Families
We value the place of families in our College life, and honour the need for students to spend ‘quality time’ with their families. For many clergy, the temptation to overwork is immense, and it is important to seek a proper balance between work and home-life, and to establish good practices, while still at College. Tutors support students in this task.
In most year-groups at the College, around half of the total number of students are married.
Spouses
Spouses of students and staff are welcome in all parts of College life – at all services, lectures, classes, meals, and social events. Spouses choose for themselves how much or how little they become involved in College life and there is no expectation of involvement. Patterns vary widely from one family to another.
The Principal meets with married couples, as a group, once a term in order to ensure that both students and spouses have a voice and can bring their views to the table.
Children
Children are welcome at all services, meals, and social events. For many children, the College has been an enchanting and loving place to spend formative years.
One focus for many children is Children’s Church, which takes place at our Thursday evening Eucharists. The Thursday service is followed by a buffet-style College Meal which is popular with both children and adults.
The College is committed to enabling families to eat together in College. We invite children to eat in the Refectory at no cost to parents, and provide free-of-charge fourteen meals per week to married students and their spouses on top of the provision made by the national Church. Most families in College choose to ‘eat in’ for about 50% of each week in term.
Particularly popular with families are the two early evening meals we have each week, on Wednesdays and Fridays. These “High Teas” take place at 5pm, enabling the whole college to eat together before younger children need to go to bed.
Children of College families have tended to attend Battyeford Pre-School, which is next door to the College, and Battyeford Church of England Primary School and Mirfield Free Grammar (Comprehensive), which are both within easy walking distance. There is also a range of other schools within easy reach of the College.