Stonyhurst

Stonyhurst is the UK’s leading Catholic co-educational boarding and day school for pupils aged 3-18, empowering boys and girls to be the best they can be. Operating as a tight-knit family that seamlessly blends tradition and innovation, Stonyhurst inspires its young people to emerge as agents of positive global change, by embodying the values of being 'men and women for others'.

Stonyhurst has a fascinating heritage, being the oldest continuously active Jesuit school in the world. It was founded in St Omer in 1593 and moved to its present site in the Ribble Valley in Lancashire in 1794. school is set in a magnificent Grade I listed building, amongst a secluded and safe 1,000-acre estate with its very own museum and historic libraries on site, which contain 37,000 artefacts and 65,000 books. This is a valuable resource to ignite the minds of young people and bring the curriculum to life. There aren't many schools where you can handle a copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio, dinosaur fossils, the Holy Thorn that was believed to be part of the actual Crown placed on Christ’s head, and Henry VII's Cloth of Gold Cope.

Pupils have many opportunities to discover new passions and talents through the Co-curricular Diploma at Stonyhurst. There are over 75 unique co-curricular activities for pupils to enjoy outside of their normal curriculum, creating a fully-rounded education, ranging from astronomy, Combined Cadet Force, sport, fencing and shooting, to horse riding and swimming! These activities are supported by excellent on-site facilities including a swimming pool, gym, 22 sports pitches and 2 indoor Grand Slam tennis courts, 7 chapels, Astro pitch, shooting range, 2 theatres, golf course, golf simulator, museum, observatory, woodland classroom, dance studio and more…

The Sixth Form offers three options for study – A level, International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, or the Cambridge Technical Diploma. Each route provides a wide range of subjects to choose from and a pathway to suit different learners. Being a non-selective school, Stonyhurst continues to achieve excellent academic results, higher than many grammar schools, with many pupils going onto Russell Group universities and other renowned universities across the world.

In 2023, Stonyhurst was rated excellent in all areas by the Independent School Inspectorate. The report recognised the high standards of academic achievement of the pupils, stating that ‘pupils of all ages and abilities display excellent attitudes towards their learning’, and ‘possess strong study skills and take an inquiry-based approach to their studies’ with their academic and other achievements being ‘wide and varied, and highly accomplished’. Pupils were found to be ‘highly articulate and speak with eloquence when addressing others’.

From a personal development perspective, the report documents that ‘pupils of all ages show excellent levels of self-understanding’ and ‘show strong levels of perseverance when faced with challenges’. Pupils were found to ‘demonstrate high levels of self-esteem’.

Living in a supportive and diverse community, our pupils develop those qualities of character that will distinguish them in later life as ‘men and women for others’. A Jesuit education provides a foundation for such a life, nurturing individuality and encouraging generosity. It is a springboard to a life of purpose. We offer a range of Scholarships at 11+, 13+ and 16+. Means-tested Bursaries are also available. For more information about our Scholarships and Bursaries, and to download the Scholarships and Awards brochure, please visit www.stonyhurst.ac.uk.