Balcarres House

Balcarres House is located in the original much-loved Sixth Form girls' house at Loretto, Trafalgar Lodge, with two extensions attractively added. This year Sixth Form boarding girls will be living in Balcarres under the guidance of Mrs Jenny Fletcher the housemistress. All rooms are bright and well appointed; most have washbasins with shower/bath and toilet facilities adjacent.

There are several areas for girls to use as social rooms. There is a bright main common room and adjacent kitchen; an ever popular room with views to the rear garden; a further area for male-visitor/general entertaining and dedicated kitchens. Books, TVs, video players and a DVD player are available. There is a computer room providing four workstations with network access and printing facilities.

The atmosphere in House is one of warmth and welcome; the aim is to ensure that everyone feels she belongs. Care for and help to others is an important part of the ethos. This enables each girl to develop her talents fully and achieve her individual best in academic, sporting and extra-curricular activities. Girls grow up in a structured, stimulating environment where staff recognise their aspirations and expect to help them achieve them.

Each new girl has an older girl as Shadow to help and advise with settling in. In addition, each year group has a Year Prefect from U6 and while all U6 share responsibility for House, there is a Head of House. Girls participate in the running of House through House Council, planning activities and House developments. Balcarres participates fully in the wider school structure - through prefect meetings; Charities Committee; and also as members of the committee monitoring food and dining room arrangements. In all, it is important that girls feel they participate fully in the decision making that affects them and that each learns to accept responsibilities naturally and smoothly.

Balcarres is strong in the academic field, with a very positive approach to work and a commitment to each achieving her potential; girls always proceed to Higher Education. Girls in Balcarres have a range of talents - most will achieve the school Red & White award for contribution to school, with many re-awarded for different activities. They are very musical - whether at scholarship level or playing an instrument and singing for pleasure-and strong in drama. Sport is strength too, whether major games or minor sports.

House staff keep a daily monitor on girls' well being and ensure that academic work and extra curricular commitment is being maintained.

Each girl is allocated a tutor and must be reliable about attending her weekly tutor interviews- these normally take place in House, as tutors come in one evening per week. The tutor will discuss academic progress, games and extra-curricular commitments and generally how things are going and will help and advise with subject choices; career choices, UCAS forms and personal issues. Tutors see girls after each twice-termly assessment and aim to communicate with parents then so that parents are advised and can participate fully in decision-making.