St Michael's House
St Michael’s Boarding House (affectionately known as Micks) is a home-from-home for our Year 11 boarders. We are centrally located within the School, enjoying easy access to the beautiful Chapel and Dining Room. The Boarding House benefits from spectacular views over the parkland and beyond.
A family ethos is at the heart of everything we do in St Michael’s. We work together to foster an environment in which each individual is valued, respected and cared for. Girls are encouraged to take on age-appropriate levels of responsibility and are supported as they develop their leadership skills and achieve their potential.
Mrs Hannah Robertson (Housemistress), Miss Stephanie Gilpin (Assistant Housemistress), and our Graduate Assistant, run the House with assistance from two Resident Tutors, who are in the House two evenings a week and some weekends. The girls have access to at least one member of staff sleeping in the House during the night if they are unwell.
During the week, our boarders benefit from following a full routine from the time they get up to the time they go to bed. After a busy day in lessons, they return to the House in time for supper. Each evening we all come together for a few minutes to share prayers and reflection and to catch up on news and the events of the day. Supervised study is followed by relaxation time when the girls can call home before the bedtime routine begins. There is often academic staff available to support study or offer 1 to 1 coaching.
The weekend is greatly anticipated by all and is generally a more leisurely experience for those remaining at School. After a cooked breakfast the girls’ day starts with a quiet study session which takes them up to an early lunch.
Saturday afternoons are then a time to relax and unwind after a busy week, sometimes offering impromptu activities in the House such as crafting and a movie night on offer!
Sundays begin with a well-deserved lie in and a casual pyjama breakfast in House before the girls smarten up for Mass and a special Sunday lunch. Another supervised study session takes place at the beginning of the afternoon, followed by free time, giving the girls the opportunity to decide for themselves how to use it. This often involves baking, board games, or socialising with friends. In addition to this, the girls can work on their Art, practise their Music in our beautiful music rooms, attend the Gym and Fitness Room or take a walk around our stunning grounds. Occasionally we close the House for an outing, such as a shopping trip to Tunbridge Wells, visit to London, ice skating or a trip to the cinema.
Birthdays are a very special time of celebration for our boarders and we try to make the day as enjoyable as possible with balloons, banners, cards and cake, accompanied by enthusiastic singing, shared by the whole House.
"The House benefits from spectacular views over the parkland and beyond, and the original features combined with the warmth and enthusiasm of the House team make St Michael’s a real ‘home from home"