Pastoral Care
The
students entrusted by their parents to our care live in the community
of one of the Houses, where some 70 students of all ages find a friendly
and supportive atmosphere. It nurtures students in a strong spirit of
solidarity and loyalty. Brothers and cousins may be resident in the
same House thereby often reinforcing the sense of a family environment.
Sisters will also often choose to be together. A newly arrived student
of 13 is not intimidated by the task of finding his or her place in the
whole school. Instead he or she begins by building relationships with
the twelve or so other newcomers in his or her House and with their
housemaster or housemistress. They will be the student's closest
colleagues for the next five years. A junior student will normally sleep
in a dormitory and prepare his or her academic work within the House.
He or she will move into a study bedroom in the Sixth Form.
A
resident assistant housemaster or housemistress and a team of house
tutors take part in the pastoral care of the House. In particular, a
tutor is responsible for the academic progress of every student in a
single House year-group. Tutors ensure that every student is correctly
placed in subject sets and is studying the subjects that best suit his
or her abilities and interests. They also monitor progress. This
watchful help will continue throughout the student's stay at the school
and will extend to the choice of university and career.
House
Matrons are asked to take part in the general pastoral care of Houses
and especially to keep an eye on rooms and dormitories. The school
expects a collectively assumed responsibility for civilised order and
reasonable tidiness. Ampleforth has a clear and definite dress code
rather than a uniform, and we ask the support of parents in helping us
to ensure that the students wear clothes that meet our standards.
Morning and evening prayers, Mass (whether for the whole House or for
groups), seasonal prayers in Lent or at other times, and the annual
retreat, are centred on each student's House and House Chapel. Equally,
students are welcomed to prayer with the Community in the Abbey Church,
and contacts of all kinds with the Community and lay staff are
encouraged.
Yet the
Houses are by no means exclusive communities. Sporting competition
between the Houses is keen. The school's many activities and shared
meals make school-wide communication easy, and friendships between
students from different Houses naturally develop. Lessons, of course,
are organised in year groups, which ensures that students have extensive
daily contact with students from other Houses.
A number of senior students are invited to take responsibility for
the welfare of the school and the Houses as School and House Monitors.
They are answerable to the Headmaster and housemasters for the trust
which is extended to them.
