FAQs

Many of our pupils go on to pursue successful careers. Some of our famous alumni include: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Author of Sherlock Holmes), Charles Laughton (actor), Will Greenwood & Kyran Bracken (Rugby World Cup Winners), Mark Thompson (Director General of the BBC and former CEO of the New York Times).

Education at Stonyhurst is a 3 –18 continuum and comprises: 

• Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall – pupils aged 3-13 (Pre-Prep & Prep)
• Stonyhurst College – pupils aged 13-18 (College & Sixth Form)

Learn more about Stonyhurst here.

Approximately 800 pupils across Stonyhurst College and St Mary’s Hall.

Apply for a place here.

There are three terms in the UK school year. The first term (the Christmas Term) runs from the beginning of September until the middle of December, the second term (the Easter Term) from early January until late March with the third term (Summer Term) running from late April until the end of June or beginning of July. There is a Half-Term holiday in the middle of each term.

View our calendar here.

Because Stonyhurst is a boarding school, lessons are taught on Saturday mornings with sport in the afternoon. School is in session even on Bank Holidays and children should expect to follow their normal timetable on these days. Remember though, our school holidays are much longer than those in maintained schools.

An Exeat Weekend is a shorter time when pupils may leave school during term time. 

Unlike a number of other schools, Stonyhurst does not have compulsory exeat weekends, however exeats can be arranged with the permission of the relevant House Parent. Exeats are granted for boarding pupils at the school, and it is often the case that boarders spend an exeat at the home of a day pupil.

At Stonyhurst, we have approximately 27 different nationalities. Our vibrant, global community offers pupils the opportunity to learn about different cultures and faiths, forming lasting friendships and future connections.

Stonyhurst pupil-teacher ratio is approximately 1:7.

Our small class sizes and an inspiring and highly qualified teaching faculty ensure that pupils get the absolute best out of their education. Small class sizes often lead to enhanced confidence, better results and more opportunities for pupils to participate.

Apply for a place here.

 Stonyhurst is located on a rural 1,000 acre estate, offering pupils the opportunity to exercise, explore and socialise with friends in the surrounding countryside.

Learn more about our location here.

Around 70% of our pupils are boarders, with 30% day pupils. 

Applications are welcomed for entry at all stages from age 3 to 18. An enquiry form can be found here and is the first stage of the Admissions process. Our application procedures are age appropriate and include:

• Entry assessments
• Interviews
• Character references / references from current school
• Submission of school reports for the previous 2 years for age appropriate year groups
• 500 word handwritten personal statement for College pupils or completion of a personal information sheet for St Mary's Hall
• Disability assessments (if applicable)

The following information provides a general guide to the entry requirements and procedures, but Stonyhurst looks at each application on its individual merit. For any enquiries in relation to entry requirements / procedures please contact the Admissions team. Children will be considered for entry into any year group at both Stonyhurst College and Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall.

• Entry at 3+
Pupils can join our Pre Prep unit in the term that their third birthday falls. A completed application form should be submitted online and where relevant, two recent school/nursery reports and a reference from the child’s current school/nursery. The school offers a limited number of EAL supported places for pupils with little or no English language skills. We are no longer a registered provider of the free early education scheme (nursery vouchers). This follows the very careful consideration of a number and range of factors, the most significant being our desire to offer greater flexibility in the education of the children with regard to the sessions and timings, which best fit our timetable and our approach to teaching and learning.

• Entry at 7+
Entry into any year in KS2 is based upon the submission of the child’s school reports from the previous two years, a school reference from their current school and completion of an online assessment. For those starting in Year 5 and above children may also be required to attend an interview (via video or telephonic conference, if international) with the Headmaster or Head of KS2 and complete a personal information sheet along with completion of a full taster day. The school has an expert EAL support department and therefore we offer places for children with little or no English language skills 

• Entry at 11+ 
Applicants for admission at the age of 11 are asked to sit an online entrance assessment. (This can be done remotely for international pupils). We also require submission of the child’s school reports from the previous two years, a school reference from their current school, completion of a personal information sheet and to attend an interview (via video or telephonic call, if international) with the Headmaster. Entry into Year 8 is based upon the submission of the child’s school reports from the previous two years, a school reference from their current school, completion of an online assessment and personal information sheet and required to attend an interview (via video or telephonic call, if international) with the Headmaster. The school has an expert EAL support department and therefore we offer places for children with little or no English language skills.

• Entry at 13+
Pupils already members of the Stonyhurst community based at St Mary’s Hall will normally transfer to the College as a matter of course, but they will sit an internal assessment designed to help in placing the pupil in the correct class setting. Entry into Stonyhurst College at 13+ (Lower Grammar) from other schools is based upon interview (via video or telephonic call, if international), school reports, completion of a handwritten 500 word personal statement and a satisfactory performance in the online entrance assessment. Some international pupils may be required to sit the Oxford Placement test.

• Entry at 14+
Entry into Stonyhurst College at 14+ (Grammar) from other schools is based upon interview (via video or telephonic call, if international), school reports, completion of a handwritten 500 word personal statement and a satisfactory performance in the online entrance assessment. Some international pupils may be required to sit the Oxford Placement test.

• Entry at 15+
Entry into Stonyhurst College at 15+ (Syntax) from other schools is based upon interview (via video or telephonic call, if international), school reports, completion of a handwritten 500 word personal statement and a satisfactory performance in the on-line entrance assessment. Some international pupils may be required to sit the Oxford Placement test. Applications are welcomed at this stage for entry onto a structured Pre-IB programme. This course may be of particular interest to overseas students looking to join the Sixth Form and follow the International Baccalaureate Programme.

• Sixth Form Entry
Entry to the Sixth Form is based upon interview (via video or telephonic call, if international), a satisfactory performance in the entrance examination, completion of a 500-word handwritten personal statement and submission of satisfactory school reports. We would also expect good performance at GCSE (or equivalent). Applicants would normally be required to have obtained a minimum of 5 Grade 6 passes at GCSE (or equivalent). Some international pupils may be required to sit the Oxford Placement test.

Pupils usually start in September but will be accepted at other times of the year providing we have places available and they stay for more than 1 year. 

Yes. The registration fee is £125 for UK and £150 for Rest of the World pupils.

Our fees are dependent on the age of the pupil and the residential status. Our annual fees range from £9,765 to £41,265.

Click here for a full list of our fees.

Yes, Stonyhurst’s fees include tuition, boarding, 4 meals (breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner) plus snacks for boarding pupils and lunch for day pupils. Each pupil from Lower Elements to Rhetoric shall have full and sole use of a personalised Microsoft laptop computer provided and supported by Stonyhurst, this is included in the fees.

Fees do not include the cost of the uniform which is approximately £600, or the cost of weekend activities, which do not normally exceed £25.00. The cost of exams is also an extra.

SMH food  College food

Stonyhurst welcomes the opportunity to educate the brothers and sisters of current and past pupils. However, admission is not automatic and there may be occasions where we judge that a sibling is likely to thrive better in a different educational environment. 

Many siblings do join us and in recognition of the incremental financial cost to families who wish to educate more than one of their children at Stonyhurst, the Governors have agreed a sliding scale of support as shown below. This reduction of fees applies whilst the children are in attendance at the same time and will be adjusted appropriately as each sibling leaves.

1st child in attendance 0% 
2nd child in attendance 5% reduction 
3rd child in attendance 10% reduction
4th child in attendance 15% reduction 

The school prospectus and accompanying materials provide an overview of life at Stonyhurst. However, it is not always possible to adequately reflect the vibrancy and warmth of the school community through the pages of a prospectus or indeed via our website. 

We would therefore like to invite you to visit our wonderful school in person using the links below. You are assured of the warmest of welcomes. If you are an international family or if you are not local to Stonyhurst, we would recommend a virtual visit via our 360° virtual tour which is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Arrange College private visit Arrange St Mary’s Hall private visit Attend an Open Day Visit virtual tour 

Attending one of our virtual open events is a great way to experience the full spectrum of our school. There will be the opportunity to meet many of our academic and pastoral staff, go on a tour of the school and experience taster lessons across all subjects. 

To attend one of our virtual Open Days, please register here and a member of the Admissions Team will be in touch with further details.

Scholarships are the highest awards offered by Stonyhurst, and the amount of scholarship awarded is decided by the Headmaster. The bestowal of any scholarship carries with it privilege and responsibility, in which each Scholar is expected to set an example to other pupils in their conduct and life at Stonyhurst.

Academic, Music and Sports Scholarships are awarded on merit, at the Headmaster’s discretion at ages 11+, 13+ and 16+. Drama & Theatre and Art Scholarships are awarded on merit, at the Headmaster’s discretion at ages 13+ and 16+. 

Scholarships at Stonyhurst College and St Mary’s Hall provide an enriched pathway within the pupils' relevant disciplines and only carry a small amount of fee remission. Should further financial support be required please refer to our bursary application process which can be found here.

Learn more about Scholarships

We recognise that military life can disrupt continuity of education for children and that a long-term, stable environment provides more opportunities to develop all-round potential.

For eligible families, the Forces’ Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) can help towards the costs of boarding school. The allowance, up to 90% of the school fee, is available for children who start to board in the school year in which they turn 8 years old up to when they turn 18/19 years old. Please note that you must claim before your child reaches Year 12, as new awards are not given to Years 12 and 13.

Stonyhurst provides an additional discount of 20% for any parent in receipt of the Continuous Education Allowance. We also provide a sibling discount of 10% for a second child and 20% for a third.

Learn more

A guardian takes over the physical role of the parent whilst your child is at school in the UK. Guardians are the emergency contact, they deal with transport and provide emotional support if needed. Their role also includes attending parents' evenings and making termly visits to the school to check that the child is having a positive and fulfilling experience. Your child may stay with their guardian during the holidays or if they are unable to return home for any reason.

All overseas pupils will need to have a UK based guardian while boarding at Stonyhurst.

We can provide details of several guardianship agencies on request.

Please contact Admissions here.

Please contact our Admissions Team and they will walk you through the application process.

SMH Stonyhurst College 

All payments are to be made in GBP. Credit cards are accepted.

Stonyhurst welcomes bursary applications from families who might, under ordinary circumstances, not consider Stonyhurst for their child for financial reasons.

Learn more  

Groups of pupils are mixed by age, gender and nationality in order to ensure that all pupils get a wide range of new friends. At Stonyhurst, pupils are grouped in a horizontal House system which means they mix with pupils of the same age in the same boarding house. During their induction programme there are a number of 'getting to know each other' sessions where pupils come together with their year group.

All correspondence to parents is sent out via ISAMS. Your contact details used for this are pulled from the school management system. It is therefore important to advise the school office (t.ashton@stonyhurst.ac.uk - SMH and r.taylor@stonyhurst.ac.uk - College) if you change your email address or mobile phone details. All school communication is sent via this system, although the games department do send information independently of the system, via CHQ, which is the sport/activity SMS.

Any urgent school messages, such as changes to events, bad weather closure (rare), are also sent via ISAMS – either by email or, on occasion, as a text message.

There is thorough communication with parents through the school website and weekly newsletter.

Our Assistant Heads (College) or Tutors (SMH) are the main contacts for parents. You will be given their contact details before your child arrives at Stonyhurst and you can also find their details on the Key Contact page here. In regards to regular communication, College Assistant Heads are also in control of private Playroom Facebook groups for parents, pupils and family members to join. Here they will post images, videos and updates from the year group.

During the induction, there is time for parents to meet the key pastoral staff who will be responsible for the welfare of their child and there are introductory activities to help pupils get to know one another and find their way around. New pupils also have peer mentors who are another line of support as they settle into the routines and rhythms of the school. This support continues throughout their time at Stonyhurst and the atmosphere of friendship, respect and kindness is palpable.

All new pupils to the College have their own dedicated induction days. These days are traditionally the two days prior to the start of the Christmas Term.

During these two days, new pupils will meet their tutor, Assistant Head and their Houseparent (if they are a boarder). They will receive their timetable, tour the College buildings and take part in various icebreaker activities designed to help them get to know other new pupils.

Importantly, these two days are quieter days before the returning pupils arrive back at the College. They are a chance for new pupils to explore and to adjust to new routines before the College returns to its normal busy and bustling state.

There are network points around the School, and a wireless network is available over the campus.

Stonyhurst provides a bus service for day pupils to and from school Monday to Friday. On Saturdays, transport will only run in the morning. There are three bus routes, including services from Burnley, Preston and Cowling/Gisburn.

There is an on-site Health Centre, manned with trained nurses 24 hours a day and doctors visit the College for routine appointments twice weekly.

The Health Centre team hold pupil drop-in clinics throughout the day, offering first aid, health advice, emotional support and referral to specialist services.

Learn more about the health centre here.

Uniform, toiletries, stationery, stamps and sundries may be purchased from the onsite School Shop. 

The School Shop is open at the following times:
Monday 13:00 until 17:00
Wednesday 13:00 until 17:00
Friday 13:00 until 17:00

The School Shop can be contacted via the following details: 01254 827072 stonyhurst@stevensons.co.uk , or via their website at www.stevensons.co.uk
Local pupils are advised to collect uniform and sports kit from the shop during the summer holidays. Please contact the shop to arrange an appointment before making a visit. Boarders should collect their uniform as soon as they arrive.

Learn more about the School Shop here.

Most Stonyhurst memorabilia can be purchased at the School Shop. Other specific items like Stonyhurst Monopoly and laptop cases can also be purchased from The Foundation Shop.

Visit The Foundation Shop Visit the School Shop

The mobile phone policy varies depending on year group, please make contact with your tutor or Assistant Head for clarity on your child's year group.

The school calendar is regularly updated with term dates and events. You are also able to download the calendar to your personal laptop or phone.

Visit the calendar here.

Pupils will be asked to visit the school, if possible, and to meet with Mr Browne (Head of Stonyhurst) or Fr Christopher Cann (St Mary's Hall Headmaster).

Stonyhurst is a Catholic, Jesuit school. Our Jesuit principles provide the foundation for our mission to develop our pupils’ unique gifts and talents, challenging them to give of their very best in all that they do, finding God in all things and dedicating their efforts Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam: to the greater glory of God.

We help all our pupils to develop the character virtues of the Jesuit Pupil Profile throughout life at Stonyhurst.

Our pupils are expected to actively engage in all aspects of College life, including our spiritual offerings. We are delighted to welcome students from a variety of faith backgrounds who are expected to attend Church, showing respect for the religious beliefs that underpin our school’s ethos, and taking part in the school’s community events, which include Masses and other Prayer Services throughout the year.

Pupils do not need to be religious and all religious traditions, beliefs and none, are respected and supported at Stonyhurst. Pupils are expected to attend and participate in our religious events as a core part of our school community’s life, though we are mindful of differences of beliefs. There are opportunities to learn about these differences and celebrate all faiths through our Chaplaincy programme. 

Across Stonyhurst College and St Mary’s Hall we have a total of seven beautiful chapels which are in regular use by our staff, pupils and Stonyhurst community.

Explore our chapels via our virtual tour.

You will find House Parent details within your Joining Booklet and on the Key Contacts page here.

Pupils must wear uniform during the school day. However, in the evenings and at weekends, and at certain other times, pupils in all year groups are permitted to wear casual clothes of a tasteful nature. All items must have have the pupil's full name and pupil number clearly sown into all items of clothing.

Pupils will join their respective boarding houses which correlate to their age and gender.

College:

The boys board in single year groups in rooms of 4-5 in year 9, 3-4 in year 10, 2-3 in year 11, reducing to single rooms at year 12 & 13.

The girls board in separate areas. Years 9 and 10 board in the same house but on separate floors. Year 11 are in their own boarding house with ensuite facilities, as are years 12 and 13. Again, the girls board in rooms of 4-5 when they start at year 9 and move into smaller rooms and then single rooms by years 11, 12 & 13.

Learn more about College boarding

St Mary’s Hall:
Pupils at St Mary’s Hall board together in one boarding house, on the third floor of the St Mary’s Hall building. Girls and boys sleep in opposite areas of the floor and facilities including the kitchen and common areas are shared.

All boarding houses are different, all St Mary’s Hall rooms are shared dormitories and at the College we have a variety of shared and singular rooms. We believe shared dorms allow pupils to learn and understand other pupil cultures and faiths by making friends and living in a thriving community based on mutual respect, an excellent preparation for the adult world. 

International students will make progress in English by leaps and bounds because of the close daily contact and shared activities with English-speaking pupils.

Pupils can have exeats overnight during term time by arrangement, but will not be allowed to stay in school during any of the holidays. There are no long exeat weekends.

Where relevant, we have offered a boarding camp and other themed camps which run throughout the holidays.

View latest clubs and camps

Boarders typically live in bedrooms with 3-5 peers of a similar age, which allows them to mature, grow in confidence and develop socially.  Where possible, we place boarders of similar background and interests together in their first term to help them to settle in, before a considered bedroom reshuffle at half term. Here, friendships are formed that will last for a lifetime.

Learn more about SMH

Rather than pupils boarding in vertical houses, like other independent schools, at Stonyhurst we group boarders using a horizontal system, or year group. There are five horizontal boarding houses for boys and three boarding houses for girls. Each house is run by a pastoral head with a deputy and team of teaching staff who support their work. Our Pastoral Heads live in the house and each house has a unique family atmosphere.

Stonyhurst provides a laundry service. Pupil laundry will be collected daily and returned to their bedside for them to put away in the evening. It is important that small items are sent in laundry/sock bags and that all clothes are clearly labelled with their name and school number. Unmarked clothes can be mislaid and there is no guarantee they will be returned to the owner. Games towels are provided for boarders’ downstairs in the sports hall changing rooms. Any dry cleaning or laundry charges for items left at school will be charged to the pupil’s account.

School uniform is very important; your child will be helped with the routines for handing in laundry and ensuring clean laundry is put away tidily.
 

At St Mary's Hall, bedding is provided although many pupils bring their own quilt covers to make it more homely.  At the College Stonyhurst provide pillow, sheets and pillowcases but the rest must be brought.

If your child has a laptop or tablet alongside a phone they may bring this for use during leisure time. Laptops and tablets should be marked with their name and school number, carefully looked after and handed back in before quiet reading time in the evening. The ICT suite is available every evening for all boarders to use whether sending an email or speaking to parents via Skype, which we will help to set up. Every boarder will be given a password to access their own personal account. All pupils are expected to read, sign and follow the school’s e-safety policy.

Each pupil from Lower Elements to Rhetoric shall have full and sole use of a personalised Microsoft laptop computer provided and supported by Stonyhurst which is included in the fees.

There are many people to whom pupils can turn for advice, support and understanding throughout the years that they spend at Stonyhurst. In addition to the key members of pastoral staff already listed, the staff below are there to support, guide and advise all pupils:

Main point of contact:
College: Assistant Head
St Mary’s Hall: Pupil Tutor

Councillor:
St Mary's Hall: Miss Chavala Parker (BSc, MSc, MBACP)
www.chavala.co.uk 
College: Miss Elodie Ladlow: m.ladlow@stonyhurst.ac.uk 

Health Centre: 01254 827100

If pupils are unwell and need medical attention, the Nurse will take them to the Health Centre. Once they have recovered they will be taken back to boarding.
Our doctors, who visit twice weekly, are Dr Owen and Dr Ibbotson, from the Castle Medical Group, in Clitheroe.

Learn more about the health centre here.

At St Mary’s Hall Boarders typically live in bedrooms with peers of a similar age, which allows them to mature, grow in confidence and develop socially. Where possible, we place boarders of similar background and interests together in their first term to help them to settle in, before a considered bedroom reshuffle at half-term where children from different countries are integrated to help develop their English speaking.. Here, friendships are formed that will last for a lifetime.

Within the College, pupils will board with many different ethnicities of the same age group.

Boarders are allowed to personalise their dormitories with photos and pictures, but these must be attached to pinboards or wooden surfaces; blu-tack and pins must not be used on walls. Boarders can also bring books and their favourite cuddly toys. Boarders must endeavour to keep their rooms tidy and clean and they are expected to cooperate with our domestic staff who work extremely hard. 

Whilst we do all in our power to ensure the security of the pupils’ possessions, Stonyhurst cannot be held responsible for accidental loss or damage. We advise that items of significant value are not brought into school. 

Please note that any items of value that are brought to school, such as laptop computers, should be covered by the family’s household insurance. Before arriving in September please check your insurance cover to ensure it covers all relevant items including clothing, watches, etc. that your child will bring to Stonyhurst. We recommend that the serial numbers of electrical equipment are recorded and kept in a secure place. All personal items should be clearly and permanently marked with your child’s name and school number.

Yes we do, when we have room. The majority of boarders at Stonyhurst are full or weekly boarders, however the school also offers other boarding options to meet the needs of families and pupils. Boarding is open to all pupils from Years 3-13.

• Full Boarding is for children who are with us all week (Monday - Sunday).
• Weekly Boarding is for children who are with us from at least Monday to Friday night each week and return to school on 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.

Contact Admissions to learn more

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 revision takes place daily in the time period leading up to examinations.

Weekend activities vary from week to week but include movies, trips to the theatre, going to watch football matches, shopping, playing sport, visiting the Trafford Centre, Blackpool Pleasure Beach and fishing in the Hodder River and many more.

We have ten boarding houses in total across the campus.  At St Mary’s Hall there is one house for boarders, with separate boys’ and girls’ bedrooms for sleeping, separate sitting rooms for relaxing and a joint common room and kitchen so pupils can decide how they’d like to spend their social time. There are nine boarding houses within the College which are split between year group and gender.

As a non-selective school, our pupils achieve strong results across a wide breadth of subjects. Our pass rate is a testament to the school staff and the hard work of our pupils, and we are very proud of the effort they put in.

Learn more about our results

The top IB result for 2022 was 42/45 points, (equivalent to four A*s at A level), a feat achieved by less than 4% of pupils worldwide.

Learn more about our results

The summer months are an exciting time for our pupils. This is when we are able take our dining experience outdoors and enjoy whole school BBQs and picnics. Sausages, burgers, chicken, and steak along with strawberries and cream, ice cream are available options. Our magnificent lawns and views provide us with a great backdrop for the occasions.

Both pupils and staff are encouraged to dine together in the main dining room with an emphasis on good table manners and friendly conversation. The emphasis on mealtimes is that it should be an enjoyable occasion, so everyone has a positive relationship with food.

We have a school food committee of pupils who meet on regular occasions throughout each term, containing representatives from each year group. All suggestions are discussed with the Catering Manager regarding likes and dislikes, snack choices or even additional food items to be added to the menu.

Visit SMH Ref  Visit the College Ref

All children st St Mary's Hall are supplied with snacks and an unlimited amount of juice or water at both the mid-morning and mid-afternoon break times. These snacks would include either freshly baked biscuits, flapjack, cake or similar alongside the option of a selection of freshly cut fruit daily. Dairy free, gluten free and vegetarian options are always made available too.

In addition to the above, pupils in the College enjoy afternoon tea in the afternoon.

Children are always encouraged on a normal food service to try out new food items which they may never have come across before at all mealtimes. The school’s themed days are also a way of trying new recipes and ideas. Each term, we aim to provide two international or specific themed days which allow us to celebrate occasions throughout the year. Occasions and themes could include: Chinese, Italian, American, Mexican, Book Club Day, VE Day, Saints Days, just to name a few. We have even been known to host one or two of our famous Chip Shop days where we create tasty portions of fish, chips and sausages which have been mistaken for the real deal! These special days allow the chefs to recreate specific dishes as well as dressing up the servery and dining room.

College pupils will eat their meals at the Refectory with panoramic views of the Avenue and SMH pupils eat in their Refectory on the ground floor of their building.

Visit SMH Ref  Visit the College Ref

Lunch times are taken at different times for different year groups. There is always a soup on offer, and there are always several choices of hot main course and a vegetarian option, along with vegetables and potatoes. A delicious array of hot and cold desserts are offered. There is an extensive salad bar, dried fruit and fresh fruit.
 

Breakfast

• Selection of cereals
• Choice of fruit Juice
• Full English breakfast
• Fresh fruit basket
• Toast & preserves

Lunch

• Soup of the day / salad bar
• Mild chilli con carne & basmati rice
• Roasted chicken tikka pieces
• Cumberland sausage rings
• Vegetarian choice / pasta & sauce
• New / jacket potatoes
• Fresh fruit basket
• Savoy cabbage / peas
• Toast & preserves
• Sticky toffee pudding / custard
• Cheese & crackers / fresh fruit

Evening meal

• Soup of the day / salad bar
• BBQ chicken & bacon rolls
• Mexican beef / tortillas
• Braised steak / pepper sauce
• Vegetarian tortillas
• Gratin potatoes / jacket potatoes
• Broccoli / roasted beetroot
• Fresh fruit / cheese & crackers
• Assorted yoghurts

Learn more via the webpages below.

SMH food College food

Our skilled Catering Team has specialist knowledge regarding unique food requirements. They are able to provide and respect all special dietary and religious-based food requirements. The team works closely with parents to ensure all children are catered for and are provided with a well-balanced meal, three times a day. 

Quant Je Puis’ (as much as I can) is our overarching principle and underpins everything that we do. This ethos encourages the Stonyhurst community to strive for personal excellence in all that they do. Each child is encouraged to give of their best, whether it is in the classroom, on the sports fields or through the myriad of other opportunities they have for their personal development and all-round growth. One of our principal aims is for every child to feel that their contribution to school life is valid and worthwhile, and their individual needs are recognised.

Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam meaning “To the greater glory of God” – written at the top of all pieces of work.

Laus Deo Semper meaning “Praise God at all times” – written at the bottom of all pieces of work.

Educational excellence at Stonyhurst extends far beyond academic subjects and classrooms. Cura personalis, care for the whole person, is at the heart of Jesuit schools, therefore co-curricular activities and formation of character also form part of a Stonyhurst education.

Your child’s House Parent is the first person who will care for them, with a team of house tutors and a Head of Playroom (College). 
The House Parent looks after their boarding community and lives in their respective boarding house with the pupils. Deputy House Parents and House Parents are also resident in each House and supported by a strong team of non-resident Tutors of whom they will work closely with to promote an understanding of the academic progress of pupils.

This Jesuit principle is a foundation for an education that nurtures individuality and encourages generosity. Living in a supportive and diverse community, our pupils are helped to develop those qualities of character that will distinguish them in later life as men and women for others.

OS stands for ‘Old Stonyhurst’, all pupils who have left the College become OS and most join the Stonyhurst Association and return for many reunions throughout their lives.

Pupils are encourage to join Stonyhurst Link once they leave Stonyhurst where they can network amongst fellow OS.

Pupils in Years 9, 10 and 11 – Lower Grammar, Grammar and Syntax.

Learn more about College year groups

Pupils in the Sixth Form (Years 12 and 13) – Poetry and Rhetoric.

Learn more about Higher Line year groups

Head Boy and Head Girl.

Rec is ‘play time’/ ‘break time’ for our pupils. This is their free time during the day and they can use it how they wish.

The Refectory is where pupils dine at every meal time.

SMH food College food

Hodder House 

• FS1 - Nursery
• FS2 - Reception
• PP1 - Year 1
• PP2 - Year 2

St Mary’s Hall

• Prep - Year 3/4 pupils (Lower & Upper)
• Elements - Year 5/6 pupils (Lower & Upper)
• Figures - Year 7 pupils
• Rudiments - Year 8 pupils

Stonyhurst College

• Lower Grammar - Year 9 pupils
• Grammar - Year 10 pupils
• Syntax - Year 11 pupils

Sixth Form

• Poetry - Year 12 pupils
• Rhetoric - Year 13 pupils

Lines are the “House” system. All pupils belong to one of 4 Lines – Campion, Shireburn, St Omers, Weld. There are many Interline competitions such as Interline Swimming, Interline Rugby, Interline Netball and Interline Music.

Stonyhurst offers an exciting environment both indoors and outdoors within a countryside setting. Pupils have access to vast facilities within the Stonyhurst campus, including indoor and outdoor tennis courts, a swimming pool, sports pitches, a theatre, an observatory and access to the unique historic collections within Stonyhurst College, which brings history to life for even the youngest of pupils. 

Visit our virtual tour to view some of our facilities

We have over 40 activities in the Prep School and 75 to choose from in the College. Our co-curricular programme allows children to expand their minds and experience a number of opportunities. We offer a myriad of unique co-curricular activities for our pupils to enjoy outside of their normal curriculum, creating a fully rounded education. These range from fencing, polo and shooting, horse riding and swimming to politics society, chess club and charitable endeavors.

College Co-curricular SMH Co-curricular 

Across Stonyhurst College and St Mary’s Hall we have five wonderful libraries. Three of which make up our historical libraries which house nearly 70,000 antiquarian books including a Shakespeare First Folio. Pupils are able to visit these historical libraries and study here when in Rhetoric, by invitation.

Our other operational libraries include the More Library which is situated at Stonyhurst College and the Tolkein Library at St Mary’s Hall. The More Library contains over 35,000 books and is extensively used for reading and research throughout the day and is a popular venue at break times, lunch times and after school. The library provides access to academic online databases as well as a wide range of academic journals and popular magazines. 

The Tolkein Library at St Mary’s Hall takes its name from J.R.R. Tolkien who visited Stonyhurst many times and is where he was reported to have written many of his famous books such as The Lord of the Rings.

All our libraries are places of creative freedom; they feed and inspire curiosity. 

View our libraries via our virtual tour

We have an extensive number of excellent sports facilities for our budding athletes to enjoy. With our strong sporting reputation, we are able to offer our pupils some of the best sporting facilities in the region.

 i) Indoor :  

• Indoor sports hall (Ambulacrum)
• Full basketball court, 2 half courts, 5 hoops
• 4 badminton courts 
• Indoor 5 a side football pitch   
• 2 volleyball courts 
• 1 indoor tennis court  
• Sports club gym and conditioning room 
• Conditioning/circuits room with 10 spinning bikes
• Free weights room 
• Swimming pool & spectator area
• Cricket pavilion
• Clay pigeon shooting cages
• 2 LTA registered tennis dome courts
• 1 dance studio 

 
ii) Outdoor : 

• 1 Floodlit water-based astro-turf hockey pitch
•  5 rugby match pitches 
•  5 rugby practice pitches 
•  3  football pitches 
•  9 hole golf course (18 tees, 9 greens)
•  7 tennis courts
• 2 basketball courts  
• 7 netball courts 
• 3 match cricket wickets 
• Clay pigeon shooting area
• 4 outdoor artificial cricket nets

The Collections hold more than 35,000 artefacts including 50million year old fossils, medieval textiles, baroque silver, paintings, old master prints and important natural history and science groupings. Many of these extraordinary objects are displayed in our state-of-the-art museum. Our three beautiful historic libraries house nearly 70,000 antiquarian books including a Shakespeare First Folio. The Archives cover over 900 years of Western and World history.

Learn more about the Collections here.

Yes! Our pupils have access to the oldest working school observatory in the UK. It was built in the 1860s to accompany the nearby meteorological observatory which had been built 30 years before.

The former Meteorological Observatory at Stonyhurst College was once one of seven important weather stations in the country and the temperature records, taken there from 1846, are the oldest continuous daily records in the world.

Take a look at the observatory via our virtual tour.

We have seven beautiful chapels here at Stonyhurst. Our main chapels are the College Chapel and St Peter’s Church which are regularly used by our pupils and Stonyhurst community.

Yes, horse riding is a co-curricular activity, offered off-site in a local village.

The Mission Garden is used by St Mary’s Hall pupils for outdoor lessons and gardening clubs and was built entirely by the pupils under the supervision of Mrs Strain. It provides children with the opportunity to learn how to grow organic fruit and vegetables whilst caring for the environment. We have a wildlife pond, pollinator friendly planting and a fire pit, where the children cook food grown in the garden. Food grown in the Mission Gardens is often donated to local food banks.

All pupils at the College actively partake in structured games sessions on four occasions each week.  All pupils are expected to adhere to high standards of behaviour at all times when practising, competing and spectating.

Traditionally, sports and physical activities have always been an important part of a Stonyhurst education. Stonyhurst offers a programme within which all its pupils can achieve their full potential personally, physically and socially. It does this by preparing and offering opportunities in particular physical activities and the chance to represent the College, Line or Playroom in these activities.  For the great majority of pupils, especially in Lower Line, this will involve participation in traditional team games.  It is fully appreciated that not every pupil in the College will have the aptitude to represent the College teams, but what is expected from every individual is wholehearted participation underlined by determination and resilience to improve in physical activities at a level commensurate to their ability. A full programme of high quality coaching is provided, which also supports pupils to participate in levels of competition appropriate to their stage of development. Regardless of the level of participation, every pupil is expected to strive for the highest possible levels of sportsmanship, performance, commitment, self-discipline and courtesy at all times. 

All pupils experience traditional games in their first three years at Stonyhurst.  In the Christmas Term, rugby and hockey  maintain a prominent role for boys and girls respectively.   We recognise that these sports are not suited to everyone and alternatives such as swimming, cross country running, badminton and outdoor pursuits for boys, and netball, dance and multi-sports for girls, become available on certain days each week.  

In the Easter Term the girls follow a similar programme to that of the Christmas Term but hockey is replaced with netball as the major sport and again other options available are hockey, dance and multi-sports. For the boys a reduced squad is run from each of the Lower Line Playrooms to fulfil the Rugby 7’s programme. The other boys can select to participate in one or more of the following options: badminton, basketball, cross country running, football, swimming, or outdoor pursuits. Those pupils selected for the rugby 7’s squad access a similar variety on one day each week where they can make a selection from the same list of options. In the second half of the Easter Term there is further variety available with the opportunity for boys to prepare for the summer sports of cricket, tennis and golf.

During the Summer Term, cricket remains the prominent summer sport for boys to represent the College.  If not within the cricket squad, boys may select tennis, golf, swimming, fell running or outdoor pursuits.

For the girls, the sports of tennis, cricket, rounders and athletics are the main summer sports with the added options of dance, multi sports, golf and outdoor pursuits. 
 

SMH sport College sport

Pupils in Higher Line have an open choice of the sports and activities they wish to participate in for all three terms.

Sport for boys includes: rugby, football, basketball, cross country running, swimming, badminton, weight training, outdoor pursuits, cricket, tennis and golf. For girls the choices available are: hockey, netball, cross country running, basketball, swimming, badminton, fitness training, outdoor pursuits, rounders, athletics, tennis, golf, yoga, pilates and dance. 

In line with the College motto “Quant Je Puis”, if capable and selected to represent a particular team any pupil would be expected to do so. 
Team sports such as athletics, badminton, basketball, cross-country, football, golf, hockey, netball, rugby, swimming and tennis are scheduled during terms and times when teams can be at full strength. This arrangement also allows more pupils to be involved in each particular sport, thereby not only sustaining the high standards of the school's top representative sides, but through increased numbers, introducing representative teams at lower levels commensurate with lower levels of playing abilities.  This ensures a wide range of representative games made available to all the pupils and competition in each sport at the appropriate level. 

SMH sport College sport

Yes, pupils at Stonyhurst can choose to play from twenty three different musical instruments. Stonyhurst also remains one of the very few schools that offers organ tuition.

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We offer a number of unique co-curricular activities for our pupils to enjoy outside of their normal curriculum, creating a fully rounded education. These range from fencing, polo and shooting, to horse riding and swimming to politics society, chess club and charitable endeavors.

Learn more about our co-curricular offering here.

We can cater for all the lower-level learning needs such as dyscalculia, dysgraphia mild and moderate dyslexia, speech and language difficulties and some social and emotional and mental health needs.

We meet the needs in these areas through quality first teaching (differentiation in the classroom) pastoral department and where needed extra support lessons in the learning support department at no extra cost to parents.

All the other areas are assessed on individual need and required support. Depending on the level of care and individual support the pupil requires, we may ask that further funding is given by parents or a county education and health care plan, for any 1-1 support or outside agency intervention that is required on a regular basis.

Stonyhurst is within a one hour drive of Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Leeds Bradford Airport and Manchester Airport.

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Clitheroe is the nearest town with it’s own local train station and is approximately 6 miles away. Our neighbouring village of Whalley also has a train station which can take you directly to central city centre train stations, including Preston and Manchester.

Preston train station is approximately 30 minutes drive from Stonyhurst and it will take you directly to London Euston in just over two hours.

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In the immediate vicinity there are a number of beautiful rural walks around the Ribble Valley, allowing visitors to take in one of the most glorious landscapes in Britain. The Tolkein Trail is a 9km circular walk starting and finishing in Hurst Green, passing through the Stonyhurst grounds - it has to be one of our favourites. The Pendle Hill circuit is also popular within the area and can be seen from Stonyhurst. Discover more walking routes here.

You may also want to head into our nearest town (Clitheroe) to sample some of our local food and drink. We recommend visiting Holmes Mill, which features a large beer hall, hotel, food hall and much more, this former textiles mill is the perfect place to indulge, unwind and explore.

If you’re interested in history, Clitheroe’s historic castle and grounds are worth a visit. This historic landmark provides a stunning vantage point and intriguing galleries which take you through 350 million years of history and geology of the local area. Another historic must is Whalley Abbey, the 14th Century Cistercian Abbey ruins are set in beautiful gardens and woodland beside the River Calder in Whalley.

If you have small children, the Bowland Wild Boar Park could be a favourable option to keep them entertained throughout your stay. SItuated in the Forest of Bowland, an Area of Natural Outstanding Beauty, it’s packed with adventure for the whole family. You are able to watch the animals, explore their habitats and meet smaller residents in the petting area.

If you’re looking for something more cosmopolitan, Liverpool, Manchester and York are all within easy reach via train or car. Here you can visit the theatre, enjoy a shopping trip or dine out in many illustrious restaurants.

View more things to do here.

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It can be cold and wet in Lancashire – there’s no doubt about it! Make sure your children wrap up warm, pack a thick coat and plenty of thermal layers – especially for sport!