FAQs

In Forms L3 – F4 students will share a room with 3 or 4 other students in large rooms. We ensure that students have a sufficient private space and sharing a room is a great way for students to build good friendships. 

As students go up the school, they would typically expect to share a room with fewer students, and either a single or shared room in the L6. In the Upper Sixth students have their own room.

No. However, our bathroom facilities have been upgraded and all have private shower cubicles. Students boarding in L3 and F3 do have their own bathroom facilities.  

Bedtimes vary across the year groups. Every weekday evening there is a house meeting and night prayers. Lower 3 and Form 3 students go to their rooms at 8.30pm and are expected to read their book before lights out at 9pm. Form 4 go to bed at 10pm, Lower 5 at 10.15pm and 10.30pm for U5.

The Sixth Form are given greater independence to structure their own evening but are expected to be in their rooms and ready to sleep at 11pm.

Weekends are more relaxed but we will expect all students to be in their rooms and ready for bed at 11pm.

No – students in Forms L3 – U5 are expected to hand in all electronic devices at 9.30pm. These are locked in the House office overnight. Devices are returned to students after breakfast on the following day.

Sixth Form are given greater freedom and do not have to hand their phones in overnight. However, if we are concerned about a student’s work ethic, they misuse their devices or we feel they are not getting enough sleep, then we will also take in their device.

Monday - Friday
Breakfast: 7.30 – 8.00am
Lunch: 12.30 – 2.00pm
Supper: 6.00 – 6.30pm

Saturday
Breakfast 9.00 – 9.30am
Lunch 12.00 – 12.30pm
Supper: 7.00 – 7.30pm

Sunday
Breakfast: Cereal and toast in houses
Brunch: 12.00 -1.00pm
Supper: 6.00pm

There is a great variety of food choice and we encourage students to request meals through the Catering Committee or directly to our Catering Manager.

We believe a weekend Mass is an important community event so we ask all students to attend every weekend. Services take place on a three-week rotation: Saturday evening (6pm), Sunday morning (11am), Sunday evening (5pm).

No. We have two ‘Quiet Weekends’ in the Michaelmas Term when there are no sporting fixtures but boarders can  remain in school and there are Boarding Activities on Saturday and a Sunday trip.

Yes. Boarders at Prior Park are very fortunate to have the city of Bath only a short walk down the hill from the school. Many of our Boarders walk into Bath on a Saturday afternoon (if they’re not playing sport) or a Sunday. It’s important students seek the permission of and sign out with their Housemaster or Housemistress when they wish to go into town.

We encourage students to stay in groups whilst they are in town and students in L3 and F3 are supervised by a member of staff on a Saturday afternoon.

Younger boarders are not normally allowed out in the evenings during the week. However, any request must be made in advance with the relevant Housemaster/Housemistress  and, subject to their academic and house record, they may be allowed out for an evening meal with an agreed return time.

There is a range of activities for Boarders on a Saturday Morning through our Saturday Active Programme. These take place from 10.00 – 11.30am.

There are a number of Weekend trips and these typically take place on a Sunday. These are optional but we encourage students to attend. Examples of trips are:

• Longleat Safari Park
• Paintballing
• Westfield Shopping Centre
• Stonehenge
• Premiership Football matches

During the week there are evening activities. Many students like to use the Gym and Sports Hall to do their own training or play football, basketball and badminton.

Yes, on Saturday mornings for all and on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons for U5 & Sixth Form as part of their games.

We also do badminton and basketball at these times.

Yes. Please make arrangements with your child’s House Parent.

We have an onsite Health and Wellbeing Centre that provides outstanding medical care. Our staff are first aid trained and, if necessary, we have the Royal United Hospital, Bath a short drive from the school.

We provide a pillow and bed linen, but some boarders prefer to bring their own. Boarders need to supply their own duvet and any additional pillows.

Students will want to bring their own clothes for weekend and evenings and some sports clothes for evening and weekend activities and trips. We ask students to wear smart-casual dress to weekend Masses.

Laundry can be taken over to the laundry room Monday - Friday. It is normally ready for collection the next morning in the pupil's labelled section.

Bedding is laundered weekly.

Each boarder has a wardrobe and drawers in their bedroom. Students in U5 and Sixth Form also have desks in their rooms. There is separate storage in the boarding houses for their suitcases and trunks.

The amount will vary. We ask students to keep cash with their Housemasters and Housemistresses. This means it can be secured in the house safe. We also ask for passports and BRP cards to be handed in and secured.

Many students set up a bank account and staff will help them with this.

We would encourage students to not have too much cash as all of their meals and activities are provided by the school. However, we do know they will want cash for sweets and other treats!

Bath city centre is a 15 minute walk from the school. However, there is a local shop and pharmacy in the village of Combe Down which is a two minute walk from the school.