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The girls get up to lots of different things in the house during the week and at the weekend. We have international-themed evenings like Italian Night, creating and devouring ice cream sundaes, making pizzas from scratch, Body Shop pamper evenings, film nights and mixing up some interesting homemade facemasks to trial. We are also lucky to have some brilliant events with our brother house, Thomason, including the Upper Sixth Dining Society.
Emma Tyndall
Housemistress of Colvin
History
Colvin House was the last of the Quad Houses, opening in 1864.
It is now a leading girls’ House, moving to custom-built premises by the tranquil beauty of the Master’s Pond in 1999.
The House badge – a wasp – was chosen because its colours matched those of Brasenose College, Oxford, the alma mater of Colvin’s first Housemaster, Cormell Price. The House motto, Nitere ut Discas (try to learn), combined with the tenacity of the wasp, encourages every girl to follow their path, confident in their values.
House character
Colvin is a warm, friendly place, giving girls a strong sense of loyalty to House and to each other.
The girls are competitive, enjoy inter-house tournaments, and tend to be well represented in many of the school sports teams. Large numbers of girls take part in music, drama, London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), debating and Model United Nations (MUN).
Our ‘Colvin-Thomason Dining Society’ evenings, where the Upper Sixth from that boys’ House cook with the Upper Sixth Colvin girls and their tutors, are very popular.
A black-tie event, it gives the girls and boys chance to learn new skills and socialise in a grown-up environment.
House facilities
A modern building, Colvin places the girls at the heart of the design – making a bright airy environment for each pupil to work, rest, play and discuss issues with their fellow Housemates.
There are three Common Rooms on the ground floor, one with a large TV and space for all the girls. One has a piano. There is also a Laundry Room, Boot Room, Tutor Room (for quiet work) and Computer Room, where visitors are welcome.
Upstairs, the first-floor dormitory sleeps 20 girls in the Removes and Middles. There are also three single study bedrooms on the first floor for Lower Sixth girls, and five double rooms for Fifths.
There is a large kitchen with a work space where girls can do group work, as well as the Glass Room for relaxing in. On the second floor, there are the remaining single study bedrooms for Sixth Formers, another kitchen and several bathrooms.
Meet the Housemistress
Emma Tyndall became Housemistress of Colvin in September 2016, having joined Haileybury a year earlier as a Teacher of History and Assistant Housemistress of Allenby. Previously she spent six years at King’s Canterbury, where she was also an Assistant Housemistress and Head of PSHE. Emma has always enjoyed her sport, captaining Leeds University Netball Club alongside studying for her BA in History, and enjoys coaching not just netball, but also hockey, tennis and girls’ rugby. Emma is married to Graeme, Rackets Professional and Teacher of English here at Haileybury, with whom she shares her love of sport, travel and food.
Tutors and HPA representative
Emma is supported in her work by an experienced team of Tutors at Colvin, in addition to a House Matron who helps with the day to day domestic management of the House. The House also has its own representative from the Haileybury Parents’ Association.