Syntax Girls Boarding House

The Girls House

Syntax (Year 11) girls board in single rooms with ensuite facilities in the Old Infirmary at the front of the College. This beautiful boarding house looks across to the Avenue, St Peter's Church and the croquet lawns.

Ethos

Syntax girl’s boarding house is the home of our Year 11 girls. We are a welcoming and supportive house that encourages pupils, in this decisive and demanding last year at College, to be women for others, to practice compassion and to face their challenges with a determined and positive attitude. 

Syntax girl boarders are encouraged to: 

  • Take part in the boarding community and wider school life.
  • Be respectful and considerate of others and to take care of each other.
  • Try hard, be thankful and be kind to themselves and others.
  • Support each other in everyday challenges.

About the Syntax Girls' House Parent

Together with her Deputy, Marta Bermudez Gallego looks after boarders in the Syntax Girl’s Boarding House. Marta has been in post as House Parent since September 2021. Marta lives in the boarding house with her partner Manuel Romero, who also works at Stonyhurst as Rhetoric boy’s Assistant House Parent, and her rescued Russian cat, Madrid.

Alongside her duties as House Parent, Marta helps in the Spanish Department as a Spanish Assistant working with pupils to practice their oral exam skills and provides private tuition.

This is Marta's ninth academic year working as a boarding professional, a field within Education that she always says she found “by accident” but that very quickly became her vocation and professional career.

Marta has worked in two other Sixth Form Boarding Schools in England, one in Shropshire, St Michael’s College, for two years as a House Parent and the other one in Cambridge, CATS Cambridge and Cambridge Visual and Performing Art School, for almost 5 years where she worked as a House Leader and progressed to Deputy Head of Boarding.

During the past two academic years Marta worked as a Housemistress in a Boarding School for gifted and talented pupils in Moscow, Russia, Letovo School. 

In her spare time Marta loves to travel, read and swim. She enjoys going on walks and painting.

Explore a boarding house

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

 

Explore a Boarding House Common Room

Visit virtual tour

 

Explore a Boarding House Kitchen

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Explore a Boarding House Bedroom

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Our daily routine

Boarders register at 7:50am before breakfast, and tutor time or assemblies follow at 8:30am. Lessons run from 9:00am until 5:15pm, although girls often return to their rooms during the day to study if they are between classes, or call in to see the House Parent office for a chat. Supper follows, and then evening studies and extra-curricular activities run from 7:30pm to 9:00pm. The girls can then have some free time until they prepare for goodnights at 10:00pm.

Evenings & weekends 

Evening activities vary from day to day but include more than 75 different clubs and activities alongside time for prep and studies. These include golf, photography, dance, debating, orchestra, scuba, charities and management groups. Weekend activities vary from week to week but include movies, theatre going, going to watch football matches, shopping, playing sport, visiting the Trafford Centre, Blackpool Pleasure Beach and swimming in the Hodder River and many more. Free time may also be spent exploring the fabulous grounds, making use of the fantastic facilities, or may just want to relax in the Playroom with their friends. In the evening some girls like to socialise in Syntax Playroom, whereas others will watch a movie or listen to music with friends in the boarding area. At weekends, some like to go on an organised trip, or spend their time studying or relaxing. Girls are encouraged to do what they need to or want to, depending on how they feel, and whether exam season is looming. Free time is invariably spent with friends, either relaxing or working together. Some like to cook food for themselves and their friends, whilst other might go for a run or arrange a game of hockey or netball.


 

Key Contacts for Syntax Girls House

Mr Reuban Strain

Mr Reuban Strain

Deputy Head Pastoral, Designated Safeguarding Lead

Miss Sophia Free

Houseparent - Syntax Girls

Miss Sonja Muller

Assistant Houseparent - Syntax Girls

 

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

ISI Report

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