slc1.gif (1390 bytes) Sherborne Learning Centre
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The Sherborne Learning Centre is located in the former Sherborne County Primary School which became vacant when the County Primary School moved to new premises in 1998. The old school was built in 1910 to meet the needgroup.jpg (9794 bytes)s of the expanding town of Sherborne.

The Centre is developing as a multi-agency community facility working with the community offering a wide range of opportunities in continuing Life-Long Learning. A sense of Community ownership is being created by involving the public in choosing the activities of the Centre and contrewan3.jpg (2409 bytes)ibuting their enthusiasm and energy to it's development. It aims to break down the barriers of age, gender and background and to offer everyone life-enhancing experiences and opportunities in a safe and happy environment.

Already the Centre offers a wide range of activities including
  • adult education, including an IT suite
  • an after-school fun club
  • courses, workshops and seminars on art run by the Arts Link group
  • homeworking groups
  • health awareness
  • careers advice
  • parenting groups
  • Gingerbread and nursery group

One of the core groups meeting in the Centre is devoted to working with pupils for whom a normal school environment is inappropriate. Twelve pupils can attend at any one time and follow a syllabus meejan.jpg (4264 bytes)ting the National Curriculum. Students are entered for GCSE exams in Mathematics and English and also do the AEB exams in Numeracy and Literacy. They attend a series of Link courses at Yeovil College where they are introduced to a range of subjects, including IT, automobile maintenance, animal care and cooking, to give them tasters of the subjects and of the possibility of going to the college full-time.

Some of the pupils spend one morning a week in a nearby First School to help the children with their reading practice.

Two afternoons a week the group includes some young mothers with their babies. The opportunity has been taken to start a course in Child Care but it is also a support to the mothers who are able to share their experiences and concerns with each other.

The sports facilities of a nearby Youth Centre are used by the students for playing pool, football and basketball. The rich wealth of historical and beautiful buildings and resources in the beautiful town of Sherborne are an inspiration for the study of the changing life and culture of the town through the centuries.