What to Bring

Rooms and Storage

We want you to feel at home here in Aidan’s so please do make sure that you bring photos and small decorations for your room to make it your own. A beautiful duvet cover also helps to brighten a room and we look forward to meeting many of your beloved soft toys! Fairy lights are permitted, but MUST be battery operated, not plug in, and posters and photos may not be stuck on any of the paint work. There is a large pin board. First Years (Year 9) are in rooms of four, Second Years (Year 10) are in double rooms. All Sixth Form and most Remove (Year 11) have their own room but depending on size of the year group, some Year 11 may need to share for a term. Whilst there is ample storage, you will learn quickly that bringing too much ‘stuff’ can get a bit overwhelming at boarding school! The advice is to not bring too many going out clothes or shoes; but do bring a pair of wellies and a good raincoat! We have some luggage storage space in the house and each girl may leave no more than two substantial pieces of luggage in the house trunk room. During the big holidays, Christmas, Easter and Summer, rooms have to be completely emptied as guests often use the boarding accommodation in the holidays. Girls must be mindful of this as each can only store one trunk or suitcase in the trunk room in the holidays, all other things must be taken home. Please take this into account when you are packing!

Clothes and Possessions

The College will send you a separate clothes list. Please particularly note that school skirts must be knee length, black or dark navy, and no stretch fabric. If you wish to wear trousers these must be black and cut in a classic style. You are not permitted to wear skinny style trousers. Jeans of any description may not be worn during the school day.

You may wear a white, pink or blue shirt. Only black, blue or grey sweaters may be worn for school and only black scarves/pashminas are part of the dress code. We do have a number of “colours” pashminas that can be awarded for scholars, sports players and for house awards which I do hope lots of you will achieve in due course. Most of you will have pre-ordered games kit but anything that you require can be ordered through Matron at the beginning of term. You will need a dark suit for Mass. This needs to be a proper suit with a knee length skirt, or classic cut trousers; trousers cut in a “skinny” style are not permitted. You wear your Mass suit every Sunday with a white shirt. If you do not conform to the school dress code, you will be provided with an adequate replacement suit by the house and the cost will be added to your bill.

Please attach your name to ALL of your clothes and bring extra name labels as well. A lot of the problems that we encounter with people losing their clothes could be solved if casual clothes as well as school uniform items were clearly labelled. The school laundry system is excellent. Laundry is placed in bins put out by Matron on Monday evening and it is returned on Wednesday. Please make sure that you have enough clothes to cover 9 to 10 days and have a spare towel. Sixth Form girls may use the house laundry at appointed times but the laundry room must be kept neat and tidy at all times or the privilege will be withdrawn.