Stonyhurst College praised for ‘wide-ranging’ curriculum in inspection

Stonyhurst is a co-educational Catholic boarding and day school for 3–18-year-olds and was visited by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI).

The school has 700 students, made up of 600 pupils at Stonyhurst College and 100 pupils at its preparatory school, Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall.

The inspection found the school met all Independent School Standards across the five core inspection areas, with inspectors’ comments praising the “high standards” across the school.

The report said: “The co-curricular programme promotes pupils’ wellbeing particularly effectively, and is a significant strength of the school,” praising the range of approximately 200 activities available, alongside high participation rates.

Head of Stonyhurst, William Doherty, said: “The recent ISI inspection and the performance of Stonyhurst in not only meeting all standards but in achieving a significant strength in our co-curricular programme provides an outstanding springboard for our future aspirations.

“We hold true to the mindset that innovation is our tradition, that our faith does justice, that our pursuit of academic excellence is complemented by our holistic co-curricular programme and that we form our pupils as impactful global citizens with a true understanding of human excellence as men and women for others.”

The inspection praised the strength of leadership and governance across the school, noting that “leaders are ambitious for pupils’ outcomes” and that governors demonstrate “an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the school’s strengths”.

Inspectors described boarding at Stonyhurst as “a vibrant, diverse and inclusive community where pupils learn the value of living together in harmony”.

Academic provision was highlighted throughout the report, with inspectors commending the breadth of the curriculum, the quality of teaching and the personalised support available to pupils. The report noted that pupils are “articulate and effective communicators”, while senior pupils benefit from a curriculum that “prioritises both academic achievement and wellbeing”.

The report also celebrated the impact of Stonyhurst’s Jesuit ethos and values, recognising pupils’ “highly developed spiritual and moral understanding” alongside a “deep sense of social responsibility”. Inspectors praised the school’s culture of respect, service and inclusion, noting that pupils are well prepared to contribute positively to society.

William Doherty added: “At Stonyhurst, we remain committed to pursuing excellence with ambition, reflection and a continual desire to grow. This report provides a strong foundation as we look to the future with confidence and continue to build on the outstanding opportunities available to our pupils.

“This outcome is testament to our pupils, staff, governors and families who together make Stonyhurst such a remarkable community.”