Boarding at St Brigid’s

As a state boarding school, we are one of only 32 in the United Kingdom. We are a successful school, recognised in The Times in 2011, as one of the top 50 most improving schools. We have robust procedures in place to monitor pupils’ academic success but alongside that we have fantastic support and intervention strategies too.

So what is a ‘state’ Boarding School?

Parents/guardians pay only for pupils’ accommodation and living expenses, not for their education, providing pupils hold an EU or British passport. State boarding is a fantastic opportunity –the education costs are funded by the local authority entirely.

Boarding at St. Brigid’s

The school’s principles of Love, Faith, Truth, Respect and Excellence permeate both the day school and boarding house. We believe that, as a Catholic School, the way we live should reflect the teaching of Christ and as such we work very hard to love one another and to treat other people as we would want to be treated. We profess our faith both within school and at regular attendance at Sunday mass. The principles of truth and respect are paramount in boarding and we believe we have managed to establish a truly family feel in our house. Currently a girls’ only boarding house, we take pupils from 7 – 18 years of age and are considering proposals to devote one wing of the boarding house to boys’ boarding, so feel free to discuss this with us.

You can be assured as a parent or guardian, that we will take the greatest of care of your child. They will be treated with respect and dignity and will be loved; not a word people often use today; but we are not afraid or embarrassed to use it.

Activities and Events

Boarders enjoy a myriad of activities at the weekends and we make the most of our enviable position in North Wales and more specifically in the beautiful Vale of Clwyd.

Older pupils are encouraged to join the CCF (Combined Cadet Force) and to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, which is not the only means by which the pupils learn new skills, enjoy and learn to live in the great outdoors, but also demonstrates to Universities, a well rounded and diverse individual

Boarders regularly take advantage of our National Trust membership, enjoy shopping trips to the historic city of Chester, Sealand Park, Cheshire Oaks Retail Park and Llandudno. Ice skating, bowling, cinema, theatre trips and themed evenings take place on a regular basis and boarders often work with the chef to make each others’ birthday cakes or prepare food for the themed events. Recently we have enjoyed Spanish, Nigerian and Asian food evenings.

All our food is freshly prepared and locally sourced.

Medical Care

The school is linked to the local doctors’ surgery and consequently, the medical professionals get to know us at school and the boarders. Support and care for pupils is exactly what you would provide at home.

Please be assured that we care about all of our pupils, but we take our duty of care towards our boarders very seriously.

The Opportunity:

Do you need a place for your child to study in the run up to exams? Boarding can provide a quiet space with access to the school Library and ICT equipment –it can be ideal for focused revision weeks
Do you need a secure, familiar and happy place to leave your son/daughter while you attend business meetings, events or take a well earned break away? Why not consider flexi-boarding, which allows you to choose to leave pupils for 2 or 3 days or a week, depending on your needs. You can be assured that your child will know the staff, other pupils and can enjoy the same activities alongside longer term boarders
For overseas pupils, state boarding provides an excellent opportunity not only to study, but to learn about the culture and language, in a beautiful setting, in an historic part of the world

A ‘Boarders’ Eye View’:

Phyllis Leung –Year 11, from Hong Kong
I’ve been a boarder at St. Brigid’s for three years. At first it was hard for me to be away from my home, family and friends but everyone in the boarding house was friendly and soon made me feel at home. I enjoy living and studying in the boarding house because it provides a quiet and calm environment, but I also enjoy taking part in the activities with my friends.

Emily Clark –Year 8
I came to St. Brigid’s because my dad is in the forces. I really like it at St. Brigid’s because I have met a lot of new people and you can socialise whenever you want. Weekends are my favourite times because we go so many places. Sometimes we fall out, that’s natural but that’s rare. The people here are nice and I have discovered a whole new chapter in my life.

The ‘Old’ Girls:

We recently had a reunion of St. Brigid’s ‘old’ boarders –the first ever reunion, but it will certainly not be the last.
Several of the girls came into Friday’s Achievement Assembly and regailed us all with stories of boarding akin to Enid Blyton! Sister Liz, our current chaplain and the head teacher when many of the ‘old girls’ were here, attended, and her face was a picture, when they told our current pupils about the things they used to get up to –We think some of the stories were ‘news to her’!!!
On the following Saturday, the current boarders met the former pupils and gave them a tour of the school. Mrs. Simpson, the head teacher at the time then gave them a presentation about changes to the school and plans –they were all very excited and committed to continuing to support the boarding house by raising money, attending events and publicising the unique experience they had at the school. Charoltte Nicholls, one of our Year 8 pupils, came along and interviewed two of the former boarders – you can read Charlotte’s article here. The girls came from Las Vegas, London, Scotland and locally. Denbigh didn’t know what had hit it when they all left on the Saturday afternoon for a reunion dinner and dance at Denbigh Golf Club –a fab time was had by all!!

Boarding Fees:

Termly fees for boarders requiring support with English as an Additional Language: £3410

Termly fees for all other boarders: £2950

Individual day boarding: £30 per night

We look forward to welcoming you should you wish to visit the school.

Please contact Miss Spiller on 01745 815228
email:anne.spiller@denbighshire.gov.uk