School organisation On entry at 11, pupils are allocated to one of three junior houses. St. James' House, the junior boarding house, is one of the finest buildings in Monmouth and has been extensively renovated and refurbished. Two purpose-built junior day houses, opened in September 1999, provide a base for both study and relaxation. Pupils join senior boarding or day houses in the Third Form (13+). A Sixth Form Centre with modern study and social facilities, provides a focus for senior pupils.
Boarding at Monmouth
Monmouth boarding is flexible. By this we mean that, although there is a programme of weekend activities, boarders, in consultation with their parents, can choose whether or not to stay in school at weekends. Many boarders make their boarding house their home throughout the term, but for others this flexible approach means that they enjoy the best of both School and home life. It is also possible for day pupils to become temporary boarders for periods ranging from a few nights to several months. “Being a Boarder has helped me maximise my opportunities because it’s easy to take advantage of all the School activities. The boarding accommodation is excellent and I really enjoy my time here.”
A supportive structure - Pastoral care
Each pupil is allocated to a Tutor who is drawn from the academic staff. Both Tutor and Housemaster are able to get to know the boy well over a period of years and provide experienced and sympathetic guidance throughout his school career. They aim to ensure that all pupils gain the utmost from their time at Monmouth, not only in the classroom, but through all the other experiences that the School has to offer. The Chaplain has responsibility for our regular Chapel services and takes the lead in encouraging boys to explore spiritual issues. A team of staff with training and experience in counselling, together with a visiting professional counsellor, provides additional support beyond the House structure. The School Doctor and the qualified nursing staff of the Medical Centre are responsible for the medical welfare of the pupils.
The Sixth form and beyond
Our co-operation with Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls allows the schools to blend the best features of single sex education up to GCSE, with increasing academic and social contact with the opposite sex in the Sixth Form - an excellent preparation for University life. The courses and facilities at each school are available to the students of both, and the result of this co-operation is an unrivalled range of A and AS course and a timetable that is flexible enough to accommodate most choices that students may wish to make. Careers and Higher Education advice is offered by a team of trained staff. The programme of guidance begins early in a boy’s time at Monmouth and includes aptitude and interest tests, interviews, work placements, and conferences. There are study links with many universities, particularly Oxford, Cambridge and the University of Wales, and with the professions, commerce and industry.
Preparing for the future
Most Sixth Formers wish to continue their studies at University and many take a gap year in which they undertake interesting and worthwhile projects, often on other continents. Both the Haberdashers’ Company and The Old Monmothian Club offer generous support for such enterprises. We recognise the vital importance of the Sixth Form years. Academic achievement is, of course, central, but in preparing students for University and their chosen careers, we also urge them to take responsibility for their own learning and to develop the skills and flexibility that they will need in life beyond school.