St. Cuthbert’s House Handbook
2022
Welcome to St. Cuthbert’s from the Housemaster Welcome to St Cuthbert’s House. This booklet is an introduction to life in the House, and a helpful guide as to what you should look to bring with you in September. I am the sixth Housemaster of St Cuthbert’s. My most distant predecessors, Fr Sebastian and Fr Walter, clocked up 62 years of service between them. I can’t promise to still be in post in 32 years time, as Fr Walter achieved! I am now in my eight year as Housemaster and you are joining a House that continues to flourish in every way. We have large year-groups with a blend of personalities and interests; a serious academic expectation with a strong record of boys leaving to study at Oxbridge and other leading universities in the UK, Europe and the USA; our boys are happy – my study door is always open, and the room will often be full of football fans watching the Champions League, boys playing chess, or even our more cultured boys evaluating the high-brow drama of Love Island. My aim is that St. Cuthbert’s is more than a House – it is a home. Cuthbert’s will be the boys’ home during term-time, a place where they can relax and be themselves. For each of you I have met, I will have mentioned at some point that Cuthbert’s is a place where it is safe to make mistakes. That is not to say that a boy making a mistake won’t be sanctioned or that I will keep things ‘in house’ rather than alerting the school authorities: rather, it means that I do not hold grudges and see every event as a learning opportunity. We all make mistakes – myself very much included – and so all I ask is that boys approach our House and our school with respect and integrity. After-all, it is my home, too. My wife and I live in Cuthbert’s with our soon to be nine year-old son, Noah, and our daughter, Rose, who will be four in September. Noah can usually be found on his swing in the garden, playing football on the Astro-Turf or digging in the woods next to the House! Rose, meanwhile, enjoys her position as one of the very few girls in St Cuthbert’s, often joining us for House Prayers in the morning which very quickly become the ‘Rose show’! My vision for St. Cuthbert’s is one I expect all boys to buy in to: St. Cuthbert’s is seen as a House where all are treated with respect, where individuality is encouraged and a level of care for one another exists to ensure that each boy sees Cuthbert’s as a home. Father Paul Nevill is the subject of the enormous portrait at the top of Big Passage; as Headmaster, he was probably the most important figure in shaping the development of our school, most notably the House system. He suggested in the Ampleforth Journal in July 1912 that it is “education of ‘self’ which is often the most valuable part of a boy’s school career”. This still rings true in the modern-day Ampleforth College; I want each boy in St. Cuthbert’s to feel secure enough in their House to develop themselves to the fullest extent. Ampleforth has so much to offer – squeeze the life out of it. The rule of St Benedict and its model of Christian living is at the heart of the strong communal life of St. Cuthbert’s, in particular the key idea that ‘no one aims at personal advantage but is rather concerned for the good of others.’ We are a community that places a high value on friendship, our motto Gratia Gratiam Parit meaning that friendship begets friendship. Although some of the older boys may hold positions of responsibility within the House or school, it is worth noting that to me and to one another you should be equal. There is no hierarchy based on age and the expectation of the boys themselves is that kindness is the default.
Fundamentally, we are a team of teachers, parents and students. To the boys I say: you will have a Housemaster, Assistant Housemaster, Matron, Chaplain and Tutor watching out for you and on your side, not to mention fifty other boys. However, a team only works if everyone commits to it. My personal motto is to remember the teaching of Jesus Christ that “the Son of Man came to serve, not to be served.” I make no apology that that will be the first of many times you will hear me say that! Whether you are reading this as a parent of an Upper Sixth or as a nervous thirteen year-old who is joining us, I am delighted that you have chosen this House: it is a deep honour to be entrusted to the care of the boys during some of the most important years of their lives. I am always asked as boys leave, “will you miss them?” Of course, the answer is yes, as we grow so familiar. However, I am never sad to see a boy leave at the end of their time at Ampleforth – it is a journey and, as with all journeys, there are always new faces to meet along the way who will add their own unique gifts to the House. Finally, do follow us on Facebook – www.facebook.com/stcuthbertshouse.ampleforth. Our Twitter handle is @AmpColl_StC.
With my best wishes,
Mr J.D. Rainer BA (Hons) MA (Dunelm), PGCE (Buckingham), NPQSL Housemaster
St Cuthbert Our House Crest dates from the very beginning of St Cuthbert’s House in 1926. It features the Cross of St Cuthbert prominently along with four lions representing the four Evangelists. The red tongue and claws of the lions reminds us of the sacrifice of the Christian martyrs, and the blue background links us to the sea at one of the sites most closely associated with St Cuthbert – Holy Island in Northumberland which, at high tide, becomes cut off from the mainland by the sea. St Cuthbert is a wonderful Patron Saint to have. Born in about 635AD, Cuthbert’s early years were filled with events pointing to his future as the greatest of the Anglo-Saxon saints. After seeing a vision of the soul of St Aidan being escorted to heaven by angels, Cuthbert decided to become a monk and entered Melrose Abbey. Sometime later, he went to Ripon and, when St Wilfrid was made abbot of Ripon, Cuthbert returned to Melrose and, surviving an outbreak of plague, became Prior. After several years, Cuthbert was appointed as Prior of Lindisfarne, a much larger community. As Prior, Cuthbert governed gently and faithfully but yearned to be alone with God and so was given permission to go to the Inner Farne, a few miles off-shore from Lindisfarne, to devote himself to prayer and contemplation. However, his holiness continued to be spoken of throughout the country and, following a meeting of bishops, King Ecgfrith persuaded a reluctant Cuthbert to leave his island retreat and to become Bishop of Lindisfarne. He fulfilled his ministry with great tenderness and energy, but the Farnes called to him again. After two years as Bishop, Cuthbert resigned and retired into solitude on St Cuthbert’s Island (photographed by Mr Rainer in 2019), devoting himself to prayer and preparing himself for his own death. When death came, on 20th March 687AD, he was buried in the monastery at Lindisfarne, where he remained for nearly 200 years before the monks fled from the invading Vikings, taking Cuthbert’s body with them on their journey. After spending over 100 years at
Chester-le-Street, the monks eventually brought the body of Cuthbert to Durham, where it remains to this day in the Cathedral built as his shrine.
On Sunday evenings during prayers, we will repeat the words Cuthbert left to his monks: Live in mutual harmony with all other servants of Christ. Do not despise those faithful who come to you seeking hospitality. Receive them, put them up, and set them on their way with kindness, treating them as one of yourselves. Do not ever think yourselves better than your companions who share the same faith and follow the monastic life. What a great guide for young men living in the 21st Century.
‘A Day in the Life of St Cuthbert’s House’ 7am
The House is ‘open’. Boys may go to breakfast, Strength and Conditioning, for a run or swimming. Anyone leaving the House before 7:00am must signout and alert Mr Rainer the previous evening so that he can arrange for the intruder alarm to be turned off.
7:50am
First bell – time to wake up!
8:00am
Second bell – really time to wake up!
8:00am
Breakfast served in House
8:10am
Prayers – Each day starts and ends with House Prayers, which were written by Mr Rainer and Fr Richard. Beforehand, Mr Rainer or Mr Metcalfe take the morning registration. Afterwards, the boys are given daily notices. Boys who require daily medication will collect this from Matron on the way out of prayers.
8:20am
Technology collection from Matron for Years 9 and 10 – all boys in Years 9 and 10 hand in their mobile phone, iPad and any laptops overnight. This is the same in each House.
8:30am
Third bell – time to leave the House for Periods 1 and 2. Only Sixth Formers can return to House during study periods, known at Ampleforth as Qs.
10:25am
Morning Break – most boys come back to the House for toast, cereal, coffee, tea or soft drinks. Matron will cook hot dogs one morning a week…if rooms are tidy! Collect your books for Periods 3 and 4.
12:35pm
Quiet Time – all boys return to House for some time out before lunch. They might do some prep, hang out in a social area or arrange to see a teacher for some 1-to-1 support.
1:10pm
House Lunch – we eat as a House at lunchtime. During this time there is a formal register taken. Every Monday the boys sit in their Deanery Groups, mixing with boys in different year groups. Otherwise they sit with their own year group and often with their tutor.
2pm 6:25pm
Lessons or Games Check-in for Prep. Years 12 and 13 may sign out to the library. Many boys use this time to visit the Music School for rehearsal. Years 9 and 10 finish prep at 8pm.
8:30pm
Prayers – as with the morning, a registration is taken. Then a short prayer service follows where the boys are introduced to a variety of Roman Catholic liturgy, such as Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (Monday), Compline and the Rosary (alternate Fridays). Notices follow. There is a tradition at Ampleforth of a Housemaster’s JAW, where Mr Rainer imparts some wisdom or thoughts to the boys every couple of weeks or so. Afterwards there might be a social, but there is always free time to play pool, table tennis, FIFA, make some food, watch TV or just go and chill out with friends upstairs.
9:30pm
Bedtime – the bedtime routine begins with Years 9 and 10 handing in their technology for secure storage and charging overnight. Year 9 have lights-out at 9:45pm, Year 10 and 10:00pm and Year 11 at 10:15pm. Sixth Formers must be in their own bedrooms at 10:30pm.
10:00pm – Day boys can stay over whenever they like through simple parental 10:30pm permission given to Mr Rainer. Having set the intruder alarm, Mr Rainer will circulate the House, saying ‘goodnight’ to each boy and completing the overnight register.
House Staff and Student Leaders As well as the Housemaster, Matron and House Chaplain each boy is also assigned to a tutor who is principally responsible for monitoring his academic progress. The House is fortunate to have a very experienced tutor team who care deeply for the students in their care. The focus of our tutorial system is on high-quality conversations in weekly 1-to-1s, however, there is a Year Group assembly or a tutorial period every Friday morning. Tutors can be contacted directly should parents wish to discuss or consult on academic matters. Parents should expect all tutors to be in contact at least one per half-term, although there may be times when there is heavy e-mail traffic – such as when students are making GCSE or A-level option choices or after internal examinations. It is generally useful for the Housemaster to be cc’d into e-mail correspondence. Each tutor also shares in the duties of the House, including oversight of lunchtime, prep and bedtime once a week.
THE HOUSEMASTER Mr James Rainer (also Head of Year 11) james.rainer@ampleforth.org.uk
Mr Rainer joined Ampleforth in 2010. He teaches Christian Theology and Government & Politics, and was previously Head of Football as well as a coach of cricket and rugby. He became Housemaster in St Cuthbert’s in 2015, his fourth House at Ampleforth.
THE ASSISTANT HOUSEMASTER Mr Justin Metcalfe (also Head of Hockey and teacher of PE) justin.metcalfe@ampleforth.org.uk Mr Metcalfe is a very popular member of the House team, and the self-proclaimed best table tennis player in Cuthbert’s. He has been Head of Hockey for two years, and plays to a high level himself at York Hockey Club whilst coaching for the regional England Hockey hub.
MATRON Miss Sally Milestone sally.milestone@ampleforth.org.uk Sally has been Matron in St Cuthbert’s for nearly 20 years – there is truly nothing a boy can do which will surprise her! She is the ‘go-to’ for parents with any medical, personal hygiene or organisational concerns. CHAPLAIN Fr Richard ffield (formerly Housemaster, St Thomas’ House) rff@ampleforth.org.uk Fr Richard is possibly the kindest man in the world; he joins us for prayers morning and evening and always waits behind to see if any of the boys require a listening ear. He will happily help any of the boys with any emotional worries they have from home. Mr Rainer sees Fr Richard as the ‘grandad’ of the House! TUTORS Mr Julian Allisstone (also School Counsellor) jgja@ampleforth.org.uk Mr Allisstone has been Year 9 tutor in St Cuthbert’s for over two decades. He has a wealth of experience and will work collaboratively with the boys and home to help everyone settle in and adapt to our expectations.
Dr Oliver Beveridge (also Teacher of Biology) oliver.beveridge@ampleforth.org.uk Dr Beveridge has been a Sixth Form tutor in St Cuthbert’s for the past five years, previously working as a research scientist in academia.
Mr Paul Connor (also Head of History) ptc@ampleforth.org.uk
Mr Connor has been a tutor in St Cuthbert’s since the 1990s. A questionable (?!) claim to fame is that he taught a certain ex Number 10 advisor and leader of vote leave… Mrs Francisca Garcia-Ortega (also Teacher of French, Italian and Spanish) fgo@ampleforth.org.uk Known universally as Mrs Garcia, there isn’t a tutor more fiercely loyal to her tutees. It is one of the great sights of Ampleforth College to see 5ft tall Mrs Garcia get her Sixth Form tutees singing to her tune…she never fails!
Mr John Devitt (also Deputy Head Academic) John.Devitt@ampleforth.org.uk Mr Devitt is a vastly experienced Sixth Form tutor, as well as a former Head of Physics and our current Deputy Head Academic.
HOUSEKEEPING STAFF Charlie (Junior Gallery) Lucy (Senior Gallery) The Housekeepers play an important pastoral role; chatting to boys at breaktimes, identifying any upset or changes of habit, and encouraging the boys to be organised and tidy. STUDENT LEADERSHIP Jack Fletcher (Head of House) Patrick Savill (Deputy Head of House) Victor Gallwey (Catechist and School Chaplaincy Monitor) Luke Thomas (School Sports Monitor) Frank Collin (Deputy Head Boy)
House Monitors and the Deanery System Alongside the House team the House monitors in the Upper 6th, led by the Head and Deputy Head of House, help to run the House on a day-to-day basis. Monitors can be seen as similar to a Dean, defined in the Rule of St Benedict: Deans (Monitors) selected should be the kind of people with whom the abbot (Housemaster) can confidently share the burdens of office, they are chosen for virtuous living and wise teaching, not for their rank. Indeed, the Deanery system is at the heart of the Cuthbert’s community. Each student belongs to a Deanery wherein points are awarded (or taken aware) for achievement (or otherwise) academically or in sports and activities. The most successful Deanery can expect reward from the Housemaster and his team for their performance in a given half-term or term. Monitors help with the practical running of the house, helping to supervise prep by encouraging a positive working atmosphere, organising teams for House competitions, helping to run House socials etc. Just as importantly they are also there more generally as boys to whom other members of the House, particularly juniors, feel they can turn if they have any problems. Their example is crucial in setting the tone for the rest of the House, and they are very important in the influence that they have over the rest of the House. It is expected that they set a good example in their approach in all aspects of life at Ampleforth - academic, sporting, spiritual and social. Monitors are given training and guidance in their roles.
Safeguarding The safety and happiness of the boys are very important to us. They and you will get to know a broad range of staff who they will form positive relationships with and who they should feel comfortable talking to if there is a problem or a concern. Usually this will be members of your House Team such as Mr Rainer, Mr Metcalfe, Matron, Fr Richard or one of the tutor team. There is also a central designated safeguarding team who the boys are always welcome to speak to also. Posters with their names and faces on will be put up around the House along with their contact details also. Dr Dunn is the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
Arriving in St. Cuthbert’s The Start of Term Details of the September start have been shared by the College centrally. The standard return time for all other starts of term and also after half terms and exeats (long weekend breaks) is 7pm; this is the formal ‘start-of-term’ time and you may find that my study is not staffed by myself or the Assistant before this time. School travel usually departs at 8am on the final day of term (as listed on the website). After this, school is closed and transport should be arranged in advance of this time. The crucial things to do at the start of each term are: -
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Hand in pocket money so it can be put in the house safe. To allow boys to learn to manage their money and keep it safe, all money should be handed in. Every year a boy will drop their money or misplace it, and this does cause understandable upset. Please be aware that whilst we can take reasonable precautions as a House, we cannot be responsible for the personal belongings of students. Having a large amount of cash on your person can also attract a certain amount of notoriety amongst the student population, and it is generally one best avoided. Alternatively, please contact the accounts department and make a payment to the school account clearly marked with your son’s name and St Cuthbert’s. Hand in passports (for boys who live abroad) and any visas so that they can be put into the House safe. We keep a log of these, along with any other important documents which are handed in. We are required to check the passports of all visa holders at the beginning of each term. As not all boys travel outside of the UK for holidays, it is the responsibility of each individual student to reclaim their passport before they depart the school. Typically, we do this the evening preceding their departure. Ensure house staff are aware of any medication/health issues/allergies. It is very important to note that all medication will need to be kept with Matron or at the infirmary to be dispensed by them. This includes common over-the-counter medication, such as paracetamol. All boys will register with the GP at Ampleforth surgery and medication will be reviewed by them. Appointments with the doctor are available daily and can be made through Matron or at the infirmary. Make sure that all bags are unpacked and empty trunks and bags are either taken away by parents or stored in the trunk cupboards around the house.
Packing List and Dress Code All parents are sent a list of clothes that are needed for school during the summer. ALL clothes must have name tapes (these are much more obvious than simply writing the name on in biro or marker pen) so that they do not get lost in the school laundry. It is also a good idea to have a set of name tapes to give to Matron so that when your boys get new clothes during term, often new games kit, the clothes can be labelled by matron. As a number of boys have struggled with organisation or tidiness in the past year, we have moved to opening the laundry room by request and keeping it locked at all other times. This allows Matron to keep a better track of which students are not collecting their laundry. Fortunately, theft is extremely rare in St Cuthbert’s but the boys do need to guard against it by taking responsibility for their belongings so that we, in turn, can take responsibility and act on anything which might go wrong. During lessons the dress code is as follows: •
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Shirts must have firm collars, of a style normally worn on formal or semi-formal occasions. Generally, shirts should be white or pale blue. All boys must wear a white shirt for Mass on Sunday morning. Jumpers should be v-necked and plain. The plain black school tie should always be worn on Mondays in remembrance of the six boys who died in a train fire on 28 April 1941. Other official school ties (Monitors, House, Colours, Activities etc) may be worn on other days. No other ties are permitted. For other school days the dress code consists of a black/blue or tweed jacket/blazer and standard design black, grey or dark blue trousers (no canvas, denim or chinos). A detailed description of the dresscode is available on request whilst the boys can find pictures of appropriate school dress in their planner and on the House noticeboard. Year 9, 10 and 11 boys should wear formal black shoes. Brown shoes may be worn by the Sixth Form (except on Sundays). All boys must wear formal black shoes to Mass on Sunday morning. All boys should have at least one dark-coloured suit. This will be worn for Sunday Mass and students may be invited to wear their suit on whole-school days such as Open Day or if the student is gated or internally rusticated. Hair should be kept clean and tidy and must be of a natural colour. The length should be neither excessively long nor excessively short at any point. ‘DIY’ haircuts may result in a trip to the barbers for which mileage and the cost of the haircut will be billed. Please may I ask that you support the school in ensuring that your son returns to school with an appropriate haircut. It can place House staff in a difficult position if a student is of the opinion that their parents have authorised a haircut.
Summer dress rules apply when advised by Housemasters and Housemistresses. The usual dress rules apply but jackets and ties need not be worn. A top button may be left undone. The dress code for Sundays remains unchanged. On Sunday for Abbey Mass boys wear a dark suit, white shirt, black school tie and smart black shoes. They are free to change into their own clothes after Mass has ended. Boys can wear their own clothes in the House and around school outside the school day. With limited wardrobe storage space boys should not bring too many own clothes though – it is very easy for rooms to become untidy just because boys have too many clothes. Also, being as candid as possible, it is worth keeping in mind that Ampleforth is a rural campus – I’m yet to understand the need for expensive clothing at SHAC. Please encourage the boys not to bring very expensive clothes with them to College; it is one more potential headache for them (and Matron!). We ask that as many clothes as possible are easily washable at 40oC. Boys should have a gum shield for rugby and hockey; if they go to a games session without one they will not be allowed to participate. A basic mouth guard is available at the school shop for approximately £3. The sports department also organises a dentist to visit the school in the second week of term to fit students with professional mouth guards which cost between approximately £28 and £70 depending on the dental work which they protect. There is no pressure from the games department to have a dentist fitted mouth guard and, therefore, the choice is very much that of parents.
Money and Valuables Some boys like to have pocket money at school as there is a school tuck shop, and boys can also go to the village shop. Pizzas and soft-drinks are popular purchases at the weekend from Mr Rainer, which they can then cook themselves: these will be added to the school bill. Any larger purchases like games kit or books can be paid for with a chit – a special slip signed by housemaster or matron that can then be taken to the shop and is charged to the termly account. As a rough guide £10 a week should certainly be enough, particularly for junior boys. All money should be left with the Housemaster in the house bank for safekeeping. This can then be taken out after morning prayers, lunch and evening check-in. Unfortunately, as in any communal living arrangement, the security of money and valuables cannot be guaranteed if simple actions of security are not followed. It is recommended that a minimum amount of expensive electrical items are brought into school. Games consoles and handhold equivalents should be left at home. As a House we have our own PS4 which the boys can enjoy at weekends. Laptops, Tablets and mobile phones should be insured through personal plans or included in home insurance policies as valuables are not covered by the school insurance – the school offers a separate iPad insurance scheme which you will have received details about. All computers, tablets and phones left unattended should be kept locked with a password. It is also sensible to avoid leaving expensive items and money lying around in communal areas to which students from other Houses may have access. Each boy does have a lockable cupboard that will fit a padlock and so that would be a sensible thing to bring at the start of term. Passports and tickets for travel should also be given to the Housemaster upon arrival at Ampleforth for safekeeping.
Technology Tablets will be removed from Years 9 and 10 at bedtime, as there is strong evidence to suggest that the presence of ‘blue light’ has a detrimental effect on the quality of sleep, mood and levels of concentration. There is even stronger evidence that the presence of technology in a dormitory has a detrimental effect on the mood of a Housemaster at 11pm! Mobile phones and tablets will be stored securely overnight and the locker will be reopened in the morning after prayers in time for the boys to prepare to lessons…and check Snapchat. Generally there is no need for a junior to have a separate laptop unless they use it for specific learning support.
Mobile Phones If there is any reason for your son to require more than one mobile phone, please can you make me aware? Sometimes boys from abroad have a ‘home’ phone and an English phone; the same rules apply for phones as for iPads – for years 9 and 10 the phones are removed for the evening. There are very good reasons for this, which I have expanded on below. One of the more established tricks of boarding school life in that boys do try to sneak in a second phone – and it can be tempting for parents to support this – but the boys should expect to be sanctioned and have the phones confiscated.
Contacting Home Whilst boys these days rarely write home they often need things to be sent to them, such as left-behind holiday prep or tuck! Post is delivered daily to the Housemaster’s study and can be collected in person. The House postal address is: St. Cuthbert’s House Ampleforth College York Y062 4EW All the boys will be provided with a school email address which can be accessed from any of the student computers in the school, including those in the house. Tablets and laptops brought from home can also be logged into the school wireless internet which covers most of the campus once they have been registered with the school’s IT department. Once they can access the school internet they will also be able to keep in touch with home through Zoom, Teams or Facetime. Other access to the internet through the school wireless network is protected by a school firewall, as well as restrictions on access during school time, prep and in the evenings. Use of VPNs or other peer-to-peer style networks is prohibited due to the security risk they pose to our server, as well as the statutory requirement for us to protect children against misuse of the internet. The majority of boys will have mobile phones. The numbers for these should be registered with the Housemaster and should be updated when a new phone is bought so that boys can always be contacted in an emergency. The best signal currently available is from the EE and Plusnet networks. I am told that Vodafone is also good, although I cannot personally attest to that. O2 and Three tend to have a very poor signal, usually failing to get 4G (you may consider this a good thing!). The House has a sound-proofed room just off the main hallway in which boys can speak to home. Increasingly boys are using Zoom or Facetime and this is, of course, not a problem although this should not be used in a shared dormitory for safeguarding reasons. Mobile phone use is outlined in the Student Planner. All technology, including phones, will be removed from the first and second year from the beginning of the year at bedtime. This will be stored securely and it will be the boys’ responsibility to claim their equipment the following day before school. The House team reserve the right to remove mobile phones or other technology from any student or bedroom from bed time until morning prayers and ask that, generally speaking, any phone contact with parents is done before 6.30pm or between 8.30pm and 9.15pm. The best times to call are between 8.30pm and 9pm on weekdays, after 3.30pm on Saturday and anytime on Sunday except during Mass and prep time (5pm – 7pm).
Mobile phone top ups can be purchased in the tuck shop and added to the school bill via a chit, although the majority of students are now on a contract. Please ask your son to set-up ‘Find my iPhone’ or equivalents before the start of term, including on items such as AirPods. It is very common for a rushing boy to fling his phone onto his bed or for it to be dropped in another House. Boys are invariably panic-stricken when they fear they have lost their phone, but more-often-than-not they are able to find them quickly if they have set up their security appropriately.
Weekends On Saturday afternoon after morning lessons and a cafeteria lunch all the boys will be involved in sports, either training or representing the school in fixtures. Day students or students staying out with parents must not leave school until after games. Saturday evening is the main social time of the week. There are regular social events, cinema trips, quiz nights and similar organised either within the house or among a few or all of the houses. A high premium will be placed on this time by the Housemaster and boys can expect this time to be filled with a variety of activities. However, it is their time and Mr Rainer will need their input to decide what to do and who to invite. The boys do not have to be ‘doing’ all of the time and they are more than welcome to chill out, invite their friends around, play chess or watch a movie. The House has Now TV with a full complement of sports channels, including BT Sport – the Housemaster will not complain if the boys want to watch the day’s Premier League highlights… On Saturday evenings 6th form students can go to the Windmill social centre where they can purchase a couple of alcoholic or soft drinks along with a meal. Drinks are purchased using a swipe card that is charged by parents through the Parent Pay portal. This ensures that students cannot purchase more than their allotted number of alcoholic drinks in one evening. Alcohol intake is tracked across the week, as Sixth Formers will, from time-to-time, be offered a beer or glass of wine at a suitable opportunity when there is no weekend social. Alcohol will always be served with food, and a non-alcoholic alternative will always be available. The House team, of course, do not drink alcohol whilst on duty in the care of your children. On a Saturday night boys must be back from Windmill by 10:15pm, and on Sunday they must be back by 9:00pm prayers. Junior years’ also have a curfew on Saturdays and Sundays which will change by season. On Sunday morning the house gathers at 10:40am for a brief check-in before all walking down to the Abbey Church for Mass at 11:15am. Parents and siblings are welcome to join us at this Mass.
Sunday Lunch is a formal house lunch (although in good weather we sometimes have a house bbq), and the boys then have the rest of the afternoon free until prep time from 5 until 7pm. There are fewer organised social events on Sunday evenings. Sunday evening will have a variety of events, a Deli Night of cold meats and cheese is a Cuthbert’s staple to which friends from other Houses may be invited, or Mr Rainer might have a curry with a year group. Food being a winning theme for any teenage boy, Mr Rainer sells pizzas and soft drinks at reasonable prices (much cheaper than the local takeaways) which the boys cook themselves in the House kitchen. Any proceeds from this are spent on the House – such as the PS4.
Going Out with Parents Many parents visit during the weekend from time to time, especially when their son has a home fixture or if it is their birthday. The only exception to this are occasional ‘closed’ weekends, which is always the first weekend of a term. If the boys are being taken out for dinner they either have to be back in the house by 10.15pm, or if boys are staying out over night with parents then they must be back in time for Mass in the morning. Parents often then also take their sons out for Sunday lunch, and boys have to be back in time for 5pm prep. As a full boarding school, holding to these times is important. To ensure that we are fully compliant with our statutory requirements, please can the Housemaster be sent an e-mail in good time before any departure from school, either giving permission if your son is going to a friend’s house or detailing when they will be out of school and when they will return if they are going home. An online form also exists which confirms the arrangements made. We encourage parents to visit and are happy to facilitate any plans for birthdays or other milestones. There are some school rules for such events, and Mr Rainer will be happy to go through these before any event. This is particularly important for a major milestone such as an 18th birthday. Another very important note for parents visiting the house is that they must not go into the boys’ dormitory and bedroom areas of the house. Any visitors to the House should make themselves known to a member of staff and wait in Mr Rainer’s study. Adult access to private areas in school is, understandably, an area where no mistakes can be made. If you email us in advance to let us know when you are visiting we will try to ensure that there is someone in to meet you; occasionally parents wish to catch-up with their son’s tutor during a visit and they are usually very happy to see you either in the school or in my study.
Visiting Other Houses Boys and girls from other houses are always very welcome to St Cuthbert’s, though they should first report to a member of staff on duty in the House. Likewise, boys may also visit friends in other Houses during free time. Boys may visit the public areas of girls’ houses and vice versa, though they may not visit their bedrooms under any circumstances, including if they are siblings. In St Cuthbert’s House, the public areas are the entrance hall (where the games tables are), Housemaster’s study, Workroom, the main kitchen and the common room.
Meals Boys can go to breakfast in House either before or after morning Prayers. All boys must go to breakfast and Matron quietly observes the eating patterns of our students, raising any concerns in her daily meetings with Mr Rainer. The boys eat House Lunch and together in the refectory, and supper in their year groups. The main House kitchen is always open except at school mealtimes and for cleaning; Matron is around and about during the day whilst Mr Rainer’s study is opposite the kitchen. We try to track who uses it during the day so that we can identify if anyone may not be making full use of their meal times. All boys return to the House during break times and most will descend on either the kitchen or Matron’s room, demolish the Coco-Pops and remove all trace of Nutella from the kitchen! We stock the basics, such as pasta, pasta sauce, and noodles. Bread is always available along with milk, coffee, tea, squash and various jams and spreads. The main kitchen by the common room has a range cooker, and it can be used by the boys if they want to cook in the evening or at the weekends. This is a life skill which we are happy to encourage and support. Food can be stored in the fridges and freezers, but must be clearly labelled. Year groups will occasionally have a takeaway with Mr Rainer, which will be added to the school bill. Takeaway apps such as JustEat and UberEats do not deliver to Ampleforth, but local restaurants do and Mr Rainer can provide details to any groups of friends who wish to order this in.
Laundry Dirty washing must be placed in the bags outside the Laundry room each week. Boys are advised to have a laundry bag in their room, too, to hold their dirty clothes. In addition there is another collection on Monday morning for boys to get their games kit washed after fixtures. As there is games on Monday afternoon, boys must keep on top of their kit so that they have adequate clothing for all of their sessions. It is very important that boys make sure that all their clothes are clearly named so that their clothes are not lost in the laundry. If they are looking for anything that has gone missing it is very important that they do not move other boys’ clothes around searching for their own clothes. That is the most common reason for clothes going missing! There is a school drycleaning service that is run by the school shop. Any minor repairs to clothes that are needed can be taken to Matron who will work her magic with her sewing machine!
House duties and House ‘voice’ All boys are on a rota for the cleaning of the kitchenettes on the first and second floors in the house. Minor misdemeanours may be punished with a duty of either helping to clean the main kitchen or picking litter around the outside of the house. The Assistant Housemaster will host House Councils approximately once a term to discuss the state of the House and anything which is on their mind about the school or their studies. Mr Rainer or the Senior Leadership Team periodically take the temperature of the House with a more formal student voice to give feedback, ask for ideas, or to provide the opportunity to vote for positions of student responsibility.
Religious Life in the House Life in the House is underpinned by the Catholic and Benedictine ethos of the school, and serves to support the spiritual, moral and intellectual development of students as set out in the school’s mission statement. The Rule of St Benedict has provided the inspiration for many schools over the centuries and at Ampleforth we aim to share in that same tradition of, ‘establishing a school for the Lord’s Service’. (RSB Pro45) The Rule and the Gospel guide and inform life in the house, and key parts of this involvement with the Catholic Benedictine tradition are our daily Morning and Evening Prayer, as well as weekly House Mass, Sunday Mass in the Abbey, participation in reconciliation services, and
the annual House Retreat. Our house chaplain, Fr Richard, is also often around the house at other times, is happy to talk with any boy in the House about any subject. Boys can be involved in the religious life of the house either as altar servers in the junior years or as readers and Eucharistic ministers in the 6th form. One of the House Monitors each year is also the House Catechist who, along with Fr Richard, prepares boys (most often second years) for confirmation. As a House we also support the school’s charity, FACE-FAW and students are invited to be involved in other pastoral activities, most notably the Friendship Holiday and the Lourdes Pilgrimage, both at the end of the summer term. Students of a non-Christian faith or whom have no faith will find our opportunities for reflection valuable; its purpose is not conversional but rather to help the young men in St Cuthbert’s understand that life – whether one is religious or not – has more to it than concern for oneself. A joy of community life is that each boy brings their own world view, and that is encouraged and welcomed. We offer Anglican Confirmation and Communion within the school, whilst students and parents of a nonChristian tradition may liaise with Mr Rainer and Fr Richard to ensure that key moments are kept and celebrated.
Academic Life in the House Ampleforth College is first and foremost an academic institution. Having been founded as a place for young Catholics to receive an education that can see them take a leading place in society, good academic performance is at the heart of what the school is trying to achieve. Prep is done in the house after school every day, and the staff and duty monitors ensure that prep time is a quiet time around the house, particularly in terms of playing music in rooms. Boys must stay in their own rooms unless they have arranged to do prep work in Room 50 with the learning support department or if (as sixth formers) they wish to go and work in the library. Any boy leaving the house must ask permission from the tutor on duty and sign out in the book by the door. The first year do their prep in the workroom under the supervision of the tutor on duty or a duty monitor. In this room as boy has a desk as well as locker space to keep books and files
tidily. During prep every day the tutor on duty will check that prep has been filled in properly in each boys’ workbook. At the end of prep they will look at a randomly selected piece of work to ensure that the boys are keeping on top of their work. The Housemaster and tutor also check the rest of the house to ensure that boys are working. Older boys usually work in their room, although those who are failing to meet the minimum standards of attainment or effort will be expected to work in the workroom or in the Housemaster’s study. It is vital that all boys remember that if they are having difficulty with their prep they should talk to somebody about it as soon as possible. There are a number of sixth form mentors who will be happy to help with specific subject issues, as well as members of staff around who can also help. At the very least giving prep a go and agreeing with your teacher to see them individually to go through the work is vastly preferable (and less liable to get a detention!) than just not doing work set. Sixth formers have a number of study periods each week – these are universally known as Qs. They can either return to their rooms to work or go to the school library. If effort grades are not good enough the boys may be told that they have to go to the library to work in their free periods. For many, particularly in the top three years, they will want to work before or after prep time in their rooms, and it should be remembered that many students in day schools in their public exam year will be working more than two hours an evening. In a wider sense the House is one in which academic interests and achievement are both prized and encouraged. Boys who win Headmaster’s Commendations (awarded for good effort every half term) get a special celebration meal. Winning Headmaster’s Commendations is also something that reflects well on the house, and as such will be an important factor in whether a boy wins his house colours. Boys can also get practical help for their studies in the house. Our staff can help with a range of different subjects. Individual learning support lessons can be arranged with Mr Rainer either during study periods or during prep time; the House team may also take steps to coach students in positive working habits. It is important that boys in the House develop a mature approach to academic study. Those who do not are liable to have privileges revoked or be invited to work in the Housemaster’s study during prep time.
Activities and Sport After school each day, on Friday afternoon and sometimes at other times during the week, there are a large number of activities on offer to everyone in the school. These are often based on sports, music, drama, CCF or academic extension, but the range is even wider than that. It is expected that every boy will be a member of at least two different activities each week. Many will do much more! For first year boys doing only the minimum of two other activities it will be expected that one of their activities slots in the evening will be spent reading a book of their own choosing in the house study with hot drinks and biscuits. Of course many boys may choose to do this in any case! With training on Monday and Wednesday, team run (preparation for the weekend fixture) on Thursday period 8, and school fixtures for most on Saturday sport, is a very big part of life here at Ampleforth. Often each year a few boys are selected for club or county representation in one or more sports and we will do everything we can to support boys in these out of school commitments.
House Events and House Colours Almost every single activity, from music to hockey to debating is also run as a house competition sometime during the year. These friendly but fiercely-fought competitions are invaluable for building up house spirit as they bring all the boys together as a real team. The breadth of different competitions, and the full participation required by many (such as cross country and the rowathon) means that everyone will have a role in representing the house at some stage of the year. There is a presentation of House Colours to reward those who have put in a really noteworthy effort for the house. The social highlights of the academic year are House Punch (the House celebratory dinner where the Headmaster and invited guests join the boys, usually held as close as possible to the March Feast of St Cuthbert) and House Christmas Dinner (held in the last week of term in December).
Health and Safety in the House Boys must keep their room / part of the dormitory tidy and free of litter. Furniture should not be moved in the rooms as everything has been placed carefully where it should be. All windows in the house are fixed with limiters, and it is the responsibility of each boy to ensure that these limiters are not tampered with or broken as they will be charged for their repair if they are found to be broken. I am sure you will understand that any attempt to roof-walk or leave the House without permission at night is dealt with by means of a suspension, at the very least. Modest posters (that you would not mind elderly relatives seeing, for example!) can be put up, but must be taken down at the end of each term as this is part of the letting arrangement for the holidays. Every boy is also expected to take responsibility for the public spaces in the house, helping to create a tidy and homely environment. In addition, Matron regularly comes round and checks each room in the house is both clean and complies to our statutory requirements. As part of this a weekly fire check is also carried out. All electrical appliances (e.g. hair dryer, stereo) must be PAT tested before arrival, or this will be undertaken once you arrive at school and charged to your account. All electrical items must be tested each year. Every study desk has power points and these can be used only for personal computers, lights and stereos. Under no circumstances should students use or bring in other electrical items such as televisions, toasters and kettles. Students have access to toasters, kettles, microwaves, a cooker, refrigerators and televisions in the house. Boys should familiarise themselves with the escape routes and fire procedure for the House. Regular fire drills are carried out each term and each boy is encouraged to ‘make a plan’. In particular all boys must remember that not only is smoking anywhere against school rules, but smoking inside the house (or any school building) will result in immediate external rustication due to the obvious fire risk that this causes. In addition tampering with the seals on the fire extinguishers around the house is very expensive for the house as each seal costs a lot of money to be replaced and this money will have to come out of the house budget which in turn reduces the amount of money we have for social events. Boys should expect to dealt with by the Headmaster if they are found to tamper with fire detection equipment in any way and should not be surprised to receive an External Suspension for any offence. Any person discovering a fire should raise the alarm using the nearest fire alarm. Only if you have been trained and it is safe to do so should you try to fight the fire with a fire extinguisher. Everybody should leave the House through the nearest available exit, closing windows and doors behind them. Boys should then report to the House assembly point (the AstroTurf) as
highlighted on the signs inside the building. On no account should boys run or stop to collect belongings on the way out. Once at the assembly point boys should remain quiet for the staff member on duty to take a roll call and give further instructions. There is a wide range of ages in St. Cuthbert’s and so it is important that both Juniors and Seniors respect the privacy of one another. Juniors should generally have no need to be on the Sixth Form gallery. Similarly, Sixth Formers should not go onto the junior gallery unless to see Matron. Only House staff should ever be in the first year dormitories.
Medical Care at School Matron is normally in the House between 7:30am and 4:30pm on weekdays. All medication is to be kept with matron for safe keeping, and she will accompany boys to medical appointments if the student wishes. She also will often be the member of staff who will accompany students to external medical appointments. The school infirmary is just up the road from Cuthbert’s if boys are feeling unwell or are injured, although boys should always talk to Matron or the Housemaster or tutor on duty before going to the infirmary. The House team can be woken at any point of the night to alert the infirmary to a medical concern. It is never a problem and a student should never feel awkward about this. In the event of illness either the Housemaster or Matron will make the necessary provision via the infirmary, including a doctor’s appointment if necessary. Parents are informed by the infirmary staff if boys are kept in the infirmary overnight for any reason.
Homesickness and Parental Involvement While it is very easy to stay in touch with home whilst boarding it is still common for boys to feel homesick, particularly in the first few days and weeks of term or just before a holiday. Everyone experiences this to a greater or lesser degree at some point, and it is better to admit it rather than to try and cope with it on your own. Remember that there is plenty of sympathetic support available in school from any of the House team, our chaplain Fr. Richard, or another student. The school counsellor Mr Allisstone is in the House regularly in his role as first-year tutor. I find that House monitors are particularly caring in these situations as they have probably gone through it themselves. These boys are trained in basic safeguarding and mental health awareness by the school, and they will alert Mr Rainer or the House staff to any issue which is of concern to them.
I should add that phone calls and contact home late at night can often have a negative impact on both parent and son. It is natural that the boys often feel more emotional about their day as they become tired at lights out time, and so it is better for all concerned that they are not engaging in emotional communication home at such a time of night. The Housemaster or Assistant are available at all times, and are unlikely to be in their flat until 11.30pm, so any upset should generally come to the House team as a first port of call. The one certainty of life as a teenager is that there will be challenges! I am confident that many of you would attest to each other that, as a team, we excel in supporting our students through challenging times – our ability to do that is helped immeasurably by the excellent communication and relationships which develop with the parents. If parents do have any worries about homesickness, or anything else of course, then they should get in touch with the Housemaster. It is better to hear early that there might be an issue than to hear days or weeks later that an issue that has not been mentioned before has suddenly become a big problem. In addition, teenage boys are often not that good at communicating the whole picture with their parents, and staff are able to give more of an insight into what is happening in the house. In my experience, parents are normally left reassured and happy after raising their concerns with the Housemaster. If I do not know that there is a problem, I cannot help – so it is always better just to drop me an e-mail and I can investigate and, hopefully, reassure you. You clearly know your children better than anyone else, and your ‘sixth-sense’ can be invaluable. I should add that we have some boys in the older years who are walking testaments to the effectiveness of our management of homesickness. It is natural, normal, understood by all of the older boys and something we can really make good progress with. Unfortunately, that does not make it any more pleasant at the time, but there will always be light at the end of the tunnel and we are very experienced in this regard.
We have an excellent team of parent reps throughout the years who will be in touch periodically. They are a go-between the school and the parents about the strategic direction of the College, as well as more immediate school-wide concerns which your children may express to you. They can be a point of reassurance but do not form part of the pastoral structure of the College. Any concerns about any student should be channelled through the Housemaster or the tutor, as they will have the bigger picture.
St. Cuthbert’s House Ampleforth College York Y062 4EW