We have timetabled lessons five and a half days a week and everyone does games on a Saturday afternoon. On weekdays the day begins with Chapel at 0830 which consists of an address, often on a moral issue, led by the chaplain, staff or pupils followed by a hymn. From there we go on to three 35 minute lessons followed by a thirty minute break. There are two further lessons before lunch, from 1310 to 1400, a time when the school is also alive with all kinds of activities and practices. Then there are up to four lessons, with games, activities, 6th form enrichment programmes and CCF timetabled during some afternoons. When lessons end at 1600 there are numerous clubs, societies and activities taking place. We ask that in Years 7-9 all boys and girls take part in at least two activities each week and in the GCSE years that they do at least one.

Prep

After the evening meal pupils return to their houses for a house meeting followed by prep or homework ,which takes place from 7.30pm onwards. Day pupils are invited to stay and do their prep in the house but some may choose to go home earlier once all their formal commitments are finished. The very youngest pupils do an hour; the amount of prep set and the time devoted to it increases as they grow older. We would normally expect our sixth formers to do at least three hours prep nightly during the school week. Boys and girls work under the supervision of the duty prefect, overseen by a member of staff while computers are available for use in the house, library and IT department during the evening.

Weekends

There is more than 600 full boarders at the Royal Hospital School, therefore weekends tend to be very busy. After Saturday games boys and girls return to their houses to shower and then have some leisure time before tea. On Saturday evening there are always a number of different activities on offer. Some will be house-based, perhaps a party or barbecue, followed by a film.  These evenings are always popular but on the whole, school-based activities attract large numbers.

Every Saturday we offer a major activity alongside a number of smaller ones. These include half-termly discos and ‘Saturday Night At The Movies’ in our own professionally-equipped cinema. We show major films just as they come off general release and it is not unusual to have five hundred or more pupils at a blockbuster film. There are regular concerts: from performances by our own pupils to professional performers and rock bands. We also take regular outside visits, for example roller-skating, ice-skating or dry skiing.The gymnasium is always open for basketball and soccer as is the swimming pool and fitness suite. Boys and girls can also spend time in the school café, the Trafalgar Rooms, where food and drink is available until 2100. Day pupils are always welcome to join in with any of these activities.

Sundays tend to be quieter. If we have an evening chapel service then there will be the opportunity to have a long lie-in with breakfast available in boarding houses, but otherwise breakfast begins at 0830. In the afternoon there are activities such as five-a-side soccer and swimming but if pupils prefer, this is a time to simply relax. For sailors there are regular opportunities to go on weekend cruises or to leisure sail or race on Alton Water Reservoir.