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. 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 being 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 with 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 the House Play ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’ was a huge success and allowed 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 two years with her husband and, after maternity leave over this summer term, new baby Jamie. She manages to keep us all in check whilst being sympathetic and involved with the house on a personal level, whilst teaching PE however, with a new baby as well as the house on her hands the teaching may have to take a back seat for awhile. The Resident Tutor, who lives at the top of West and is a pillar of support to the Housemistress and girls alike and we would like to welcome to the house in her new role Frau Rehbein. The house also has two matrons, Mrs Janice Livingston and Mrs Jane Gallier who are the houses motherly figures, helping out members of the house with domestic tasks such as washing as well as always being there for a chat and providing the weekly tray-bakes which 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, overall helping to create the happy and supportive environment in house.

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.

Who's who in College West

Housemistress: Mrs Sue Bruce
Resident Tutor: Frau Sina Rehbein

Tutors: Mrs Yvonne Mitchell, Mrs Morag Hansen, Mrs J Palfery, Mrs J Pattmann, Miss Sarah Johnston

Part time Matrons: Mrs Jane Gallier & Mrs Janice Livingstone