Best Of Both Worlds…
Stonyhurst has returned to its original 1946 structure, now welcoming Year 7 and 8 pupils as part of the College. This change marks the creation of Aloysius House, offering younger pupils the best of both worlds in their educational journey
These are exciting times for Stonyhurst College which, after the summer break, has incorporated Year 7 and Year 8 into the College campus.
The move from the Prep School, St Mary’s Hall, for the 11 and 12-year-olds has been a natural transition and one that has been well received by parents, staff and of course, the pupils themselves who have direct access to all the wonderful, on-site facilities along with specialist teaching in every subject.
Part of a £400,000 investment project at Stonyhurst, Aloysius House, a newly created middle school for Years 7 and 8, is located in the east wing of the College and offers pupils the perfect introduction to the school and the wider College experience.
Bringing Stonyhurst in line with other educational settings, the College is now dedicated to pupils aged 11 to 18 while St Mary’s Hall, where Years 7 and 8 were previously based, is now wholly dedicated to children from three to 11.
The move of the two year groups to the College is a return to the school’s historic roots as Senior Deputy Head Dr Alice McNeill explains: “Originally Years 7 (Figures) and 8 (Rudiments) were within the College and it was only during the early part of the 20th century that they moved over to the Prep School.
“Bringing them back seemed the natural and most practical thing to do as from the age of 11, senior pupils are all now in the same building.”
Previously pupils would make the transition from the Prep School to the College at the age of 13 in Year 9 – giving them just a year before beginning GCSEs. Now, they have an extra two years to adapt to College life and senior education, which has many beneficial implications: “It extends their journey through the College. They now have five-years giving them time to settle in, forge friendships and progress academically, which brings such joy.It makes the College seem so complete.”
With a ‘middle school’ feel, Aloysius House give pupils access to many and varied facilities within the College building, including their own common rooms – known throughout the College as ‘Playrooms’ based on the emphasis placed on drama within a Jesuit education.
While retaining their individual year group and Playroom names of Figures and Rudiments all lessons and activities for pupils of Aloysius House take place within the College, enhancing the holistic development of each individual: “It is working really well and we have had nothing but positive feedback from parents and pupils,” adds Dr McNeill.
“Years 7 and 8 are really eager to learn and are so excited to be part of the College – they attend lessons in the College building, they have on-site access to the tennis dome, swimming pool, theatre, golf course and they have their own playground surrounded by woodland and green spaces.”
Every Wednesday, pupils at Aloysius House embark on an exciting new Adventure curriculum, offering them the chance to participate in activities like archery, kayaking and climbing. They also receive an introduction to the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
They complete adventure activities to build vital skills including perseverance, resilience and teamwork, embedding the school motto ‘Quant je puis’ (‘As much as I can’) to become ‘men and women for others’.
Approximately half of the children at Aloysius House are boarders, residing at St Mary’s Hall throughout the school term, just a short distance from the College, along Brothers’ Walk. Boarders and non-boarders at Stonyhurst come from across the globe, from all walks of life, giving pupils an international, multi-cultural, educational experience. This is part of the magic of Stonyhurst.
An extended school day continues to give parents of Year 7 and 8 pupils flexibility – there are opportunities to pick up after lessons at 5pm, after activities at 5.45pm,after supper at 6.15pm or after studies (homework) at 7.15pm, all included in the fees.
Saturday school will continue for College and Aloysius House pupils, while it is now optional for Years 4, 5 and 6 at St Mary’s Hall.
Pupils at Aloysius House, within the vibrant senior school setting of Stonyhurst campus, enjoy a rich community experience, including dedicated assemblies and a weekly Mass in their private chapel, the Aloysius Chapel. The creation of Aloysius House within Stonyhurst is already proving to be an enriching experience for all involved, as Dr McNeill concludes: “The reconfiguration has been a very natural move for everyone – it hasn’t been a seismic shift but a very natural evolution giving pupils a seamless transition through the school. It has given pupils the best of both worlds.”
Stonyhurst College
Clitheroe BB7 9PZ
01254 827073
stonyhurst.ac.uk
