What is Formal Hall?

What is Formal Hall?

Formal Hall is a three course, candlelight meal where we come together as both a St Cat's Family and a Community of Scholars once a week.The tradition hails from the foundation of the European universities in the 12th century: and for millennia before this, scholars have travelled across the world to the great learning centres of humanity, East and West, to learn from each other. Every culture has knowledge systems passed from one generation to the next and shared for the betterment of all people. No matter who we are or where we come from we share in this great tradition. The Academic gowns we all wear signify our equality, our shared endeavour to push the boundaries of knowledge, and our courageous pursuit of the truth.

What is High Table?

The High Table dates back to traditions established in the ancient university colleges of Oxford and Cambridge. In this tradition, basically, the bigwigs and professors sat at High Table and the common students sat below them in the hall... This reinforced a hierarchy between scholars and students in a culture where everyone had their place and class. We're not about that.

St Cat's was founded by a women strongly focused on equity of access and collaborative problem solving (insert trumpets). In our community we have built upon traditions established at universities like Princeton, while breaking away from the restrictions of the past.

The whole idea is not to separate our community but to provide another opportunity to bring us together. Students are selected to represent different stages of study, different interests, to celebrate outstanding achievements, or because they are connected to the theme of the dinner or we think they would benefit from sitting with a particular guest at the table.

In this tradition we recognise we are first and foremost a community of scholars and we are all learning from each other. We eat together as senior and junior colleagues, as equals in our love of learning and desire to make a positive difference in our world. We respectfully engage with each other, our knowledge and ideas. This sharing of a meal to nourish the body and the mind and to reinforce the values that bind us is truly ancient and familiar to all cultures.

Why do we say Grace?

We have so much to be grateful for at St Cat's and whilst we are not a religious foundation and proudly welcome students of all faiths and none, we like to give thanks for the things that make our lives richer. We join hands as a symbol of our unity and the diversity of thought and culture that enriches our world.

Why do we do an Acknowledgement of Country?

An Acknowledgement of Country is a formal statement or personal reflection that shows awareness of and respect for the Traditional Custodians of the land you live on and their long and continuing relationship with the land. Unlike a Welcome to Country, it can be delivered by anyone – Indigenous or non-Indigenous.