Mount St Mary’s College

Mount St Mary’s College is an idyllic place for children to grow into the fullness of our Jesuit vision, becoming good ‘Men and Women for Others’ from the moment they join us through to the end of Sixth Form aged 18.

We hope that as you read more about “The Mount” as it is affectionately known, you will gain insight into just what it is that makes this such a special place to learn, live and work – a sense of our well-known 'Mount Spirit', which makes the Mount feel like home.

We are a Jesuit school, and our vision upholds these values. In that spirit, we welcome students of all faiths and none to become:

Grateful for their own gifts, for the gift of other people, and for the blessings of each day; and generous with their gifts, becoming men and women for others;

Attentive to their experience and to their vocation; and discerning about the choices they make and the effects of those choices;

Compassionate towards others, near and far, especially the less fortunate; and loving by their just actions and forgiving words;

Faith-filled in their beliefs and hopeful for the future;

Eloquent and truthful in what they say of themselves, the relations between people, and the world;

Learned, finding God in all things; and wise in the ways they use their learning for the common good;

Curious about everything; and active in their engagement with the world, changing what they can for the better;

Intentional in the way they live and use the resources of the earth, guided by conscience; and prophetic in the example they set to others.

We very much look forward to welcoming you at Mount St Mary’s, a place truly inspiring young hearts and minds to go forth and set the world on fire.

Our cosmopolitan boarding community of British and overseas students is at the heart of College life. It is a place where memories and friendships are made that last a lifetime, where opportunity is around every corner and possibilities are endless.

They gain so much from this diversity, not least an understanding of and a respect for cultural differences, which has never been more important in today’s global society. The linguistic benefits are huge, as immersion in an English speaking environment makes perfecting the language a very real possibility.

Boarding at the Mount means a home away from home. Our younger students typically share 2 – 3 per room, and this is where the foundations of lifelong friendships and connections begin. The rooms are warm and cosy, providing every home comfort and aspect of modern-day living. Our older students have their own room for quiet work and privacy.

The houses all have communal spaces for study, relaxation and socialising, with laundry handled by our boarding parents, and all meals prepared freshly and on-site in our expansive kitchens and served in the refectory.

Our boarding students say that the Mount is their family, and this is certainly how our boarding parents feel. They provide a welcoming and nurturing environment for each student who walks through our door. We all care for one another, in the true spirit of a Jesuit institution.

The boarding houses are found at the heart of campus, which is set in acres of beautiful and safe countryside, housing our numerous sports fields and Olympic-standard athletics track. All this provides a stunning view from your new bedroom window.

One of the many benefits of boarding is that whilst your classmates are rising early to travel to school, you are already there! You are relaxed and ready for the day ahead, which starts at 8:30am and finishes at 4:30pm.

Life outside the classroom is busy but balanced for our boarders. They experience everything the Mount has to offer, with weekend excursions, activities, sporting fixtures, mass, and a bond with new friends that last a lifetime.

After lessons during the week, boarders can take full use of our on-site, fully equipped gym and swimming pool, and enjoy group sessions ranging from strategy games to gardening! You can choose a minimum of three activities at least three times a week. Options typically on offer include;

• Games
• Study
• Swimming
• Gardening
• Chaplaincy
• Music
• Drama

Weekend trips include outings to local national parks, cinema trips and days out at theme parks. These usually take place on Sundays after mass, as Saturdays are generally spent either participating in sports fixtures, or cheering on your peers with the true embodiment of Mount Spirit.

To study at the Mount is to become a Mountaineer, or an OM as they are affectionately coined. It is a special thing to become a Mountaineer, and once you attend the Mount, you are an OM for life.