College Community.

Living together in unity.

Although we offer an option for day pupils, the overwhelming majority of our community are full boarders. This means living in College seven days a week throughout term time. Pupils are divided into two boarding Houses, living in the residential wing, returning home during exeat weekends, half terms and holidays. Teachers and their families are either resident in College or live in the town. Through this we are able to build up a living community, nurturing professional, enriching, long-lasting relationships.

It is in the best tradition of British schools for pupils to form a strong connection with their boarding House. At the start of our school, Houses work together and there is an overriding Saint Peter’s identity. But we look to develop a distinctive character to our two Houses; Aquinas and Bellarmine setting positive examples through faith.

Both of our Houses seek to provide a touchstone or identity which unites the pupils in a common spirit of pride and hard work. Day pupils are allocated to a House and, as far as possible, are encouraged to participate as fully as possible. Within the spirituality of the College, we drawn on Doctors of the Church, saintly Popes as well as younger saints of the twentieth century to offer inspiration.

Given the small number of students, the Houses provide a function in the running of the school but all students benefit from a shared pastoral support, excellent facilities for private study and are supported by the Senior Master as a mentor. Through the Houses, we loo to be able to provide our pupils with the resources, support and encouragement to take full advantage of everything Saint Peter’s has to offer.

The Houses are where pupils enjoy and benefit from academic monitoring and guidance, pastoral support, co-curricular activities, charity fundraising and leadership opportunities, and the fact that they are single-sex communities within a co-educational environment means that all of our pupils get the best of both worlds.  

There are no dormitories and usually our pupils share a private en-suite room with another pupil of the same age. Since most of our pupils are international is is very important that the College becomes their home and that they respect it as such. This is something we are keen to make clear to visitors when entering the College, that the boarding pupils are a primary concern and that all facilities, common areas, grounds and games rooms are an extension of the pupils’ own personal space.

Whilst we do not currently have separate boarding Houses, the House system should be more than just a team for duties and activities, it is a place to be happy, grow in confidence and make lasting friendships. Under the Senior Master’s leadership and with the support of all the staff, the House has a positive impact on each pupil’s personal and academic development.

Being resident means that our pupils benefit from a longer school week, with lessons on Saturday morning, which allows for several afternoons to be devoted to enrichment activities and trips. At the weekend, as well as classes we try to fill the day with activities and some down time.