofOxford and Cambridge and from other highly competitive Russell Group universities.Our students also secure places on further training courses and go on to much sought

after apprenticeships. Every grade matters to us and we celebrate the amazingachievements of all our students. For details for current results please see our website.

www.gryphon.dorset.sch.uk

The Gryphon School prides itself on its academic excellence and we constantly strive to ensure our students fulfil their potential

‘The proportion of Studentsachieving A* or A Grades at GCSE is well above the national average.’

Ofsted 2014

FROM YEARS 7 – 11, STuDENTSare guided to make the most oftheir abilities and interests; toachieve their personal best in allthat the school offers. As part ofthis process, a rewards systemboth recognises achievementsand encourages students to aimhigher. The most outstandingwork is recognised by theHeadteacher in one-to-onecelebration of success meetings.

From Year 7, Personal, Social,Health and Economic Education(PSHEE) helps students start tothink about their future plans.The process becomes moreformalised in Year 9 Citizenshiplessons. Here, options for Year 10

and 11 study and formalexamination and assessment areconsidered. During Year 9,subject taster lessons can betried by students, whilstparents/carers have a dedicatedoptions information evening. Atthis stage, many students willalso be considering what theymay wish to do after Year 11. OurCareers Manager is in school toassist in this thought andplanning process. We alsoarrange valuable workexperience opportunities.

The majority of our studentschoose to stay on at The GryphonSixth Form to continue theirstudies beyond Year 11, mostlyfor two years, but some for justone. Many students from otherlocal schools also successfullyapply to join our Sixth Form eachyear and, of course, some Year 11students head off to otherestablishments or employmentas they wish. An application formis available from the school forthose who wish to join. Extensivepreparation for the transitionfrom Year 11 to Year 12 includesan induction day towards the endof the summer term and adedicated parent evening.

Our large and vibrant Sixth Formis very popular and successful.Places are offered depending onGCSE results and an individualinterview, itself based on thecompleted application form. TheSixth Form continues to thriveand offer a broad range ofsubjects from Classics toEconomics, from Law to

Psychology, alongside theacademic and vocational subjectsoffered in the lower school.

From Sixth Form, most studentsapply to universities to continuetheir studies, but whatever anindividual student chooses, theirTutor and Head of Year willcontinue to support them toachieve this goal. The full SixthForm experience is detailed onour website.

Achievements throughout theschool are celebrated annuallywith a prize-giving ceremonyheld in Sherborne Abbey or at theschool.

‘The Sixth Form is outstanding.’

Ofsted 2014

For further information, please see our website

www.gryphon.dorset.sch.uk

All information correct at the time of publishing - Please see the website for full and current information

The Gryphon School is a company limited by guaranteeRegistered in England with Company Number 08130468

If you would like to visit the School, please come along to one of our open days or contact us to arrange an individual visit.

All admissions are handled by Dorset County Council. For full information on the applications process and to apply for a place at The Gryphon School, visit www.dorsetforyou.com or call 01305 228509.

The Gryphon SchoolBristol Road, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 4EQT: 01935 813122 E: office@gryphon.dorset.sch.uk

Des

igne

d an

d Pr

inte

d by

She

lleys

The

Pri

nter

s 01

935

8153

64

Invitation

STu

DYI

NG

IN S

HER

BORN

E: S

ERV

ING

DO

RSET

AN

D S

OM

ERSE

T ‘Happy, fulfilled and self-confident students’

‘Hig

h A

chie

ving

’

‘Inspiring and innovative’

‘CELEBRATING SuCCESS’

‘Many and varied opportunities’

‘Inclusive, supportive and caring’

‘We change lives’

‘LEADING EDGETECHNOLOGY’

1,650 students

450 Sixth Form students

260 staff

70+ Teaching Bases