Notable Academic Facilities

Ampleforth promotes academic excellence by finding the best in every pupil. They encourage each student to realise their full academic potential, to have high expectations of themselves and to work hard to realise those ambitions in a supportive environment. This challenge is created by a full, comprehensive range of subjects, high calibre teaching and first-class facilities for learning. The school prides themselves on fostering a passion for learning in every student and bringing out the potential in each student. Their objective is to enrich and stretch learning at every available opportunity. Every student, regardless of ability, is challenged, supported and nurtured at all stages of their school career. They achieve academic excellence through building their students’ interest in the world around them, confidence to be curious and ask questions, and encouragement to be the best they can be. Their Academic Scholars are valued members of the school community. They are under the guidance of the Head of Academic Scholars who is responsible not only for their progress, but also ensuring they are stretched academically.

They also offer BTECs.

Wellbeing & Pastoral Care

There are currently eight boarding Houses at Ampleforth, three for girls, four for boys and a dedicated Junior House for Years 7 & 8. On arrival, all students join a House, which will become a central focus and important base for them during their time at the school. Each House is home to up to 70 students of all ages who live in a friendly and supportive atmosphere which is run by a Housemaster or Housemistress. Every House is named after a saint, and each has their own crest and school colours, nurturing students in a strong spirit of solidarity and loyalty. Day students are fully integrated into the life of the House and are allocated their own study space. They are able to stay overnight. A resident Housemaster or Housemistress and a team of House Tutors take part in the pastoral care of the House. In particular, a tutor is responsible for the academic progress of every student in a single House year-group. Tutors ensure that every student is correctly placed in subject sets and is studying the subjects that best suit his or her abilities and interests. They also monitor progress and liaise closely with parents. This watchful help will continue throughout the student's stay at the school and will extend to the choice of university and career. House Matrons also play an important part in the general pastoral care of students and liaising with the College Infirmary. The Houses are by no means exclusive communities. Sporting competition between the Houses is keen. The school's many activities and shared meals make school-wide communication easy, and friendships between students from different Houses naturally develop. Lessons, of course, are organised in year groups, which ensures that students have extensive daily contact with students from other Houses.

Advice For Parents

They advise early application but will consider applications at all stages where they have space in year groups

Typical Child

Each individual’s unique talents are recognised, valued and nurtured within a welcoming community rooted in Benedictine values. Ampleforth educates the whole person, mind, body and soul, unlocking what they can contribute to the world and fulfilling their academic potential.

Financial Assistance

Particular bursarial funding for certain criteria

Highly Regarded For

Each individual’s unique talents are recognised and nurtured within a welcoming community rooted in Benedictine values. Ampleforth educates the whole person, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually, unlocking what they can contribute to the world and fulfilling their academic potential. Equipped with the skills and mindset needed to flourish, Amplefordians are inspired to be caring and thoughtful citizens who make the right decisions in life.

Notable Points

They aim to provide a culture and environment where individual talents and challenges are recognised and self-esteem nurtured so that all individuals will reach their full academic potential. Ampleforth offers support for students with specific learning difficulties, including those with an EHC plan and those with occasional problems with learning. This includes individual extra teaching to supplement work done in main subject classes. They support students within the curriculum by a combination of individual tuition, general academic counselling and the teaching of study-skills for specific problems. Students are normally seen individually, and in supervised study time rather than by withdrawal from other classes. Specific literacy problems are identified, then tackled using a structured, individualised approach. Prep Club is run by specialist teachers and provides supported prep to students needing subject assistance. Computer programmes and multi-sensory methods support keyboard skills, literacy and learning strategies. They can test students and if they qualify for exam access arrangements, target the specific areas of weakness that has led to the concession. Information which summarises strengths and weaknesses, defines problems and offers specific strategies and targets, is shared with academic and pastoral staff. The Department's rooms are available daily as a calm, supportive and welcoming environment for quiet study, and particularly for prep sessions each evening where help and advice is readily available.

Sports

Sport forms an integral part of a child’s development whilst at Ampleforth College. This is achieved through providing a sports programme that has a positive influence on all ages and all abilities and instils a life-long passion for sport and physical activity. Their aim is to develop every child’s interest, passion and performance in sport, from aspiring internationals to those who chose physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle. Their long tradition of sporting excellence gives them the experience required to maximise every student’s potential, regardless of the level of sport that they play. To help them achieve this, they offer outstanding facilities with their fully equipped fitness suite, sports hall, 25m swimming pool, squash courts, indoor cricket nets and their High Performance Functional lifting and Athletic Development. Students benefit from all-weather tennis courts, netball courts, hockey astro, rugby pitches, cricket pitches, outdoor and indoor cricket nets plus more. Each student benefits from their exceptional team of coaches, comprised of former international sportsmen and women, professional coaches, staff solely dedicated to the running of their school sport, and committed academic staff. This level of support guarantees the best possible environment for every student to develop their skills, including the very elite.

Art

Occupying a central position in the school, the purpose built Sunley Centre is well equipped, with large painting studios, a printmaking workshop, a ceramics studio, sculpture facilities, textiles studio, Design & Technology workshop, Art library, computer room and exhibition space. The teachers and technicians are all respected artists bringing a complimentary group of specialisms to the classroom. Their aim is to work alongside students helping them to discover their own creativity, and delight, in making things. Drawing from observation is a core element of the curriculum, enabling students to confidently record and explore their ideas, which then leads to work using a wide variety of media, materials and processes. All students are welcome to sign up for one of the many Art activities, regardless of whether they have chosen to do Art as one of their exam subjects.

Drama

The Drama Department is a living, breathing organism at Ampleforth. A flurry with actors, directors, dancers, technicians, stage managers, artists and academics, there is something for everybody there. Those who wish to pursue a career in the arts, as well as those who thrive on the academic rigour of analysing and exploring texts, are invited to study IGCSE Drama and A Level Drama & Theatre Studies. Lessons are fast-paced, exciting and challenging in their performance studio black box. Students who enjoy the thrill of performing on stage (or back stage) in large-scale productions will always find a role to suit them in one of their many shows each year, whether it be a musical, a studio performance, Shakespeare or a contemporary physical theatre piece - there's something for everyone. They offer private LAMDA lessons for students who want to stretch themselves further. In LAMDA lessons, their speech and drama coach builds students' confidence, perfects their elocution and stretches their physical creativity. LAMDA offer examination routes, providing students with further UCAS points and certificates to show their commitment and hard work. As a foundation, they aim to provide students with the confidence they need to speak publicly, work as a team, think creatively and have confidence in their vision, no matter what career path they choose to follow. They also feel passionately about exposing students to a wide variety of cultural experiences, be it as a performer, technician or spectator. These two aims are achieved through their introductory Year Nine curricular classes and a wide co-curricular programme, which includes a range of school plays and musicals, collaborations with other departments, trips to the theatre and London, visits from world renowned practitioners and the Green Room activity.

Music

Music is in the life-blood of the College and the department has excellent facilities. The whole school sings together at least twice a week, at Assembly and at Mass and there is regular whole school singing practice. All pupils also sing in House concerts and the House Singing Competition. The Schola Cantorum sings publicly twice a week, at choral Mass on Friday evenings and at Mass on Sunday. They also sing in Cathedrals around the UK and go on an international tour at least every 2 years. There is also a Junior Schola and a number of different choirs. There is a parallel programme of instrumental music with concerts throughout the year showcasing the various ensembles including the Symphony Orchestra, String Ensemble, Jazz Band, Brass Group, and Pipe Band. Pupils also perform regularly to parents over the course of the year as well as in informal concerts. The student-led annual Pop and Rock concert sees many pupils forming groups and playing to the whole school. The Ampleforth Highlanders’ Pipe Band, which wears the tartan Murray of Atholl, performs regularly at school events and has had considerable success in national Piping and Drumming competitions.

Dance

They are fortunate to have a large purpose built Performing Arts Centre. In addition to their timetabled lessons, they offer private Dance lessons for students who want to stretch themselves further. In Dance, students are trained by their specialist Dance teacher to refine their movement and discover their forte - ballet, jazz, modern, ballroom, swing, the possibilities are endless! Dance offers examination routes, providing students with further UCAS points and certificates to show their commitment and hard work.