Some comments from our recent ISI Inspection:

Boarding provision is excellent and totally in line with the school’s aim to care for the whole child. It plays a significant role in pupils’ education and personal development.

Boarders’ spiritual development is of major importance to the school
and is catered for well through weekend mass.

Relationships are excellent within the boarding house and pupils have a good range of evening and weekend activities to choose from. The provision for outdoor activities is outstanding. Pupils enjoy
boarding and are happy.

WELCOME TO THE BOARDING GALLERY!

Boarding at SMH is like being part of a big family— and we are sure you will soon find it a home away from home.  There are lots of questions that you might have and we hope many of them are answered here.  It is important to remember that we are a community of people who help one another and who enjoy spending time together, as well as learning to be independent.  We hope you will be very happy here!

There is a signing in and a signing out book outside the Boarding Office and there is always a member of staff around to help you.  Passports and valuables should be handed in here, together with any tuck you receive.

Your  name will be printed on your dormitory door and on your bed.  A gap tutor will help you take all your things to your dormitory.

If you have any worries about uniform, pyjamas or anything else, just ask any member of staff to help you

If you are hungry in the evening you can go to the boarding kitchen for a snack.

If you would like to contact home just ask one of the boarding staff to show you where the computers are for you to e-mail home.  Your mobile phone will be given to you in the evening after you have had your shower.

Daily Routine

7.10am  Wake up, dress in school uniform, and turn back your
   duvet before going downstairs.
7.20am  Breakfast
7.45am  Announcements in the Dining Room. Return upstairs to brush teeth, make your bed and prepare for the day.
8.00am  Downstairs to Playrooms or upstairs for instrument practice.
8.25am  Playroom time or assembly begins  -  then follow your school timetable.
6.00 pm Studies or boarders’ activities.
7.00pm  Meeting in the Sitting Room.
7.15 pm  Night Prayers. 
7.30 pm Evening activities & showers.
  
On Saturday evening we usually shower early and watch a film together in the Centenaries Theatre. On Sundays you don’t have to wake up until 8.00 am and you can go down to breakfast in pyjamas and slippers if you like!

Who’s who in the boarding house?

Mr and Mrs Hughes are your House parents.  They live next to the boys' Prep & Elements dorms. Mrs Hughes can usually be found in the Boarding Office at the top of the main stairs.
Mr Stokes is your Deputy Housemaster.  He lives next door to his office at the Rudiments end of the boys’ gallery. Sister Joan is our chaplain and will always help you with your problems. She says prayers with us and lives on the lower girls’ gallery.
Miss Evans, Mrs Miller, Dr Chadwick, Mrs Ashton, Mr Shaw and Miss Taylor are staff members who work on the boarding gallery on different nights of the week. If you have any problems you can always ask any of these people for help.

Mrs Bell is the School Nurse and can be found in the Infirmary during surgery times to sort out any medical problems. 

Don’t forget that other students in our boarding family already know what it’s like to live at St Mary’s Hall and will help you to settle in.

A walk to the River Hodder

Weekend bowling trip

  The new boarding pupils have settled in very well indeed. Mrs Ruth Hughes, Director of Boarding, gives an overview of the first week...

The boarders visited Pleasure Beach Blackpool over the weekend. The theme park remains Britain's number 1 tourist attraction with over 6 million visitors a year. No wonder the call it The Entertainment Capital of the World! Our boarders agree!

Here are our boarders enjoying a busy social life at the weekend...