Type:

Boarding School

Rangking2007:

  No.322    Results: A-B 60.67%

Type:

Mixed

Fees:

 GBP    /Term   

Since:

1593

Entrance:

 13-18,    Exam,  School report

Locate:

Lancashire

Other:

 10+% to Oxbridge

Pupils:

410

Website:

 www.stonyhurst.ac.uk

What it’s like
Founded in 1593 at St Omers, it moved first to Bruges then to Liège. Forced to leave the continent at the outbreak of the French Revolution, it established itself at the Hall of Stonyhurst in 1794. It has very fine buildings in a beautiful setting in the Ribble Valley on the slopes of Longridge Fell. It has two prep schools: St Mary’s Hall at Stonyhurst and St John’s Beaumont at Windsor. Extremely well equipped with modern facilities, the college is a foundation of the Society of Jesus, and describes itself as a community of young people, parents, Jesuits, lay staff, former pupils and friends. It undertakes to provide instruction in Catholic doctrine and to educate pupils in the principles and practice of their faith; enquiries from other Christians are also welcome. Now con-educational, girls have been admitted at 13 since 1999, to the sixth form for some ten years longer. There is a staff:pupil ratio of 1:8. Excellent teaching is provided and examination results are good. It is very strong in music and drama and there is a wide range of games, sports and activities. Excellent standards in games with a number of county and national representatives. Considerable emphasis on outdoor pursuits for which the environment is ideal. There is a highly regarded cadet corps contingent, substantial commitment to local community schemes and charities and a good record in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme.

School profile

Pupils & entrance
Pupils: Age range 13–18; 410 pupils, 130 day (90 boys, 40 girls), 280 boarding (200 boys, 80 girls).
Entrance: Main entry ages 13 and 16. Common Entrance and own exam used; for sixth-form entry, 6 GCSEs at least grade C (grade B in sixth-form subjects). Special skills taken into account. Pupils are largely Roman Catholic although Christians of other denominations are encouraged to apply. Over 65% of intake from 2 prep schools, St Mary’s Hall, Stonyhurst (tel 01254 826242) and St John’s Beaumont, Windsor (tel 01784 432428).

Scholarships, bursaries & extras Up to 14 pa scholarships awarded at 13, value £1000–50% fees: 10 academic, 1–2 all-rounder, 1–2 art, 1–2 music; plus 2 at 11 (via St Mary’s Hall Prep), 2 into the sixth form. Variable number of bursaries. Parents are not expected to buy textbooks; other extras variable.

Parents 20+% live within 30 miles; 20+% live overseas; 25% from Home Counties/London.

Head & staff
Headmaster: Adrian Aylward, appointed 1996. Educated at Worth School and at Oxford University (Greats) and King’s College London (education). Previously Housemaster, Head’s Deputy and Director of Admissions at Downside. Prior to teaching, worked in corporate finance with Samuel Montagu, County NatWest and as chief executive of a public company.
Teaching staff: 49 full time, 13 part time. Annual turnover 5%.

Exam results
GCSE: Typically, 77 pupils in fifth: 87% gain at least grade C in 5+ subjects – average 8.1 subjects with GCSE score of 56.
A-levels: 80 in upper sixth: 17% passed in 4+ subjects; 64% in 3; 13% in 2; and 1% in 1 subject. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 346.

University & college entrance All 2003 sixth-form leavers eventually went on to degree courses (25% after a gap year under the auspices of the Jesuits), 10% to Oxbridge. 7% took courses in medicine, dentistry & veterinary science, 15% in science & engineering, 69% in humanities & social sciences, 5% in art & design, 4% in vocational subjects (eg agriculture, property management).

Curriculum GCSE, AS and A-levels. 21 GCSE subjects (plus astronomy in sixth form); 25 at AS/A-level.
Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level,
3 at A-level; general studies is not taken. 35% took science A-levels; 35% arts/humanities; 30% both. Key skills being piloted.
Special provision: EAL classes inside and outside the timetable (small groups). Specialist teaching for pupils with dyslexia and other special needs.
Languages: French, German and Spanish offered to GCSE and A-level (and Italian as an extra).
ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject (1 lesson a week in Years 9–10) and across the curriculum (eg data logging, production of language texts, use of e-mail). Most pupils take Clait; A-level computer studies offered. 250 computers for pupil use (14 hours a day), all networked and with e-mail and internet access; all upper sixth have networked computers in their rooms. Video conferencing facilities.

The arts
Music: Over 30% of pupils learn a musical instrument (including all first years, as part of the curriculum); instrumental exams are taken. Musical groups include orchestras, concert band, training band, string and wind chamber groups, jazz band, dance band, several choirs.
Drama & debating: Pupils and staff in school productions; majority of pupils in year group productions. 4–5 major productions each year.
Art & design: On average, 20 take GCSE, 6–8 A-level. Design and pottery also offered; separate design and technology department. 2–3 entries each year to art & design foundation courses.

Sport & activities
Sport: Rugby, cricket, hockey, athletics, netball compulsory. Optional: soccer, badminton, squash, tennis, cross-country, basketball, fencing, swimming. Many county and national representatives in rugby and other sports. Strong outdoor pursuits.
Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Cadet Corps compulsory for 1 year in fourth form, optional thereafter. Community service optional at all ages but very active. Up to 20 clubs, eg astronomy, maths, debating, fishing, hill walking, video, science, computing, scuba diving, philosophy, theology, historical, literary.

School life
Uniform: School uniform worn by all (home clothes for part of weekend).
Houses & prefects: Competitive houses for sports only. Prefects and head pupil – appointed by the Headmaster.
Religion: Compulsory Sunday Mass, year group Mass regularly, Sunday evening service. Daily morning prayers.
Social: Links with Jesuit colleges in Reims, Sydney, Melbourne, Zimbabwe and Berlin. Pupils allowed to bring own bike to school (from third year). Some meals formal, some self-service. School shop. No tobacco allowed; occasional alcoholic drinks allowed at sixth-form socials.

Discipline Pupils failing to produce work assignments can expect some loss of free time. College teaches pupils about the dangers inherent in becoming involved in illegal drugs and underpins its teaching with a clearly defined disciplinary structure. Those found selling or distributing illegal drugs are removed immediately. Any pupil found to have used illegal drugs is likely to be suspended and discussions initiated with parents; pupils offending a second time will be asked to leave. All pupils and parents receive a copy of the Family Handbook.

Boarding Most sixth formers have own study bedroom, remainder share; third and fourth form in small dormitories. Houses divided by age group; separate houses for sixth-form and junior girls. Resident qualified full and part time nursing staff. Central dining room. Exeats on application to Assistant Headmaster. Visits to the local town allowed, with permission, for older pupils.

Alumni association The Stonyhurst Association, c/o the College.

Former pupils General Vernon Walters (former US Ambassador to UN); Arthur Conan Doyle; Charles Laughton; Paul Johnson; Sir Cecil Clothier; Bruce Kent; Bill Cash MP; Kyran Bracken (England rugby); Lord Chitnis; Patrick McGrath (novelist); Bishop Crispian Hollis; Mark Thompson (Chief Executive Channel 4); Charles Sturridge (film producer/director); Brendan O’Friel; Lord Talbot; Greg Wood (BBC economic correspondent); Lord Lilford; Leonard Ingrams; Sir Tim Chessells (Legal Aid Board); Iain Balshaw (England Rugby).