College West

Among the leering gargoyles and gothic arches of the Fettes College main building lies College West, one of the three Fettes girls houses. Collage West houses girls from Third Form to Lower Sixth meaning that the girls are still very much ‘Westies’ when they move into Craigleith House (the mixed house for the Upper Sixth Form), despite the physical divide. West as a house are very close, with strong friendships between year groups as well as within them so this, combined with Upper Sixth returning to visit and compete in house events and competitions, ensures that the Upper Sixth never become strangers and the feeling of house spirit is maintained. West girls are known for being friendly and fun as well as driven and competitive which creates a welcoming and homey environment and a strong sense of house spirit. A typical scene in house is girls from all different years snuggled up on sofas watching a film together, winding down from a hectic week.

The house, being situated within the main building, is in an extremely convenient location as it is at the heart of the school close to all academic facilities, the dining hall and is the closest of all the houses to the sports complex, Westwoods, which many games sessions take place in and the Sixth Form are allowed to go to after prep. The house is also conveniently positioned so that a trip to Waitrose for sustenance and treats only requires the girls to walk in a straight line, out the front gate and two minutes down the road.

 

West was refurbished in the summer of 2007, totally re-jigging the layout of the house and providing dramatically transformed, comfortable dorms and rooms as well as a house library. The new library contains computers, a printer and, of course, a variety of books to choose from. The house also receives daily newspapers and weekly magazines to keep the girls happy and up to date as the full days make it easy to become unaware of the outside world.

 

West is typically known as ‘the sporty house’ and we do manage to live up to the label, winning a range of sporting competitions from the serious sports day to the not quite so prestigious house football (or dress up party which involves kicking a ball occasionally and screaming a lot). The house has a fierce competitive streak which pulls the house together and is maybe the secret to our sporting successes, but it is also encouraging and understanding to those who perhaps do not wish to take part.

 

The talent in College West however is not only confined to the sports field, it is evenly spread across the board with numerous talented artists, musicians, actresses and academics whose ability result in many a chip run in celebration of triumph in one competition or another and there are those in the house who definitely do not fit the ‘sporty’ stereotype. This year West won the House Art competition for the second year running and dominated in the debating; winning all of the competitions.

Drama is not left out and with middle school play festivals and also the house play itself; these opportunities allow the entire house to get involved, if not on stage, then behind it in make-up, costume or lighting and sound.

What makes West such a great house to be part of is the balance struck between academic and extra-curricular activities, both of which the girls strive and flourish in, as well as the relaxed friendly atmosphere and ability to have fun even when the expected pressures of school life are on. An example of this is the Annual Carol Singing when the whole house, staff included, take to the Stockbridge streets and serenade the unsuspecting house owners in aid of charity.

Mrs. Bruce has been our Housemistress for the last three years with her husband and, baby Jamie has joined our house in March last year.

Mrs Bruce manages to keep us all in check whilst being sympathetic and involved with the house on a personal level, all whilst teaching PE. However, with a new baby as well as the house on her hands the teaching has had to take a back seat for awhile. All the girls love little Jamie so there is always someone willing to watch him.

The Resident Tutor, who lives at the top of West and is a pillar of support to the Housemistress and girls alike, Miss Bryson will be taking up the mantle as the girls’ big sister and role model this coming year.

The house also has two matrons, Mrs Janice Livingstone and Mrs Yvonne Sheppard who are the house’s motherly figures, helping out members of the house with domestic tasks such as washing as well as always being there for a chat. The weekly tray-bakes that they so kindly cook for us each Wednesday are enjoyed by the house at break time and are so popular that even the Upper Sixth often return to have a piece of them!

There are also a team of tutors who do duty nights in house and mentor groups of girls through weekly one on one tutorials. For the Third Form the resident tutor talks to them all making sure that she is there whenever they may need her while, for the Fourth years Mrs Palfery makes sure that she is there for them. As the Fifth Form approach their GCSE’s Miss Johnston and Mrs Appleson help them through their trials and troubles. In the Sixth Form there are two tutors, Miss Pattman and Mrs Battersby split the largest year of the house between them so that no one is left out. Overall, everyone is helping to create the happy and supportive environment in house.

Mrs Battersby

 Mrs Appleson

 Mrs Palfery

 Miss Pattman

 Miss Johnston

 West is Best!

Please feel free to contact Mrs Bruce at sa.bruce@fettes.com if you have any questions or would like to learn more about the house and Fettes.