Senior School day
Our Senior School day
The structure of our Senior School day is illustrated in the table below.
Italics indicate optional before and after-school sessions; day pupils may join the boarders for breakfast and/or tea, subject to prior notice and a small charge.
| 08:00-08:20 | Boarders‘ breakfast |
| 08:40-08:45 | Registration with Tutor |
| 08:50-09:45 | Period 1 |
| 09:45-10:40 | Period 2 |
| 10:40-11:00 | House assemblies or chapel |
| 11:00-11:20 | Break |
| 11:20-12:15 | Period 3 |
| 12:15-13:10 | Period 4 |
| 13:10-14:10 | Lunch |
| 14:15-14:20 | Registration in lesson |
| 14:20-15:20 | Period 5 |
| 15:20-16:20 | Period 6 |
| 16:30 | Buses leave |
| 16:30-17:30 | Optional activities or supervised homework session |
| 18:00 | School Shop (inc Café) closes |
| 18:00-18:20 | Boarders‘ Tea |
Arrival and registration
The school day starts at 08:40 with registration in tutor rooms.
One-way system
At peak times we operate a one-way system through the Castle grounds.
Please enter the Castle grounds via the iron gates (on the B645) and exit via the Gatehouse during the following hours:
Monday to Friday: 08:30 to 09.15 and 15:45 to 16:30
The iron gates are then locked for the school day, during which entry and exit is via the Gatehouse.
Please note that the speed limit in the School grounds is 5 mph.
The road near to the Queen Katharine Building, the Donaldson Laboratories and the swimming pool is used by the school buses. Please do not enter or exit this area, or drop-off your child by the nearby gates (the ‘Donaldson Gates’), as this will cause traffic jams.
Late arrivals
Pupils who arrive between 0845 and 0900 register with the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) in Lost Property, and after 0900 at the School Office.
Pupils with multiple ‘lates’ in a half term accrue a Friday detention, as do any pupils found in school without registering.
Once a pupil is in school, they are not permitted to leave the grounds, including to visit the High Street, unless they are a Sixth Former or a boarder.
Break
At break, the tuck shop within the school shop is open to Third Form and above for the purchase of a wide range of hot and cold snacks and drinks.
Ingrams pupils may go to the dining hall for free drinks and biscuits or to purchase hot or cold snacks in a quieter location and supervised by prefects and staff.
Lunch
Hot options (including vegetarian) plus a salad bar, soup, bread, hot and cold desserts, fresh fruit and water are on offer daily and are cooked on the premises. A packed lunch will be provided for pupils away on trips or sports fixtures.
End of school day
The school day ends at 1620 and buses depart at 1630 (we also offer limited ‘late’ buses that depart at 1800 for pupils involved in after-school sports matches or activities).
Should your child need to leave school early, please email the School Secretary and copy in your child’s tutor.
Your child should excuse themselves from the lessons that they will miss at least 24 hours beforehand.
S/he must sign out with the School Secretary before leaving and sign back in if returning before the end of the school day
After-school activities and homework sessions
After-school activities and homework sessions start at 1630 and usually run for one hour.
All First and Second Form pupils remaining at school after 1630 and not in an activity are expected to attend a supervised homework session (the Shop is out of bounds to all unaccompanied First to Fourth Form pupils between 1630 and 1730).
Unless absolutely necessary, please do not collect your son or daughter until the last 10 minutes of the session as frequent interruptions are not conducive to quality homework.
Third to Sixth Formers may use the Vanbrugh Library or other quiet areas for study after school. Please note that the Library closes at 1745 and the school shop closes at 1800.
Unless attending an evening event or staying for boarders’ tea or in one of the boarding houses overnight, all day pupils should have left the school site by 1800.
Occassional meals at school
Day pupils may take breakfast (0800-0830) and/or supper (1800-1830) with the boarders on a regular or occasional basis and for a small charge on your termly bill.
To book, please call Reception or use the form on the Parent Portal.
Bus service
We have an extensive network of buses that are used exclusively by our pupils.
The buses are owned and operated by Robinson’s of Kimbolton and meet all current safety standards. Over a third of our pupils use our bus service each week.
