The Programme
Latimer runs for ten days each July. Mornings are for seminars, afternoons for the hills, and evenings for debate, music and reflection. There are no exams, no grades and no screens. What students take away is the habit of careful reading and honest conversation, and usually a few friends for life.
A day at Latimer
| 7:30 | Breakfast |
| 8:30 | Morning Chapel (optional) |
| 9:00 | Seminar I |
| 10:45 | Break |
| 11:15 | Seminar II |
| 13:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00 | Walking, sport or free time |
| 16:30 | Tea |
| 17:00 | Debate |
| 18:15 | Free time and choir practice |
| 19:00 | Dinner |
| 20:15 | Music, guest talk or evening activity |
| 21:30 | Evening Reflection |
| 22:30 | Lights out |
Seminars
Each student belongs to a seminar group of eight to ten, which meets twice every morning with the same tutor. We read short texts closely and slowly, from Plato and Augustine to Burke, Newman and C. S. Lewis. Nobody lectures. The tutor’s job is to ask good questions and to make sure every voice is heard.
Debate
Each afternoon ends with a formal debate on a motion drawn from the day’s reading, such as “This house believes a good person can be a bad citizen.” Everyone speaks at least twice during the ten days. Plenty of students who arrive dreading it end up enjoying it the most.
Walking
The house sits at the foot of open hills, and most afternoons we walk them. Routes range from a gentle hour by the river to a full day on the ridge. The best conversations often happen here.
Music
Everyone sings in the Latimer choir, whether or not they can read music. The choir sings at chapel, at the evening services and at the closing concert, to which families are invited.
Life at Latimer
The Latimer Way
A few simple rules help make Latimer what it is.
- Phones. Phones are collected on arrival and returned on the final day, so students can be fully present. Families can reach the office at any time.
- Dinner. We dress for dinner: a collared shirt or smart top, and no trainers. It is a small thing that makes the evening feel like an occasion.
- Accommodation. Dorms are single-sex, with resident staff on every corridor.
- Evening Reflection. The day closes with a short time of quiet in the chapel. It is open to all, whatever their beliefs.
- Kindness. Disagree as hard as you like in the seminar room, then sit down to dinner as friends.
Frequently asked questions
Is it really free?
Yes. There are no fees for tuition, food or accommodation, and we can help with travel costs for any student who needs it. Latimer is funded entirely by the Aldwell Foundation and its supporters. We will never ask families for money.
Do I need to be religious?
Not at all. Latimer is rooted in the Christian intellectual tradition, but students of all faiths and none are warmly welcome.
What should I pack?
Walking boots, a waterproof, swimming things, clothes for ten days (there is a laundry), and something smart for dinner. We send a full packing list to every student in June. Bedding and towels are provided.
Where exactly is Latimer held?
At a country house in the hills of mid-Wales. Full details, including travel arrangements, are sent to the families of students who are offered a place.
Can parents visit?
Parents and guardians are warmly invited to the closing concert on the final afternoon. You can telephone the office at any time during the programme.