CLARENDON HOUSE PUPIL HANDBOOK
Contents 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.
Welcome to Clarendon The House Team Your week at Monkton Where will I stay? What to bring Having other houses over In-house nights Weekends Going to friends houses Leave during the school day Food Glorious Food Big School Events Giving and sustainability Medical Money & valuables Uniform Phones and tech policy Laundry Fire alarm Road safety School Absences Parental Access IT support Notes Induction Checklist
1. Welcome to Clarendon! We are delighted to welcome you into Clarendon in September, and are really looking forward to getting to know you. Every Clarendon girl has been where you are now, joining Monkton Senior School new, feeling both nervous and excited and they have written you a letter to welcome you too. Please ask them questions before you start or when you arrive! They are an amazing group and will love you joining us. In time, we hope it will feel familiar, a home from home, where you belong and can be yourself. We hope you’ll find it fun, caring and inspiring. Our house is like a family, we look out for each other, do what we can to help and find we get the most out of it by throwing ourselves into what’s on offer. The house motto is “Not to be served, but to serve”. If we look out for others and they are doing the same, you soon realise that we are all looked after. So whenever you are feeling nervous, take a deep breath and give it a go, lean on the girls and us ready to help you and know that each one of you adds something special.
(If you hadn’t guessed it, our house colour is red.)
2. The House Team Houseparents - The Moores
Hello, we are the Moores and, together with our boys Joel (2) and Raffy (9 months), are so excited to welcome you to the Clarendon family. We are passionate about seeing people thrive, we love hospitality and want to make Clarendon a home from home for everyone who steps through the door. Mrs Moore has worked in international security and development for 11 years alongside Assistant Houseparenting in School House here at Monkton, joining Clarendon for duties last year. She loves cooking, travelling, reading, running and a cheesy film. Mr Moore has been a teacher for 12 years, 5 of which at Monkton where he has also been pastoral lead and Assistant Houseparent. He loves all sports particularly football, tennis and the NFL; you can often find him playing the guitar or chess, or coming up with stories for the boys. We spend a lot of our free time outdoors burning off the boys’ energy and love adventures involving some form of water (sea, pool or snow)! We love Bath; it is a special place for us, being where we met and fell in love and where both boys have been born. Even more so, Monkton has always had great significance as Mrs Moore’s father went to this school and her Grandpa got married here. If you are new to Bath and Monkton, we are excited to share this special place with you. Our faith is at the centre of everything we do, we love our local church and we rely on God for strength, hope and love each day. Our hope is that whatever you believe, you come to know that you are deeply loved just as you are. Finally, we want you to know that you belong in Clarendon, that your voice is important and that you matter. We look forward to getting to know you, your dreams and hopes, and we are here for you in the good, the bad and the ugly. We will be ready to listen, with a cup of tea or box of tissues at the ready and also to celebrate your successes, cheering you on each step. Have a great summer and see you in September! Our contact details are: clarendon@monkton.org.uk 012257210208
2. The House Team Resident Tutor - Miss Evans Hi! I’m Miss Evans and I’m really excited to be joining the Clarendon House team as Resident Tutor this year. I’ve already been at Monkton for a year and am currently the Assistant Head of Hockey, so you’ll often find me out on the astro! Sport is a big passion of mine; alongside hockey, I love playing netball, cricket, tennis and football. I’m also musical and enjoy playing the piano, trumpet and drums, as well as listening to a wide variety of music. Outside of school, I enjoy heading out for coffee, going on dog walks, and spending quality time with family and friends. I’m really looking forward to getting to know everyone in Clarendon and being part of the day-to-day life in the house!
House Team We have a team who help look after you in the evenings and at weekends and see many of them below! There will also be a new GTA (Graduate Teaching Assistant) and our wonderful cleaners who we will introduce when the term starts.
Sylwia Nowaczyk House Supervisor
Jonny Edmondson Art Teacher
Rebecca Hicks Physics Teacher
Roberta Taker Business Teacher
Ellie Page Chaplaincy Associate
Emily Clothier Teacher of PE
3. Your Week at Monkton Day girls to arrive at school ready for registration and key notices by 8.10am. Day
Meeting
Reg Time
Venue
Monday
Chapel
8:15am
Chapel
Tuesday
House Meeting/Singing Practice
8:15am
Old Hall/Chapel
Wednesday
Chapel
8:15am
Chapel
Thursday
Principal’s Assembly
8:15am
Chapel
Friday
House Prayers
8:15am
Old Hall
Saturday
Morning Registration
9:00am
Outside Maths & Science Chapel
Chapel Registration
11:30am
Evening/Weekend Registration Times Monday-Saturday 6.25pm Sunday 12:45pm 6:55pm
9:00pm
In the Clarendon Girls’ Common Room: all pupils on site must attend Prep time From 6.30pm till 8.30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. There will be space for all to study, year 9’s are supervised in the study space downstairs. Your house tutors will be on duty and are always happy to help. After Prep Mondays* Tuesdays Wednesdays* Thursdays Friday*
- Bible studies (optional) - In-House social for all the house - Christian Union @ 6.15 pm (optional), no prep slot – In-House social for smaller groups - Sports Centre open for a range of different sports
*Socialising in other houses permitted on Mon, Wed and Fri.
4. Where will I stay? Clarendon is a beautiful house a little walk up the hill, with great views, outdoor spaces and fun features, like the turrets and grand staircase (amazing at Christmas!). We don’t separate houses for day pupils and boarders so you all get to know each other. Day Pupils can stay from breakfast to lights out, many stay for prep and the fun beyond.
Boarders Rooms Most of the bedrooms in Clarendon sleep 2 or 3, this helps you get to know each other. In Year 13 you have a single room. You each get a wardrobe, desk and chest of drawers, as well as a lockable space and some shelving. There is a sink in most rooms as well as plenty of private showers and toilets.
Day rooms and Occasional Boarding
Day pupils are assigned a shared bedroom and it is their space too, to work or sleep in when occasionally boarding. Day pupils can stay for free three times ( 2 x blocks of 2 nights and a block of 5 nights), any further nights come at a charge and we need 48 hours notice for request of nights. Remember that for boarders this is their home during term time, please respect each others space and belongings.
Bedtimes Sundays to Fridays: ● Year 9 9:15 for a 9:30pm lights out ● Year 10 9:30 for a 9:45pm lights out ● Year 11 9:45 for a 10pm lights out ● Year 12 10:15 for a 10.30pm lights out ● Year 13 in their rooms by 10:30pm, lights out by 11pm. On a Saturday, bedtimes are extended by an hour with fun activities put on.
Mornings
Boarders are responsible for getting up, to breakfast and on time to registration. This is where the alarm clocks and roommates come in very handy.
5. What to Bring (boarders) Bed Linen: 2 x Duvets covers, 1 x Duvet (we have spares if needed), 2 x Towels You will be provided with a pillow, sheets & pillowcases Desk Lamp (we have some spares if needed) Home clothes, pyjamas, and a swimming costume (make sure everything is labelled you can buy labelling stickers on amazon or use a permanent marker). Watch and Alarm Clock - these are key as phones are handed in overnight and limited in the day time Optional home touches - Photos/ posters plus blue tac/pins to stick on your pinboard, blankets (not electric), mug, plants or fairy lights (LED) can add a feel of home Water bottle Umbrella Hair dryer/straighteners – they MUST be CE certified and have a UK plug Soft toy (if wanted - many girls have them Toiletries / Shampoo and conditioner* Washing capsules for laundry*(optional as school laundry is also available) Stationary (pens, pencils, etc) Padlock for your lockable space in bedroom or changing room lockers* Chargers for phones etc - these must be UK chargers, not an adapter.* *these items are available to buy in the house tuck shop Top tips: ● Don’t buy a trunk - big suitcases are much easier to manage and use. ● Watches and alarm clocks are very useful ● Please be aware that you may so may not have as much space as at home - don’t bring everything. Uniform - please check the uniform guidance sent by the school and get in touch if you have any questions.
6. Having other houses over You are able to have Monkton friends over to the house during downtimes. The Mixed Common Room and nextdoor TV room are where pupils from any house are welcome (by your invitation only. The Girls’ Common Room (no boys), is a space just for you, where if you all want to put your pyjamas on and snuggle with blankets to watch a film or do facemasks, you can. We also have kitchens to cook and bake snacks in. Please always meet your friends from other houses at the door to let them in, don’t give out your swipe card to anyone else. Both common rooms have TVs with access to Netflix, Disney+ and Prime.
7. In house nights (Tues and Thurs) Twice a week we have house socials (in-houses) nights and they are a huge part of making Clarendon feel like a home. It always involves some tasty food and usually an activity. Tuesdays are for the full house and we do anything from pizza-making or hide and seek or jewellery making or water volleyball. We are always open to your ideas, and if it is even vaguely feasible we will give it a go! Thursdays are either just your year group or a smaller group of years together and we eat a light meal together and enjoy some games.
8. Weekends Saturday nights are a highlight of the Monkton week, after a day of lessons and sports fixtures: things like, Outdoor cinema, sixth form parties, whole school events run by each house, from a quiz night to BBQ, to a Silent Disco, to Bonfire Night, and house competitions. Day pupils are welc Sunday is very relaxed with brunch from 10.30-1.30pm. Your time is yours and there are minibuses running for churches and town trips into Bath. There are optional trips like Ice Skating or paintballing, usually within the boarders fees or small fee and at cost for day pupils.
9. Going to friends houses If a full or weekly boarder wants to stay overnight with a friend or relative on the nights they usually board, then we need email permission from yourselves and from the people he is staying with at least 48 hours in advance. There may be follow up questions around travel, supervision etc. Day pupils sometimes offer to host their boarder friends for leave weekends which is always welcomed with notice.
10. Leave during the school day All pupils (boarders and day) must request permission for the house member on duty to go off site during the school day (after lessons) or at the weekends. Town leave may be granted for up to 4 hours on Saturdays and Sundays if no other school commitments. Key rules: ● ● ● ● ●
Years 9-11 need to go in groups of 3 or more. Years 12-13 can go in pairs. We only give leave for weekday evenings for special occasions e.g. if boarders’ parents are in town/family birthdays. Friends’ birthdays need to be celebrated at the weekends. You must sign in and out with the staff member on duty. Leave will be taken away if you go off site without permission.
When Day pupils leave school each day, you will sign out on our app, Reach.
11. Food Glorious Food The catering team at Monkton are both wonderful and talented, they provide 3 delicious meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) each day with plenty of choice and a pupil led food committee to feedback ideas. Attendance at meals is compulsory. Basic rations are provided every day for use in the house kitchens for snacks between meals. You as a year group get to decide what you want and you are also responsible for keeping your own kitchen tidy. On Wednesday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays you can cook for yourselves in the Mixed Common Room kitchen or order a takeaway (not on all three nights) but meals will also be provided.
12. Big School Events House Music - 20th September House Music kicks off the year and we throw ourselves into it heart and soul. We all learn a whole house song with dance moves in three weeks and perform it live to a packed concert venue in Bath. During the first 3 weeks, there will be regular rehearsals after school till 5.30pm, these are compulsory but so fun. Family members come along or watch online on the night.
Bonfire Night - 8th November A bonfire and firework party hosted by our house. A peculiar British tradition to celebrate the fact that 400 years ago a man called Guy Fawkes failed to overthrow the government! With music, food and fireworks it’s a popular night in the school year.
House Dinner - Save the date 31st January 2026 Every year we have a special night to celebrate as a house, alternating between Formal (where parents are invited) and Informal (just us). This year we have the House formal which means your parents or family members can come along. We all get dressed up, have a sit down dinner and entertainment. The girls choose a theme and invites will go out in the Michaelmas term. Finally there are also a series inter-house sports, chess and philosophy competitions throughout the year as well as theatre, music and art shows.
13. Giving and Sustainability at Monkton We encourage the girls to think beyond their current circumstances and get involved with charitable activities. Each house has a giving fortnight where they choose a charity and raise money for it. We have a sustainability committee who help all pupils look at how we can look after our world too. Every two years, a group of students and teachers go on a volunteering trip to Malawi, which is always a life-changing experience for those who go.
14. Medical We have an amazing team or nurses on site as well as a visiting GP for appointments. If you are too ill to go to lessons or need medication during the daytime, you will be taken to the Medical Centre. In the evening or overnight, please ring on the Moores or Mis Evans door or send a friend on your behalf . There will always be someone to take care of you. If you bring any of your own medication or vitamins into school, the nurses at the Medical Centre need to check and store it. You are not allowed to keep medication in your room and are not allowed to share your medication with anyone else.
15. Money and Valuables We will collect and keep your passport, visa and medical insurance documents safely locked up for you. The school is cashless so it is best to use a debit card. Monzo or Starling is often great for UK families and Gohenry or Revolut are good options for international students. This is most commonly used at the school cafe, the tuck shop, for takeaways or on trips/visits to Bath town centre. There is a lockable cupboard for each student in their rooms for other valuable items.
16. Uniform You should have had the uniform guidance sheet from the school, please read this carefully to avoid buying the wrong things. Our uniform is supplied by School Blazer (www.schoolblazer.com). They provide a labelling service and also measurement guidance. Our second hand uniform shop is also online: Uniformis (https://uniformis.online). Please contact us if you are not sure how many of each item you will need. Please, please do name everything! (even non-uniform items)
17. Phones and tech policy The phone reception around school can be a bit patchy, often pupils call using the internet. All phones will be handed in overnight. Year 12-13 have limited access to their phones during the day. For years 9-11, students will not be allowed them during the day. Boarders will be given their smartphones at 6pm. Day pupils must not bring a smartphone into school. Day boarders may carry a ‘brick’ phone (no internet ability). More information is in the school’s phone policy. Years 9-11 should only bring chromebooks to school and not other laptops or computers. These chromebooks will also be locked away overnight for boarders.
18. Laundry There is a school laundry service. You need to make sure things are labelled and clothes are returned by three days to your shelf in the linen room. We also have a laundry room in the house for you to do your own washing, you need to bring tablets or buy them from the house tuck shop.
19. Fire alarm At some time every term there will be a fire practice. Whenever you hear the fire alarm (a very loud, continuous bell!): • make sure you and your roommates leave immediately • go into the rooms either side of your room to check they are awake and leaving • At night, you may grab a dressing gown and shoes • walk (don’t run) quickly and quietly • leave the House by the nearest available exit • go straight to Clarendon Lawn, where you will be registered • wait for further instructions from a member of staff
20. Road safety Monkton is set within a village, pupils must observe the following for Road Safety: 1. Always use the path along Shaft Road and in front of Grange House. Not the road. 2. At crossing points outside Grange, outside Eddystone and outside Nutfield, always STOP, LOOK, LISTEN before crossing. Do not cross in large groups. 3. Never congregate in the road 4. Only cross the road here: opposite Grange, Eddystone and Nutfield.
21. School Absences For all absences, permission to leave school early or approval to attend a special function during term must be granted by the school via (clarendon@monkton.org.uk). This often requires approval from the Deputy Heads, so please do this as far in advance as possible. If your daughter is ill or has a medical appointment, please email clarendon@monkton.org.uk AND mssregister@monkton.org.uk with the reason.
22. Parental Access Parents and guardians have full access to the house at the beginning and end of terms to deliver and collect their children and belongings. However, in accordance with the school’s Safeguarding Policy, they may not visit unsupervised in term time and must email the Houseparents to arrange supervised visits.
23. IT Support On arrival, Year 9-11 students receive their chromebook and guidance from the IT department. 6th Formers, should bring their own laptop, guidance should have been sent by the school. If you have any issues, please contact itsupport@monkton.org.uk
NOTES
25. Induction Checklist Week 1 I have met my Mentor and will get help from them to complete this ☐ Emergencies I know the location of my nearest fire exit ☐ I know the location of all the fire exits in Farm ☐ I know the location of the muster point ☐ I know who to contact in an emergency ☐ House information I have a copy of the House Handbook and have read it ☐ I know who my tutor is ☐ I know where the HPs (Mr/Mrs Moore) house and office is ☐ I know where the Resident Tutor (Miss Evans) flat is ☐ I know who the House Supervisor (Sylwia) is and have introduced myself ☐ I know that I can contact any of the above in person, by google chat, or by email should I need to ☐ I have met the Head of House and Deputy Heads of House I know which notice boards to look on to find house timings and expectations I know where/how to sign in and out of the house ☐ I know the 3 house registration times ☐ I know what time to attend meals ☐ IT I can connect to the school Wifi on my chromebook ☐ I know never to share my password/log-in details ☐ I know who to contact if my IT is not working ☐ I know how to use classroom and access my emails ☐ General I know where to find the A1 boarding poster ☐ I know who to turn to if I need anything and understand that I can turn to any member of staff that I choose ☐ I know that if I am worried about anything I can contact the Chaplain (Rev Hutch) and I know where his office is
Induction checklist cont.. Week 2 I know how to sign in and out of the House on Reach – if in doubt, see HPs/RT☐ I know I need to sign back in the evening with duty tutor when back in the house ☐ If I am going to the gym or rowing before breakfast, I know that I must have informed the HPs / RT ☐ I know that visitors to the house must sign in on Reach and with duty tutor ☐ I know the process for getting leave to Spa in the week and town on the weekend ☐ I know that if I need to be absent from School during the week then my parents must email mssregister@ and Clarendon@ ☐ If I want to stay away from school at the weekend, then this requires 48 hours notice from both families ☐ I understand the general principle that I need to take responsibility for my own actions and to communicate with the HPs (Moores) my tutor and my teachers, especially if I need to miss any school commitments ☐ I know the timings for handing in tech ☐ Week 3 I know how to access whisper if I need to report anything anonymously ☐ I know how to use the school laundry or machines in the house and have read the notices in the laundry room ☐ I know how to use the house kitchen safely and have read the notice in the kitchen ☐ I know the address for post ☐ I know the expectations about keeping my room tidy ☐ I know the rules about ordering takeaways during the week ☐ I know about the House Values ☐ I have had a 1-1 chat with my tutor and HPs/RT ☐ I know where to find all the information on Socs relating to sports and my activities ☐
I have been able to tick all boxes and have completed my induction: Signed ______________________________________________________________________
Clarendon House Shaft Road Monkton Senior School BA2 7HH