- Location
- Lancashire
- Age range
- 3–19
- Attendance
- Day and boarding
About Stonyhurst College
Schoolscout directory record ·
Stonyhurst College offers a rich educational experience steeped in tradition and innovation. Located in the picturesque Lancashire countryside, the school...
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
Stonyhurst College is the oldest English Roman Catholic Jesuit school, founded in 1593 by the Society of Jesus at Saint-Omer in the Spanish Netherlands (now northern France) to provide Catholic education for the sons of English Recusant families at a time when Catholic education was illegal in England. The Saint-Omer school operated continuously through the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, surviving the suppression of the Jesuit order by Pope Clement XIV in 1773 (as a school under different management) and the French Revolution — which finally forced the relocation. In 1794 the school accepted the offer of Thomas Weld of Stonyhurst Hall to relocate to his family seat in the Ribble Valley of Lancashire, where it has been ever since. The Lancashire Stonyhurst Hall is a Grade I listed sixteenth-century Tudor mansion at the centre of a 2,500-acre rural estate.
Stonyhurst became co-educational in 1999 and today educates around 661 pupils with a substantial boarding population. The Headmaster is John Browne. The school is a member of the HMC, the Boarding Schools Association and the CISC. The school continues to be operated under the spiritual direction of the Society of Jesus, with the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises remaining at the heart of the school's pastoral and educational ethos.
The school's most internationally famous alumnus is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle — the Edinburgh-trained physician whose creation of the consulting detective Sherlock Holmes (A Study in Scarlet, 1887; The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, 1892; The Hound of the Baskervilles, 1901) produced the most internationally famous fictional character in any English-language literature. Conan Doyle attended Stonyhurst from 1868 to 1875 and his subsequent autobiographical writings record substantial influence from his Stonyhurst Jesuit education. The Oscar-winning actor Charles Laughton (The Private Life of Henry VIII won him the 1933 Academy Award for Best Actor; The Hunchback of Notre Dame; Mutiny on the Bounty; Witness for the Prosecution) was a Stonyhurst boy. The Conservative Prime Minister Bonar Law (PM 1922-23) was at Stonyhurst.
The Catholic priest Father Thomas Byles — who died refusing to leave the Titanic in April 1912, hearing confessions and giving absolution to dying passengers as the ship sank — was a Stonyhurst boy. The school operates a substantial bursary programme via the Stonyhurst Trust.
Additional source record ·
Stonyhurst is one of the UK s leading independent Catholic boarding schools, recognised for outstanding boarding, academic excellence and Jesuit values. Founded in 1593 in Saint-Omer by Fr Robert Persons SJ under the patronage of Philip II of Spain, Stonyhurst is the oldest continually active Jesuit school in the world. With over 430 years of history, we combine tradition with innovation, delivering a world-class education that prepares pupils to become compassionate leaders of the future.
Our co-educational boarding and day school educates boys and girls aged 3 to 18 across two schools: Stonyhurst St Mary s Hall (ages 3 11) and Stonyhurst College (ages 11 18). Together we form a thriving community of 800 pupils, enriched by children from over 30 different countries. This global outlook and cultural diversity are central to the Stonyhurst experience, welcoming both UK and international families.
Located in Lancashire s beautiful Ribble Valley, Stonyhurst offers an unrivalled setting for education. Our Grade I listed historic school buildings sit within a safe 1,000-acre rural estate overlooking Pendle Hill, providing pupils with space to learn, play and explore. Surrounded by wildlife and countryside, the campus blends heritage with modern facilities, creating an inspiring environment for academic, spiritual and personal growth.
School life and highlights in the catalogue
- Founded 1593 in Saint-Omer, Spanish Netherlands — 433-year history
- The oldest English Catholic Jesuit school
- Relocated to Stonyhurst, Lancashire in 1794 (during the French Revolution)
- Co-educational since 1999
- ≈661 pupils with substantial boarding population
- Set on a 2,500-acre rural campus in the Ribble Valley, Lancashire
- Stonyhurst Hall (16th-century Tudor mansion) — Grade I listed
- HMC, BSA and CISC member
- Most internationally famous alumnus: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes
- Founded 1593 — 433 year tradition
- Day and boarding places available
- Roman Catholic foundation
- Strong in Drama, Sport, Outdoor
Education and school life
- Education levels
- Nursery, Pre-Prep, Prep, Senior, Sixth Form
- Age range
- 3–19
- Attendance
- Day and boarding
- Pupil intake
- Co-educational
- School type
- Mainstream
- Headteacher / principal
- Fr Christopher Cann
- Religious ethos
- Roman Catholic
- Listed inspectorate
- ISI
Subjects and qualifications
- Theology (Ignatian Spiritual Exercises tradition)
- Literature (Hopkins, Tolkien, Conan Doyle, Waugh)
- Sciences
- Mathematics
- Modern languages
- Music
- Drama
- Sport
- Outdoor
Listed memberships and accreditations
- HMC (Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference)
- BSA (Boarding Schools Association)
- CISC (Catholic Independent Schools Conference)
- Society of Jesus (founding order)
- ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate)
Progression and destinations in the catalogue
- Oxbridge
- Russell Group (Lancaster, Manchester, Cambridge, Oxford)
- Pontifical universities
- Medical schools
- Russell Group
Alumni notes
- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (creator of Sherlock Holmes; A Study in Scarlet, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The Hound of the Baskervilles)
- Charles Laughton (Oscar-winning actor — The Private Life of Henry VIII; The Hunchback of Notre Dame; Mutiny on the Bounty)
- Stonyhurst was the Catholic boarding school featured in J. R. R. Tolkien's writings (Tolkien sent his sons here)
- Bonar Law (Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 1922-23)
- Justice William Brennan Jr (Associate Justice US Supreme Court 1956-90) — partial education
- Various Jesuit-trained scientists and academics
- Father Thomas Byles (priest who died on the Titanic April 1912)
Supporting school records
These dated records may contain different information. Ask our team about current details.
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
- Headteacher / principal
- John Browne (Headmaster)
- Founded
- 1593
- Religious ethos
- Roman Catholic (Jesuit)
- Campus setting
- Rural
- Scholarships / bursaries
- Options indicated; confirm availability and eligibility.
Pupil information
- Total pupils
- 661
- Boys
- 373 · 56.43%
- Girls
- 288 · 43.57%
- Pupils receiving SEN support
- 171 · 25.87%
- Pupils with an EHCP
- 4 · 0.61%
Counts and percentages are reproduced from the directory. SEN means special educational needs; EHCP means Education, Health and Care Plan. A pupil census year is not supplied.
A-Level results
- Results year
- 2025
- Progress score
- 0.68 (Well Above Average)
- Average grade
- B+
- AAB percentage
- 24.40%
Results refer to the year shown. The directory does not provide a cohort size or a full methodology for these measures.
Tuition and costs
The fee year is not specified. Ask our team about current fees, VAT and included services.
Schoolscout directory record ·
| Attendance | GBP · Period and VAT unverified |
|---|---|
| Day | £4,321.2 – £11,217.6 |
| Boarding | £10,815.6 – £19,495.2 |
Current fees and VAT treatment require confirmation from the school. Directory labels are not a verified school quotation.
Check whether boarding, meals, registration, deposits, examinations, trips and guardian arrangements are included. Amounts are in pounds sterling (GBP), without currency conversion.
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Schoolscout directory record ·
What type of school is Stonyhurst College?
Stonyhurst College is a co-educational independent mainstream school for pupils aged 3 to 19, located in Lancashire. The school offers education from Nursery through to Sixth Form, with pathways leading to GCSEs and A Levels.
How do I apply to Stonyhurst College?
Historical directory text below. Its fees, billing period and VAT have not been verified with the school.
Most families apply to Stonyhurst College 1–2 years before entry, with a process that can include tests, interviews and school reports. See the private school admissions timeline for when to apply and what to expect.
What are the fees at Stonyhurst College?
Historical directory text below. Its fees, billing period and VAT have not been verified with the school.
Fees for Stonyhurst College vary by year group, with typical termly costs around £4,321–£19,495.
Is Stonyhurst College a day or boarding school?
Stonyhurst College offers day and boarding options. Where boarding is available, this may include full, weekly or flexi arrangements.
Is Stonyhurst College selective?
Admissions to Stonyhurst College are non-selective, with entry based on overall fit and, where relevant, academic assessment.
School location and enquiries
- Street address
- Stonyhurst, Clitheroe
- County
- Lancashire
- Region
- North West
- Postcode
- BB7 9PZ
- Country
- United Kingdom
Talk to our team about this school, current fees and your application.
Enquire about this schoolView the school locationStonyhurst, Clitheroe, Lancashire, North West, BB7 9PZSchoolscout directory record ·
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
Additional source record ·
Collection and catalogue update dates are shown above; they are not fee years or pupil census dates. Source text is retained in its original language. The school’s official information takes precedence for current admissions, programmes and fees.