Thank you for your interest in joining us here at the Sherborne Schools Group in beautiful Dorset. The current construct of the Group came into being last summer following the merger of the Sherborne School and Sherborne Girls School Groups, which brought the Sherborne Boys, Sherborne Girls, Sherborne Prep and Hanford schools into a single structure. In so doing, we created a business with a turnover of nearly £55m, approximately 1300 pupils and nearly 1000 staff. Whilst the Group might have its roots as far back as the 16th Century, its ambition most definitely looks to the future. Further, the rapid evolution of the financial model for independent schools has required us to transform the way we operate – at Sherborne we see this as an opportunity as much as a challenge.
Our educative ambitions are underpinned and supported by an outstanding Professional Services team. The Group Finance Director will play a key role in both helping the Group optimise the resources it has at its disposal as well as building the long-term financial resilience required to ensure that the schools can continue to invest in their its infrastructure and people to ensure they continue to be held in high regard for many years to come. Whatever background/environment you might currently be working in, most important for us in identifying the right individual for this role will be the balance you bring between the financial and commercial acumen/experience you would bring with your enthusiasm and passion for the goals and ambitions of the Group.
We do hope the opportunity excites you; if it doesn’t, then this is not the right role for you. Like all senior roles, amongst the routine, it comes with the exciting and challenging opportunity to make a genuine, positive difference that we believe will transform the educative experience of our pupils for years to come. We are looking for someone with the vision and expertise to take us on the next stage of our journey, to enable us to continue as a well-renowned set of schools for more centuries to come.
If you have the skills, leadership and wider qualities we are looking for and, in return, you believe that the Group can provide the next role that you have been looking for, then we would love to explore the opportunity further with you.
With very best wishes
In July 2024, the two charitable trusts that own Sherborne Boys, Sherborne Girls, Sherborne Prep and Hanford, formally merged into one charity called the Sherborne Schools Group – a unique and exciting educational opportunity in the UK for girls and boys aged 3-19.
This merged Group includes Sherborne Schools Worldwide, a joint venture set up by Sherborne Boys and Sherborne Girls in 2017 to establish Sherborne-branded schools around the world.
Already enjoying established and wide-ranging links, many families choose Sherborne Prep or Hanford for their children before they progress onto Sherborne Boys or Sherborne Girls. However, both junior schools continue to prepare pupils for entry and scholarship to a wide range of senior schools.
For many years, Sherborne Boys and Sherborne Girls have benefitted from a close relationship, underpinned by shared values, a Christian foundation and a commitment to full boarding. The senior schools’ unique collaboration, known as ‘Separate Yet Together,’ is distinctive and offers pupils all the advantages of a single-sex education alongside the benefits of co-education.
Holidays: 5 weeks holiday per year + Bank Holidays. Attendance will be required on Bank Holidays that fall during term time, for which time off in lieu will be given. Holiday only to be taken following prior authorisation from the Chief Operating Officer (COO), taking into account busy periods.
Pension: The postholder will be able to join the Group’s Support Staff Pension Scheme on the first day of the month after completion of two months service. Where eligible the postholder will be auto enrolled into the Pension Scheme as per current legislation; further details may be obtained from the Director of Human Resources (Bursary).
Probationary Period: In accordance with School policy, all appointments are subject to a six-month probationary period.
Medical Self Declaration: The offer of appointment at Sherborne School will be conditional upon the provision of a self-declaration of physical and mental fitness to discharge the responsibilities of the role.
DBS Disclosure/Police Check/References: As the Sherborne Schools Group is registered to ask ‘exempted questions’ under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, successful applicants will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings; further details are available upon request. This post is also subject to receipt of two satisfactory written references, one of which must be your current/last employer.
Postholder’s Responsibility: You share with all staff the responsibility to promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people for whom you are responsible, or with whom you come into contact. In doing so, you are expected at all times to adhere to and ensure compliance with the School’s Child Protection Policy Statement. If you become aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the School, you must report any concerns to the School’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (Child Protection Officers).
Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to Sherborne Schools Group, an executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.
The closing date for applications is noon on Friday 23 May 2025.
Applications should consist of:
Should you wish to discuss further details about the role in strict confidence, please contact Samantha Bryan-Ross at samantha.bryan-ross@andersonquigley.com or +44 (0)7510 384 713 or Hayley Mintern at hayley.mintern@andersonquigley.com or +44 (0)7596 954 387.
www.sherborneschools.org 
