Academic Life in 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. You must stay in your own room unless you have arranged to go and work in the library. Any boy leaving the House must ask permission from the tutor on duty and sign out.

Mr Rudsdale and the tutor on duty check the rest of the House to ensure that boys are working.

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 in a support class or 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, during which they can either return to their rooms to work or go to the school library.

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, effort 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 cooked by Matron. Winning Headmaster’s commendations also reflects well on the House, and as such will be an important factor in whether a boy wins his House colours.