Shebbear College

Since 2022, Charlie Jenkins BA PGCE, previously senior deputy head. Educated at Bedford School on a bursary – ‘it was reviewed every year so I had to make sure I kept my nose to the grindstone,’ he says. ‘I couldn’t have gone there without it.’ After

New nursery opening in 2025 means the school will cater for ages 3 to 18. Non-selective throughout the prep and senior school. Rather than offering places based on an entrance exam the school assesses ‘the levels and merits’ of the individual child.

A handful leave at the end of year 6, usually for financial or relocation reasons. Post GCSE, around 50 to 60 per cent leave, often attracted by vocational qualifications, agricultural college and/or ‘the bright lights of Exeter College’. North Devon

In 2025, 25 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 25 per cent 9-7 at A*/A at A level (45 per cent A*-B).

Most take nine GCSEs, including a language (French or Spanish) and either three separate sciences or combined science. The school has an impressive track record of helping children of all talents and abilities to flourish. We were told of a youngster

Base testing for all when they arrive. Learning support team caters for dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD and autism, mostly one-to-one lessons with head of personalised learning and two learning support assistants. Five pupils on EHCPs at the time of our

The school is known for its creative and performing arts and recent productions of Les Misérables and The Lion King were sell-outs. No theatre but the Memorial Hall does nicely. When we visited, a year 9 and 10 drama class was improvising; they were

All the traditional sports are played here – football (boys and girls), rugby, netball, hockey, cricket (boys and girls) and athletics. Good facilities – sports centre, gym, dance studio and acres of playing fields, but no pool (the school uses the

Youngsters can board from the age of 8 but at the time of our visit there weren’t any prep boarders. Currently 45 boarders – a third from the UK, two-thirds international (from France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, Jamaica and the

Founded in 1841, Shebbear – fondly known as Sheb or Shebby – is one of the oldest schools in Devon. Originally launched as Prospect College by Bible Christians in 1829, it was re-founded by the Bible Christian Church as Shebbear College more than a

Behaviour is very good on the whole – a bit of silly behaviour by boys in the aftermath of the pandemic but ‘practically zero’ alcohol and smoking. The school clamps down hard on vaping. ‘We recently sent a letter to parents, trying to educate them

A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.

Day pupils mostly live up to an hour or so away. Many are from Bideford, Bude, Barnstaple and Okehampton, ferried in by a local coach company and school minibuses (subsidised by the school). Quite a few youngsters join Shebbear from the state sector

A range of scholarships offered at year 7, year 9 and lower sixth (academic, art, music, sport, drama and performing arts), plus some means-tested bursaries, sibling discounts and allowances for old Shebbearians, families living in Shebbear and

A small, nurturing school that engenders huge loyalty from pupils and staff and where everyone knows everyone. Its remote setting in the wilds of North Devon is exceptional and it does a great job of catering for all abilities – from the gifted and