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International Students

Homestay option

A few of our international students opt to stay with a local family as a homestay student during termtime. Alternatively, some students stay with a family friend or relative. In addition, boarders may wish to stay in homestay accommodation during exeat weekends, half–term holidays, or during other holidays.

Homestay Arrangements

St Mary’s can organise your homestay accommodation for you, if you wish. A member of your host family will often be your educational guardian, though this is not always the case. Your St Marys’s–organised host family will:

• Provide a supportive and welcoming home for you during exeat weekends and half–term holidays (and during other holidays, as required), and during the term for permanent homestay students
• Provide transport between school and your homestay accommodation
• Provide a 24/7 contact number for use by your parents or the school in the event of an emergency
• Provide appropriate and, if possible, private sleeping accommodation for you (all 6th form students will have a private room)
• Provide a quiet and appropriate place for you to study
• Provide adequate and private facilities for bathing and personal hygiene
• Cater for your dietary requirements
• Appropriately supervise your leisure activities
• Respect your cultural and religious background

Homestay Accommodation Charges

Where your homestay accommodation is organised by St Mary’s, the fees are as follows:

• £135 per week
• £20 per night (for part of a week)
• There will also be an administration charge: please enquire

Homestay for full boarders

We can also arrange homestay accommodation for boarders during exeat weekends, half–term holidays and at other times. The fees for this are as follows:

• £50 per exeat weekend
• £170 per half–term holiday (9 days)
• £135 per week (during the holidays)
• £20 per night (for part of a week during the holidays)
• There may also be an administration charge: please enquire

Please note:

All homestay accommodation is checked annually with regard to suitability, catering, sharing, hygiene, supervision and space.

The School will perform all the checks necessary including Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks on all adult members of the Host Family’s household. Such CRB checks will be repeated as required by the CRB.