Boarding

Stonyhurst boarding is a home from home, with a lively, family atmosphere in a comfortable, informal and supportive environment. Boarding at Stonyhurst is centred upon excellent pastoral care within happy, well-ordered surroundings, in high quality accommodation. 

A unique boarding structure

Boarders are grouped using a horizontal system, or year group system, called Playrooms. Across the College and Sixth Form, there are five boarding houses for boys, and three boarding houses for girls, one for Years 9 and 10, one for Year 11, and one for Years 12 and 13. Each boarding house is run by a House Parent and an Assistant and team of teaching staff who support their work. Our House Parents live in the boarding house, and each house has its own unique family atmosphere.

Grouping pupils in a horizontal, or year group, system allows our boarders to mix with pupils of the same age within the same boarding house. We believe shared dorms (Years 12 and 13 board in single rooms) allow pupils to learn and understand other pupil's cultures and faiths, by making friends and living in a thriving community based on mutual respect, an excellent preparation for the adult world. International pupils will make progress in English by leaps and bounds because of the close daily contact and shared activities with English-speaking pupils.

Hear from our boarders


A 7-day-a-week boarding school

Stonyhurst is very much a 7-day-a-week boarding school with a busy weekend activities programme: this includes visits to the cinema, trips to the theatre or sports events and cultural excursions to places such as York or Manchester. Everyone attends Mass in St Peter’s Church on Sunday morning. There are a range of supervised activities provided for boarders every evening after supper and studies, including sport, time to contact home, and creative activities. A snack is available every weeknight in the Boarding Kitchen and 'tuck' is on offer on a Wednesday and Saturday evening. Supported study or revision takes place daily in the time period leading up to examinations.

Full, weekly & flexi boarding options

The majority of boarders at Stonyhurst are full boarders, however we also offer other boarding options to meet the needs of families and pupils. Boarding at Stonyhurst is open to all pupils from age 9-18 years.

  • Full Boarding is for children who are with us all week and allows pupils to experience all aspects of our provision to the fullest extent.
  • Weekly Boarding is available for children who are with us from at least Monday to Friday night each week and return to school Monday morning.
  • Flexi-boarding enables pupils to board for any period of time from occasional one-offs to a regular one or two nights per week. The more flexi-boarding nights that are booked each term, the less the cost per night. Please note, this option is only available if there are vacant beds.

 

Learn more about our Boarding Houses by clicking the links below:

Boarders said that they enjoyed being part of the school community and its close family atmosphere. Boarders of all ages and nationalities are supportive of each other, within a harmonious community.

 ISI Inspection Report 

Explore a boarding house

Click the links below to explore Rhetoric girls' boarding house through our 360° Virtual Tour.

 

Explore a Boarding House Common Room

Visit virtual tour

 

Explore a Boarding House Kitchen Space

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Explore a Boarding House Bedroom

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Rated excellent in all areas by ISI!

View the report

Excellent pastoral care and the excellent boarding experience further contribute to pupil’s resilience and independence.

IS Report 2016

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