Craigleith
Craigleith House is the new Upper Sixth Form Boarding House at Fettes College and opened its doors in September 2007 – a stunning purpose built home for all of our 130 final year students heralding more independence, responsibility and flexibility and thereby better equipping them for life beyond Fettes.
As stated, the purpose of Craiglieth is to better prepare our final year students for the demands of life beyond Fettes, whether that be in further education or in employment. Over the course of the year they are exposed to a number of challenging expectations which move them on from the comfort zone of their Senior Houses. The new living arrangements and atmosphere are more akin to a university halls of residence with greater freedoms running hand in hand with expectations on self direction; the focus is on allowing students the freedom to take a greater degree of responsibility for organising their own lives, particularly in terms of planning their working regimes. This mirrors many of the sentiments promoted through the International Baccalaureate which the College took on in 2006. This programme is run alongside the traditional A level course and this choice of study has proved to be a great success, with both pupils and staff enthused and inspired by the initiative. Results continue to be excellent for students following both courses.
In addition to resident House Staff, each student has an allocated Academic Tutor who oversees their daily progress and with whom they meet weekly, when the Tutor is on duty in the House. The Tutors also provide guidance and feedback throughout the process of applying to univeristy in addition to the obvious pastoral support.
The Upper Sixth Form House has separate wings for male and female accommodation, individual study bedrooms with en-suite facilities. The common areas include, a library, computer centre, large kitchen, laundry and a social centre for the Upper and Lower 6th forms to meet. Even this level of co-habitation provides a useful steppingstone for those perhaps not familiar with the demands, pressures and considerations of mixed accomodation. Final year students are also expected to undertake all of their own personal laundry and the upkeep of their own rooms. Knowing the dangerous end of an ironing board is a life skill worth having! There are opportunities to sign up for cookery courses, personal interview and presentation techniques and not least advice on staying safe in foreign countries.
Craigleith House accommodates just the final year students with the Lower Sixth remaining resident in the Senior Boarding Houses. This means that the younger pupils have Senior members in their houses and their social development continues to be influenced by an upper age group. This also gives Lower Sixth pupils an opportunity to take on responsibility a year earlier as Heads of their own House and as House Prefects. They are the most senior age group within the Senior Boarding Houses.
Despite the physical and perhaps mental 'moving on' which occurs, all members of Craigleith House still retain vital and significant links to their former Senior House and continue to represent it in the rich calendar of inter-House sport, drama, debating and music which occurs throughout the year.
Craigleith House is run by husband and wife team Richard and Caroline Davies, appointed in 2006 as Housemaster and Housemistress respectively.
They have three daughters, Órla, Megan and Grace. Richard teaches in the Physics Dept., is 3rd XV rugby coach and Master i/c Pipes and Drums. Caroline is a teacher of German and French. They are ably assisted by Mr Charlie du Vivier and Ms Emma Davies, both long serving members of the Fettes staff. Mrs Liz Collister is the House Matron.
Contact information:
Housemaster via ra.davies@fettes.com or Housemistress via cl.davies@fettes.com.
