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Russell Dore and Highfield (Lower School)
It is our aim to ensure the pupils have a joyful and triumphant education at Haileybury, using the first year in Lower School as a soft landing from their primary or prep school and the second as a springboard to success, enabling pupils to leave us with all the necessary skills and experience to thrive in the Main School.
Laurence Bruggemann & Lauren Davey Housemaster of Russell Dore, House Parent of Highfield
Meet the Housemaster of Russell Dore
Laurence Bruggemann joined Haileybury in September 2020 as Assistant Housemaster and Resident Tutor in Batten alongside teaching mathematics. He was appointed as the Housemaster of Russell Dore in September 2021. Before working at Haileybury he taught mathematics at two different boarding schools in the South East of England and held additional pastoral responsibilities. Prior to teaching, Laurence spent a brief spell working in professional sport as the Team Manager for London Scottish Rugby Club who compete in the second tier of English Rugby. Outside of his teaching and pastoral responsibilities, Laurence coaches rugby and cricket teams at Haileybury. In his free time, Laurence still enjoys playing sport himself playing cricket and squash for local teams.
He says “Russell Dore is an inclusive and welcoming environment to ensure that everyone in the House has a smooth transition to their senior school. I hope that the pupils enjoy spending time in the House and can move into Removes with an outstanding academic grounding as well as developing some strong connections with their peers and staff which will act as a strong support network throughout their time at the school”.
Meet the Houseparent of Highfield
Lauren Davey joined Haileybury in September 2016 as a Resident Tutor in Highfield and Head of Lacrosse. Since joining, Lauren became Assistant House Mistress of Highfield and in 2020 took the role of Head of Lower School 1 before being appointed Houseparent of Highfield in 2021. Lauren lives in Highfield with her husband Kieran who is also a PE teacher at a school in Stevenage. Lauren enjoys all sports and when she is not in Highfield, She can be found down on the sports pitches coaching sport to pupils. In her free time, Lauren enjoys skiing, cooking, crafting and visiting family in Cornwall.
She says “Highfield is a fun, happy and exciting House to be a part of where strong friendships are made. As a Houseparent, I want to create a House where pupils feel confident and comfortable, a home from home where we all celebrate each other’s achievements in the classroom and outside of the classroom. In Highfield, we aim to build confidence and help to prepare them for when they move up into Main School.”
House character
Russell Dore and Highfield are the Houses in which pupils spend their time in Lower School. All pupils are members of Russell Dore and those pupils who board are also members of Highfield. For those pupils in Highfield, often away from home for the first time, we provide a supportive and secure environment to help them get the best out of these key formative years at Haileybury.
Russell Dore and Highfield aim to be the pupils’ home from home within the School where they can make the most of the facilities and bond with their peers. Russell Dore and Highfield Houses have a strong focus on pastoral care, it is a priority to provide a safe and comfortable environment for the young pupils to settle into. During the first year of Lower School (LS1), we offer limitless support ensuring the transition from prep or primary school is a smooth one.
In the second year of Lower School (LS2), the Houses equip pupils with the necessary skills needed to succeed in the senior years that follow. Russell Dore and Highfield is a values based community, but on the values of Respect, Courage, Integrity and Ambition. These are not designed to be words on the wall, but there to shape the everyday actions of everyone for the benefit of our community so they can thrive and be happy. The House also aims to develop strong connections between not only the pupils, but also with the pupils and the staff in the House. These connections help to build a support network for every pupil as they make their way through the House.
House facilities
The Russell Dore building is both an academic and pastoral space for the Lower School. The building has 5 classrooms, where the LS1 pupils have their lessons, except when they go and use specialist facilities such as science or art. The LS2 pupils have some lessons in Russell Dore, but are expected to spend more time out around Campus. The House also has two spacious common rooms which pupils are free to use during their spare time. One is equipped with a number of games tables, such including a pool table or table football, the other is designed to be a quiet space where pupils can read or play a board game with other members of the House.
Highfield is a home for our weekly and flexi boarders. The House is split into two wings, a girls wing and a boys wing, each wing has three dorms which sleeps a maximum of 8 pupils.There are two central common rooms for the boarders to spend their time in which include a television, game console, pool table and board games. We have a kitchen in both wings of the boarding House for the boarders to use which contains a fridge, kettle and microwave. Outside of Highfield we have our Lower School astro, which has a roof, therefore the boarders can use the space whatever the weather, there are also two ping pong tables and a netball post. We are also lucky in Highfield to be situated next door to the Wellbeing Centre which the boarders can use as a quiet space to relax or complete some wellness activities such as baking and cooking.
History
A recent addition to Haileybury’s House system, Highfield embraces it with enthusiasm, preparing pupils for life in senior school at Removes (Year 9).
Highfield has its own House motto, Una Stamus (together we stand) and its own House colours, red and yellow, encouraging House loyalty at a very early age.