An Introduction to Ampleforth College
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An Introduction to Ampleforth
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The Ampleforth Society
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Getting to know your child
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Arrival
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New Starter Documents The Chaplaincy
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Buying everything on the uniform list
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Luggage
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Other ways of keeping in touch
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Naming other items Mobile Phones Technology
A Brief Overview of Academic Matters at Ampleforth
The Lower School – Years 7 & 8
The Middle School – Years 9 to 11
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Sixth Form – Years 12 and 13
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English as an Additional Language (EAL)
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Food
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Option Choices Health Matters
Important Dates Travel
Luggage Transportation for Students Visiting School Shops
Individual Music Lessons
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Over the next few weeks you will be receiving communications from your child’s new Housemaster or Housemistress to help you integrate successfully into life here at Ampleforth, including their House booklet which gives you more information about the routines and expectations.
In the meantime, you will have a busy summer preparing, particularly if this is the first time that a member of your family has come to boarding school. We’ve tried to answer some of the questions which families frequently have at this stage; please do contact the Admissions Office if you have other questions.
If you haven’t already done so, a good starting point is to follow your child’s future House on Facebook so you can see what is happening.You will find lots of helpful information on the Parent Portal. We send this handbook out every year to new students joining us here at Ampleforth. In 2020, at the time of writing, we are still planning the new school year in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, please be aware that much of what follows is dependent on the rules in place at various times of the year.
The Ampleforth Society organises social occasions and celebrations of Mass throughout the year and aims to keep people connected with Ampleforth news, events and fundraising.
Parents become members of the Ampleforth Society as their child enrolls at Ampleforth. School leavers become members of the Ampleforth Society at the end of their school career. If you wish to know more about Ampleforth Society membership or to tailor your communication preferences, please contact development@ampleforth.org.uk. To learn more about the Ampleforth Society, please visit www.ampleforth.org.uk/society.
These are an important part of the admissions process, which allows the College to have all the information required so that your son or daughter can be settled in very quickly at the start of the year.You will receive a login to the Parent Portal that will allow you to complete these forms online. Please complete the documents as soon as possible so that we can ensure everything is in place.
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The most important ingredient in helping a child to settle is communication between the House and their home.Your new housemaster or housemistress will be in touch before term starts to find out more about your child. Please do tell them anything which is important so they really understand your child. This might include your child’s health, problems with sleeping, and family information. They will also be happy to answer any questions you have which are specific to your child.
At the heart of that provision lies the work of the monks, serving boarding house communities, and providing a touchstone for the Benedictine life we foster. Our rootedness in the monastic tradition is very precious, and makes Ampleforth the special place it is; the monks are valued as spiritual fathers, colleagues and friends. Students enjoy a wide programme of daily prayer, centredness on scripture, retreats, sacramental provision, spiritual accompaniment and a growing range of service projects. Students are encouraged early on to take up roles of spiritual leadership, in prayer and in service, not only sustaining them here and now, but preparing them for mission in the wider world. There should be something at Ampleforth for every heart and every schedule.
The central Chaplaincy exists to encourage the regular formation of the faith of the students, the voluntary participation by students in their faith, the Benedictine spirit of the school among students, staff and parents, the provision of ‘hospitality’ and the connection of students with the wider Church and world. The sacramental life of the school is centred on the Abbey Church. At the Sunday Mass in the Abbey Church, students of different ages enhance the liturgy through serving, reading and singing. In addition each boarding house has its own Chapel and Chaplain and celebrates Mass during the week. Year 13 students are trained and commissioned as Eucharistic Ministers. The Eucharist also forms the culmination of the different retreats offered to students, sometimes even celebrated outside. Students are offered the chance to make their confession once a term in the Crypt of the Abbey Church. These Reconciliation services are organised by each house, with the monastery providing confessors, who use the newly glassed in chapels as confessionals. Students who are not Catholic have the opportunity at these services to see a priest for a prayer and blessing.
In each house a senior student is nominated to be a catechist. Catechesis is the action of the church that leads the faithful to maturity of faith. A minister of this sort of activity is called a catechist. Because of varied circumstances and multiple needs, catechetical activity takes on various forms. It means being involved in the spiritual formation of students, and at Ampleforth it means having a special role in preparing people for Confirmation; it’s a role of significant importance. Within the programme of catechesis and preparation for Confirmation the student catechist does most of the catechetical work with the confirmandi in their house. They do this under the direction of the central chaplaincy, being trained at the beginning of the year and preparing each session for an hour each week with the chaplaincy assistant. The house chaplain oversees their work and they support the house chaplain in many ways. They are helped to draw upon their own faith and experiences and they learn how to communicate the mysteries of our faith drawing upon the Bible, tradition, YouCat (the Catholic Church's youth catechism) and other resources.
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You will receive a letter from your new Housemaster or Housemistress explaining the details for their particular House, but in general we invite new students to arrive from 3.30pm on Monday 7th September. The gates around the campus are all open and you can drive right up to your new House to deposit all your luggage. We will need to take precautions to ensure the safety of all students and staff in boarding Houses with relation to Covid 19. We would usually make lots of time for you to help your daughter or son unpack and get settled into their new room. We also build in time for you to meet members of the House team and other new families. We then usually invite families to prayers and a welcome from the Head and the Dean in the Abbey Church before you depart. However, as you will imagine, we are reviewing what we are going to do. There will be lots of contact from your Housemaster and Housemistress to answer any questions you may have. We run a very busy induction programme in September to help the new students to become part of the Ampleforth community.
The uniform list has been put together by some of our most experienced staff, who know how much clothing and equipment is required. Students wear clothes which conform to the Dress Code during the school day, for Mass and for special occasions. At other times, they are allowed to wear their own clothes.
Some families choose not to buy too much at first, so that their children are confident that they have bought the right sort of clothes. We do have a strict Dress Code, however, so please ensure your child comes to Ampleforth with clothes which meet the expectations.
Sports kit is ordered online via the New Starter Documents. When you arrive at school on 7th September, you will find a pile of named sports kit waiting for you.
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The items ordered via our on line forms will be labelled by the school shop. All other belongings, including clothing and duvet covers if you are bringing your own, should be labelled at home with nametapes detailing the following: Child’s Forename : Initials : Surname : School ID Number : House Letter (Please refer to the chart below for the House Letter)
St Aidan’s S Bede’s St Cuthbert’s St Dunstan’s St Edward’s & St Wilfrid’s St Hugh’s St John’s St Margaret’s St Oswald’s St Thomas’
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Overseas families might not be familiar with name tapes, which are an important part of boarding school life in England. They are a necessary item so that your son or daughter’s clothing can be quickly identified and stop items getting lost. We ask you to order them so that your child’s name, school number and House are all evident.
You can order name tapes from several companies including online at www.jjcash.co.uk
How you transport all your child’s equipment and clothes is a personal choice and depends a lot on where in the world you are travelling from. Suitcases are absolutely fine. Some students use trunks which can be transported back home at the end of term. At half-term holidays and exeats students can leave the majority of their luggage safely stored in the House. At ends of term, they may be required to take most of their luggage home. There is more on luggage later in this handbook.
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Students are allowed to have a mobile phone at Ampleforth, but there are rules about their use which will be explained to your children. If you are buying a phone, be aware that reception in the valley is often poor but the best signal currently available is from the EE network. Please also ensure that you buy a phone with appropriate parental supervision capacity and blocks.
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The best time to call students in Years 7 to 8 is between 7.45pm and 8.45pm on weekdays, after 3.30pm on Saturdays and anytime on Sunday except during Mass and prep time. The best time to call students from Year 9 to 13 is between 5pm and 6.30pm on weekdays, after 3.30pm on Saturdays and anytime on Sunday except during Mass and prep time.
If you live overseas in a different time-zone then we understand that you might need to liaise with your Housemaster or Housemistress to find a convenient time to ring.
Many students use Skype, WhatsApp, Facetime or Facebook Messenger to keep in touch with home. There is a firewall which restricts access to the internet at particular times. The students also receive a school email address when they first join the school.
You will rarely receive a letter home nowadays from your son or daughter, but you may well wish to send them items. The postal address is: Name of House Ampleforth College York,YO62 4EX
Students in Years 9 to 13 will all be using iPads as part of their learning experience and you will receive information separately about how to buy your child’s iPad.
Choosing a laptop Computer (Year 9 to 13 only; pupils in Years 7 and 8 must not bring a laptop). In addition to the iPad all Year 9 to 13 students may also wish to bring a laptop but this is optional and not required. The wireless network at Ampleforth can support both Windows and Macbook laptops, allowing students to connect to important resources such as email and our Office 365 suite.
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The following recommendations are intended as a guide to consider when purchasing a laptop for use at Ampleforth College.
• Brand – Although premium brand laptops (Dell, HP, Apple, Lenovo, Sony etc) are usually more expensive they are often of better quality and have better spares availability, particularly batteries which are likely to need replacing after 18-24 months of use.
• Operating System – Windows 10 is the latest Microsoft version, and comes preinstalled on most current laptops. It has many useful features, and can take advantage of Office 365 which is used at Ampleforth. Modern Macbook computers are also perfectly acceptable, although are generally more expensive.
• Processor – Unless demanding video games are to be played, any processor available in a modern laptop will be sufficient for school work. Typically this will be an Intel i3 or i5 in current laptops.
• Memory –Preferably look for devices with 8GB of memory. Windows 10 takes full advantage of this larger capacity, and many laptops will now come with this as standard.
• Hard Drive – We would advise that any laptop that is bought is fitted with an SSD for improved performance. • Speakers, Microphone and Webcam – To use communication applications the laptop should have these components built-in; most do.
• Screen Size - The screen size will have an impact on weight and portability, so consider carefully whether a machine with a screen larger than 15-16” is necessary and practical. A small Netbook is unsuitable for extended use due to the small screen and keyboard.
• Protection - A sleeve style case will offer significant protection against everyday rough and tumble. A rucksack can be more practical than a briefcase style carrier, as well as being more discreet.
• Anti-Virus Software – It is essential that anti-virus software is installed and kept updated.Various commercial packages are available from computer retailers or online; leading brands include Sophos, McAfee and Symantec. There are free anti-virus packages available for Windows platforms, such as AVG. Unprotected equipment puts the data and privacy of the user at risk, and may be blocked from accessing the Ampleforth Network. A good AV product will include protection for email and a firewall.
• Applications – As a student at Ampleforth College, you will be provided with a licence to the full Office 365 suite which provides a plethora of applications helpful for college work. This includes Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint and 1TB of storage in OneDrive. This can be accessed and downloaded locally to your device once your user account is created and provided to you.
• Backup – it is strongly recommended that students use cloud storage to backup all of their college work. All students will be provided with 1TB of cloud storage through their Ampleforth OneDrive accounts which can be used for backups. Alternatively, if the students prefers to have their own cloud storage, this is perfectly acceptable.
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• Personal memory sticks won’t be allowed on Ampleforth equipment however due to data security limitations.
• Warranty – Laptops are notoriously difficult and expensive to repair. Consider an extended warranty to cover the laptop up to 36 months. Although relatively expensive an extended warranty will provide some peace of mind. Laptops used by students have quite a hard life; expect to replace it after 3-4 years. Please remember that many basic warranties do not cover accidental damage.
You will receive regular communications from the College about your child’s educational progress, and an update is provided at Parents’ Days. The information below gives an outline. Academic matters at Ampleforth College are run by Mr John Devitt, Deputy Head Academic.
Education is a partnership between students, teachers and parents. At every step of the way the key to this working well is communication. At Ampleforth there are several different modes of communication which each serve a different purpose, and different people to whom questions or concerns should be directed.
Of course a student’s Housemaster or Housemistress is an essential lynch pin of this partnership and you are welcome to email or telephone them as necessary, particularly regarding pastoral issues.
Each student has a tutor too. The tutor works within the boarding house with a particular year group, meeting the students at least once a week formally for a tutorial. Their focus is on ensuring the student is flourishing academically, discussing study skills, careers and options, and managing their curricula and extra-curricular commitments.You will hear at least once per half term from them via email and through written reports, and they should be the first port of call for any academic queries. The tutors are managed by the Heads of Year, who will be in touch with you at the start of term to introduce themselves. In addition to these people there are two further ways in which you can get information about your child’s life at school. The first is the Parent Portal. This online database provides information about setting and timetables, and is the means by which half-termly grades and termly written reports are published.You will have received your login details in order to complete the New Starter Forms. The second place where day to day information can be gleaned is the Parent Portal. It has a staff directory, information about support, local services and travel details also.
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In Years 7 and 8 we aim to embed expectations of our unique school, providing a platform on which to achieve excellence at GCSE and in the Sixth Form. Each learner will be appropriately challenged; we understand the importance of numeracy, literacy and oracy skills, and these are placed firmly at the heart of our curriculum. The curriculum offers continuity of learning between Key Stages at Ampleforth College. It combines two aims: firstly, a breadth of study which enthuses and enriches the pupils’ experience of each subject; secondly, a focus on key learning skills such as evaluation, research, critical thinking and collaboration, ensuring excellent preparation for future academic examination requirements and beyond. Access to the full range of facilities helps to create an authentic and challenging learning experience.
In addition to the academic curriculum our pupils have a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities equally enriched by the facilities available on site; from shooting and rugby, to chess and lego robotics all led by enthusiastic experts.
Learning in the classroom is reinforced by our outstanding standards of pastoral care. We aim to provide an exciting and happy environment, where success will be celebrated, disappointment softened and where all children are encouraged to be aspirational. Most importantly, children are allowed to be themselves.
For Year 9 students the focus is on settling in and having a go. As students arrive from all over the world, precious new friendships are formed. Many students need time to get used to being at a big school, organising themselves and learning many new and exciting subjects. Equally we need time to get to know them, where their individual strengths lie and where they might need more support or encouragement. In key subjects like Maths, Science and English, students are initially set based on the information we know about them from their previous school. As the year progresses this setting becomes more accurate, but at no time is setting fixed – we encourage all our students to go beyond their and our expectations. We also want Year 9 students to try things out, in the classroom, on the games field and in the activities times. In the Lent term students will begin to consider which subjects they will continue with into GCSE and choices become firmed up in the Summer term.
Year 10 is a year of hard work, and lots of opportunities. No longer the ‘newbies’ of the school, students flourish on the sports field, in the theatre, singing in the Schola or playing in the orchestra, and working hard in the classroom. The role of service is developed through the activity programme. The retreat focus is on prayer and many students prepare for confirmation in May of Year 10. This is the year to do a few things really well alongside a solid study regime. At the end of the year all students have school exams in their courses.
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The goal posts of GCSE exams loom large throughout Year 11, but that is not to say students should down tools elsewhere! A full activities and games programme continues to run, ensuring a balanced programme whilst additional focused academic support is increased where needed. The retreat focus is on friendship. In the Lent term students have the opportunity to attend the Ampleforth College Higher Education conference, and each has discussions with careers staff, tutors and senior staff about their next steps. Students joining Year 11 will be sent the Year 10 exam papers and a curriculum map for each subject in the summer, so they can identify gaps in their knowledge before the start of the school year.
Year 12 is a really exciting time to join the school. There are so many opportunities in the sixth form, and we encourage you to take part in as much as you can of what Ampleforth has to offer. Academically, it is the first year of A levels, and so it is essential that this is at the front and centre of your considerations when you decide upon your co-curricular activities. In the sixth form, most students start with 4 A levels, chosen from the option blocks on the final page of the Sixth Form Handbook. If you are a student who requires English as an additional language tuition, you may opt for 3 subjects plus EAL. At winter half term, you may adapt your programme to discontinue an A level subject.Your programme of study (minimum 3 A levels) must be finalised by Christmas. You may choose to do an AS in Y12, but otherwise you will have Y12 Exams in April/May upon which your UCAS (university entrance) predicted grades will be based. Study takes place in the Library when you have ‘Qs’ (free periods). In Year 12, all students do Service on a Friday afternoon, and you can choose from a broad range of opportunities, from working on the Ampleforth Estate, to working in a local primary school, to learning British Sign Language or serving the school through the CCF, Theatre Green Room or the Orchestra.
Much is in place in Year 12 to help you decide about life after Ampleforth, from Old Amplefordian careers seminars and talks, careers lectures, a Higher Education Conference and lots of one-to-one talks with your tutor and the Careers team.
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In Year 13 the focus is on preparing for forthcoming A level exams and applying to university. Support is provided by tutors, overseen by Mr Lofthouse, to ensure that all students are focused with a clear idea of expectations. Tutors help students to prepare their Personal Statements for applications to university, and there is ongoing support from the Careers team. A number of students will want to make applications for Oxbridge or Medicine/Dentistry/Veterinary Science courses: these are prioritised and dealt with right at the start of the academic year.
Year 13 is hard work, but the rewards are in sight: over 70% of Ampleforth applicants gain a place at a Russell Group university. For many students,Year 13 also brings with it the chance to lead, whether as a Monitor or a Games Captain, or as the President of a society here at Ampleforth. Within the Houses, students can expect to enjoy more privileges but also more responsibility. Preparation for adult life is at the heart of all that happens in Year 13.
The New Starter Documents also ask you to complete Option Choices for students in Year 9 upwards.You can find out more about the different Options for GCSE (Years 10 and 11) and for A Level (Years 12 and 13) on our website: GCSEs and A levels.
All non-native speakers of English take an online English test at home during the admissions process. The test is operated by Cambridge International Examinations and results can be seen by the Head of EAL as soon as the test is completed. The test contains reading and listening elements. The Head of EAL shares this data with the Admissions department and a recommendation of the level of support required by the applicant is made to the Senior Admissions Registrar. Students are retested in the same way in September when they join the College, so that progress made can be assessed.
The test is scored out of 50. The results of the tests place the students in one of four categories detailed on the next page.
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Categories Band 1 score 50
Band 2 Score 30-39 score 40-49 Band 3
CEF C1
EAL Provision Mainstream English lessons
B1 B2
EAL timetabled lessons
A2
Enhanced EAL programme
Notes Students in band 1 take English lessons alongside the native speakers in the English department. Students in band 2 are timetabled in the EAL department and take EAL lessons in their timetable.
band 3 have timetabled EAL lessons. In addition, they have up to two hours a week of extra private English tuition with an EAL teacher. In order to accommodate these sessions, students in the enhanced EAL programme will drop one or two Year 9 subjects, agreed at the interview stage of admission. The extra one-to-one sessions are billed as private tuition and will appear on the end of term school bills. Work set during one-to-one sessions is to be completed in the extra Qs (study periods) gained from dropping subjects.
A new band 3 Year 10 or Year 12 entrant is also able to access one-to-one EAL lessons. The College tries to timetable these sessions in existing Qs (study periods). Parents are billed per lesson on the end of term bill.
Band 4 score 19 and lower
A1
A place at Ampleforth would not be appropriate
The School Medical Officers are Dr Gregory Black and Dr Kate Howlett.
The address for the surgery is: The Surgery Back Lane Ampleforth York YO62 4EF
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They offer the following information for new students:
All boarding students will be registered with the Ampleforth and Hovingham surgeries as NHS patients and their usual NHS GPs will be Dr Black and Dr Howlett. Day students living within Ampleforth and Hovingham surgeries practice area will be registered as the majority of their time is spent at school. This will give day students the same access rights to the GPs as boarders. If you are a parent of a day student and do not wish them to be registered with Ampleforth and Hovingham surgeries, please inform the College Infirmary. Accurate previous medical and vaccination history is required by the College Infirmary prior to arrival at the College. This will be carried out via the on-line New Starter Forms.
Please do NOT register the student with any other doctor under the NHS until they finally leave the College. If treatment is required during the holidays, it may be obtained as a ‘Temporary Resident’ from any NHS GP. Likewise, if you change address and re-register the family with a new GP, please do not register the student. If you need to speak to one of the School Medical Officers whilst your son/daughter is a student, they can be reached via the College Infirmary on 00 44 (0) 1439 766760 or by email: infirmary@ampleforth.org.uk or at Ampleforth Surgery on 00 44 (0) 1439 788215.
The School Medical Officers have prepared a health care protocol to ensure that every student who is injured or unwell is assessed in the first instance by a College Infirmary Nurse or General Practitioner, with the exception of somebody suffering from a common cold who would be cared for by their House Matron.
Ampleforth College and the School Medical Officers aim to provide a high level of care for students at Ampleforth College. We provide a confidential service for disease management and prevention. We aim to provide a caring service that meets the medical needs of the students and is consistent with the philosophies of Ampleforth College.
Prior to entry to the College, the on-line Health Care Forms will be completed for each student giving their medical history. If a student sees a doctor privately outside of term time then written instructions for change of medication should be sent to the School Medical Officers.
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Immunisation plays a vital part in the prevention of infectious diseases. Parents are requested to inform the School Doctor of any immunisation procedure carried out on their child during school holidays. Consent will be obtained from parents prior to immunisation at the College. Travel vaccinations can be obtained via Ampleforth Surgery for those students registered with the Practice; some require payment although many are available under the NHS. Students or their parents/guardians should notify the College Infirmary when planning to travel abroad at least four months prior to travel.
All medication brought from home to the College must be labelled with the student’s name and handed in to the House Matrons or to the College Infirmary. This includes herbal remedies and over the counter medications. A declaration of medication email is sent to all parents at the beginning of each term. Please list all medication your child is on when you receive this.
The College Infirmary Nurses will assess all medication and those that the students are allowed to keep will be returned. Inhalers and Epipens/Jext are kept by the students at all times but the College Infirmary must be made aware of these medications on arrival at the College.
Any students who are on Ritalin or similar medication must attend their Housematron daily for their medication. These medications are classed as controlled drugs within the United Kingdom and have to be supervised when given.
Students who are on controlled drugs such as Ritalin will be under the care of either a local National Health Service consultant adolescent psychiatrist or a private consultant adolescent psychiatrist if the student is covered by medical insurance. Please do not hesitate to contact the Infirmary for more information.
Please let the College Infirmary know in good time of any overseas trips so that they can order sufficient vaccinations and can arrange for them to be given in a timely manner with as little disruption as possible – some courses of vaccination can take up to six months to complete. Confirmation of any previous travel vaccinations would be useful, especially where students have been vaccinated outside the NHS. Please contact the College Infirmary for more information.
Private insurance is available, through AXA PPP; you can complete the form here and return it to: Infirmary Administrator, Ampleforth College Infirmary, Aumit Lane,YO62 4HA. Please remember that completed applications must be received by Monday 29 June if you wish cover to start from 1 September 2020.
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The students enjoy a wide, healthy and varied menu every day. All meals are taken in the school refectories apart from Lower School breakfast, which is taken in St Edward’s & St Wilfrid’s House. The Houses each have a kitchen where bread, cereals, various spreads and drinks are available. Students can cook in the kitchen too, and Houses will often organise supermarket deliveries. The Matrons also regularly bake and cook for the students in their Houses. Students do also like tuck, however, and you are welcome to send favourite treats. Some students use a small tuck box to store food in.
The term dates and Parents’ Days are always advertised well in advance on the school website, allowing you to book travel, particularly flights, in good time. Other important dates to be aware of are the Parents’ Days, one for each year group, when many families try to visit Ampleforth to meet their children’s teachers, hear presentations relevant to their stage of education and meet other families. Parents’ Day
Dates
Year 9
Saturday 14th November
Year 7 – 8
Year 10
Year 11
Year 12
Year 13
Saturday 1st May
Saturday 16th January
Saturday 27th February
Saturday 13th March
Saturday 10th October
Another important date, when many families visit the College, is for Exhibition, our annual celebration of achievements here at Ampleforth. In 2021, Exhibition will be on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th May.
Our Travel Department offers a friendly and efficient service for all our parents and students. We aim to offer the best possible prices with a high level of customer service and care.
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For all standard school holidays Ampleforth College provides an escorted travel service to London (Kings Cross), Edinburgh (Waverley) and Oxford. The service consists of an escorted coach journey from Ampleforth to York Station, departing Ampleforth at a prearranged time on the date of departure, to enable students to catch trains from York Station. Each group of students is escorted on the London, Edinburgh and Oxford bound trains by college staff. The college also provides an escorted rail travel service from London Kings Cross, Edinburgh Waverley and Oxford to York Station for returning students. On arrival at York Station, coaches with escorts return students to Ampleforth. The departing and returning costs to Kings Cross and Edinburgh are at preferential rates using LNER, and Morse Coaches offers us preferential rates too.
Students 12 years of age or younger. Arrangements for pupils in the Lower School are similar to those for the Middle School, though supervision arrangements are distinct. Children of 12 years and under must always be accompanied by an adult or guardian when travelling and so on the train will travel in their own coach compartment with their designated travel escorts. Escorts are members of staff who are already attached to the house, so they are well-known to the children. Lower School pupils will also travel to and from railway stations in dedicated coaches. Members of the house team will see pupils on to the coach as pupils depart, and will meet and accompany them from the coach at their return to the college. Travel outside of escorted school travel requires permission from the Housemaster. Lower School pupils must sign the code of conduct document regardless of school status. If you have any questions please contact the Travel Manager.
General arrangements regarding escorted travel are sent with the summer end of term reports or on request; however, the Travel Department provides additional travel information prior to every designated travel period. Should you wish further information, or require travel outside these times, parents should contact Suzie Boam (suzie.boam@ampleforth.org.uk) in the Travel Department directly.
Assistance in making other travel arrangements can also be sought from Ampleforth Travel Department; please note that these arrangements are unescorted.
Airports: Manchester Airport’s integrated transport hub offers fast and frequent train services linking the airport with over 100 destinations across the North of England and beyond, including a direct link to York Station. Trains run every hour and the journey takes approximately 1hr 45 minutes. A map of rail links from Manchester Airport is available here.
Other airports, including Leeds/Bradford Airport and Teesside Airport are also nearby and although some are accessible by rail link, there may not be a direct service. The most suitable direct transfer to Leeds/Bradford or Teesside is by taxi. Note that both airports are vulnerable to delays due to inclement weather.
Taxis: Morse Taxis (01347 878969 or 07767418805) and York Station Taxis (01904 623 332) offer special rates for all Ampleforth students, parents and guests. Use of these taxis in normally on an unescorted basis; however, should your child be at an age that escorted service is required, an “unaccompanied minor service� may be available by special request. Please contact Suzie Boam (suzie.boam@ampleforth.org.uk) for further details.
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General Information: An invoice service is provided for all travel that is pre-booked through the Travel Department. The inclusion of an airport, or a travel or taxi firm above, does not indicate that Ampleforth College endorses or commends the firm in any way. The contact numbers are provided for information only.
Ampleforth co-ordinates a standard service of the transportation of students’ luggage from the College to home (Outgoing) at the end of each term. It is the parents’ responsibility to arrange for transportation of luggage from home to Ampleforth (Incoming) at the beginning of each term.
Parents are responsible for arranging insurance for outgoing and incoming luggage transportation. Ampleforth College cannot be held responsible for any loss of luggage during transit.
Collection of luggage from the College usually takes place a day before the school departs. It is essential that each student informs his/her Housemaster/Housemistress, two weeks prior to the last day of term, as to the amount of luggage they will be sending home whether it be trunks, cases, holdalls or bags and also if any special arrangements need to be arranged.
All luggage must be secured and labelled with a strong tie-on label. All old labels should be removed and the new label should clearly state: the name of the student, the school house, the delivery address including the postcode and a contact telephone number. It is imperative that the couriers are able to contact parents direct in the event of any problems arising during delivery, for example, if detailed directions to the delivery address are required. The College is unable to provide any assistance once luggage has been collected from the College campus.
Arrangements for collection and transportation of luggage when students are returning to the College are the responsibility of the parents and can be made with any courier of your own choice. It is advisable to give the couriers at least 48 hours’ notice of your requirements. It is possible to make arrangements with Transglobal Express Ltd by using their online booking service: (www.transglobal.org.uk).
When booking, please ensure that accurate weight and size measurements for each piece of luggage are provided as the charges, which are payable by credit card at the time of booking, are calculated according to the figures provided. Please note it is no longer possible for the return to College delivery charges to be included on the student’s school bill. Should you have any queries please email the Transport, Logistics and Security Department (barrie.wilson@ampleforth.org.uk).
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We know that one of Ampleforth’s biggest attractions is its beautiful setting in North Yorkshire. We also know that if you come to Ampleforth, you are probably coming a long way! Apart from the first three weeks of term, when it is important that new students have an opportunity to settle happily, and the first and last weekends of the following terms, you are very welcome to visit Ampleforth.
Students can go out, with permission from their Housemaster or Housemistress, after games on Saturday. Many families meet in the Abbey Tearoom in the Main Hall.You are very welcome to attend Mass in the Abbey at 10am on Sunday mornings and then take your children out for lunch. If you wish to take your son or daughter out on Saturday night you need to speak to their Housemaster or Housemistress. Sometimes there may be a particular social event here at school, of course, which your child will not want to miss out on.
School Shop: The school shop is run by Pam Sails, the Shop Supervisor. Contact details: tuckshop@ampleforth.org.uk Tel: (01439) 766728
The School Shop, which is predominantly open during term time only, is situated in the Upper Building. The shop opening hours are from 9.00am to 4.15pm Monday to Friday. Please note that while the shop will be staffed periodically during July, it will be closed for the whole of August. Pam is happy to advise regarding uniform sizing. Items stocked include: • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • •
Sports kit including all items on the compulsory sports uniform list Rugby boots (no other sports footwear) Some sports accessories School ties: everyday uniform ties, society ties, black ties, house ties and cravats Sweets, soft drinks, crisps and snacks Toiletries including shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant etc Shoe laces Postage stamps (UK and abroad) Batteries Headphones Mugs: House mugs and thermal safety mugs College branded items: shields, cufflinks, scarves, beanies, polo shirts, sweatshirts and baseball caps for leisure wear Pens, pencils, highlighters, pencil cases etc Paper and ring binder files Geometry sets and calculators
Payment for small items such as sweets, soft drinks, crisps etc. is by cash only. Payment for major items is by cheque or by the ‘chit’ system, where authorised items may be put on the termly account.
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The Abbey Shop is situated in the Main Hall and is open Monday to Saturday 10.30am to 5.00pm and Sunday 11.00am to 4.00pm. You can contact the Abbey Shop on 01439 766778 or abbeyshop@ampleforth.org.uk or visit their website www.abbeyshop.ampleforth.org.uk. Students are only allowed in the Abbey Shop during nonschool hours, with permission from their housemaster or housemistress. Items stocked include: •
• • • •
Books – mainly religious in stock, but also Non-Fiction, all types of book can be ordered in. The shop offers a 10% discount on the cover price of all Bertrams stock titles, and a send my book facility, so books can be bought at the shop and sent to any UK address. Remember all the shops profits support the Monastery. Devotional Items and Jewellery Ampleforth branded products Gifts and Greeting cards Mobile phone Top Ups and Book Tokens
Good quality outgrown suits, sports jackets, blazers, trousers, shirts and black shoes etc can be bought and sold through the shop.
All clothes for sale must be in good condition, dry cleaned and labelled with the student's name and home address. Parents will receive 50% of the proceeds with the remaining 50% donated to FACE-FAW.
The Second Hand Shop is located in the Sewing Room adjacent to the Archway. The shop opening times are by appointment by contacting Mrs Marian Rogers: marian.rogers@ampleforth.org.uk or Mrs JoJo Hudson: joanna.hudson@ampleforth.org.uk.
The benefits to pupils of music lessons are considerable, and lessons, whether instrumental or singing, develop skills that can enhance adult life. Further enrichment is gained from being able to play and sing with others in ensembles. Parental support and understanding of how the lessons system works is crucial to our success.
This document is intended as a reference document to answer some of the more general queries parents often have; apology is made for its length, as matters are quite complex we do ask that you take time to familiarise yourself with the contents. NB “Instrument” and “playing” should also be taken as referring to “singing”. Queries or other matters should, in the first instance, be directed to the Music Administrator (music@ampleforth.org.uk)
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We have a team of fully qualified and licensed LTA coaches who lead the tennis programme at Ampleforth all year round. Our players are set regular goals and are given a programme that involves individual lessons, squad training and strength and conditioning. The college has some fantastic facilities with 19 tennis courts, including 15 with floodlights.
Tennis is a major part of the games programme in the summer term, with training three times a week and many fixtures against other schools across all age groups. We compete in regional and national competitions as well as running a number of internal events. The Ampleforth Tennis Club also gives pupils the chance to play team tennis outside of the summer term. The costs for coaching sessions in 2019 were as follows:
Individual Lesson: ÂŁ25.00 per 40 minute lesson Paired Lesson: ÂŁ12.50 per 40 minutes lesson
If you would like your son or daughter to have coaching please contact our Head of Tennis Adam de Vries: Adam.DeVries@ampleforth.org.uk
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Ampleforth College, York, North Yorkshire, YO62 4ER, United Kingdom
0044 1439 766000 admissions@ampleforth.org.uk www.ampleforth.org.uk/college