Useful Information

Social Time

The school puts on lots of social activities at the weekends including discos, film nights, cinema trips, bowling, trips to theme parks and tag laser shooting. On Saturday and Sunday nights, Sixth Form girls have the option to visit “The Windmill” the Sixth Form social centre. The Windmill serves food, soft drinks, wine and beer purchased on a Windmill card. Only parents can top up these cards. Windmill is a fabulous facility and the management often put on theme nights such as fancy dress evenings –please use Windmill responsibly and stick to the rules in order to preserve the privilege of membership.

Mobile Devices - Please also see Appendix 2: College Mobile Devices Policy

You are welcome to bring your mobile to school, but it is really important that you look after it carefully and use it appropriately. You must not use your phones in lessons or during prep time, if you do so your phone can be confiscated for up to a week. First and Second Year Girls are expected to hand in their phones before bed and they will be returned after lessons the following day. Sixth Form should try not use their phones after 10.30pm. The House has good Wifi, which shuts off at 10.30pm and has safety features enabled. Use of VPNs is not permitted and will result in sanctions. This is to ensure that students are protected from upsetting or inappropriate content on the internet.

There are two pay phones in the house and their numbers are: 01439 788854 and 01439 788914 and students may use the house phone by request and you may arrange to call them on these numbers if they do not have a mobile phone.

Money and Valuables

You will need pocket money at school as there is both a school and House tuck shop; you can also go to the village shop and order pizzas at the weekend. Any larger purchases like games kit or books can be paid for with a chit – a slip signed by Mrs Dent or Matron that can be taken to the school shop and is charged to your termly account. As a rough guide, £10 per week should be enough, especially for junior girls.

All money should be left with Mrs Dent in the House bank for safe keeping. This can then be taken out after morning prayers. Amounts of money over £10 should not be carried around school or kept in your dormitory.

Each girl pays £25 (approx.) to the house each term; this amount is put on your school bill. This money is used to pay for newspapers, magazines, birthday cakes, DVDs, socials etc. I am able to advance girls money for things like train fares and taxis for University interviews and these loans are recouped on the school bill. I will always contact parents or guardians for permission if these loans exceed £25.

It is recommended that a minimal number of electrical equipment/items are brought into school. Games consoles should be left at home. Laptops and mobile phones should be insured through personal plans or included on home insurance policies as valuables are not covered by the school insurance. All computers and phones left unattended should be kept locked with a password. It is also sensible to avoid leaving expensive items lying around in communal areas.

Passports and tickets for travel should be handed to Mrs Dent upon arrival at Ampleforth for safe keeping.

Visits from Parents

I am always delighted to see parents and give them an update on their daughter’s progress. As a general rule it is better not to have a parental visit on the first or second weekend of term as it hinders spending time with new friends and bonding could then become an issue. You may take other girls out with your parents if you would like to but I need to know by no later than the end of Wednesday each week if anyone is being taken out so that I can seek the necessary parental permissions.

Expectation of conduct on and off the College campus

Please bear in mind that when off campus, you are still a member of the Ampleforth community and the school code of conduct still applies and you should conduct yourself in such a manner as not to embarrass yourself, your family, St Aidan’s or the College. You are and will always be an ambassador of St Aidan’s and the College.

Visitors

You may have visitors from other houses into St Aidan’s. If I am in the study your guest should introduce themselves and ask if they may come in. You should do exactly the same if you visit another house. Your visitor should then sign-in using the visitors’ book and sign out as they leave; this is a fire safety regulation. Male visitors are strictly restricted to the common room and kitchen although female guests may visit your room with permission.