Colvin

Meet the Housemistress

The Housemistress of Colvin, Gabrielle Alway, is also a teacher of Art and Wellbeing. Before becoming Housemistress of Colvin, Gabrielle ran Highfield, the Lower School House, for four years.

A figurative and portrait artist, she is passionate about arts, but also has a keen interest in sports, in particular hockey and netball, which she coaches, and skiing.

Gabrielle lives in Colvin with her husband and two children, and loves to cook in her spare time.

In Colvin, we enjoy many different activities 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.

Gabrielle Alway Housemistress of Colvin

House character

Colvin is a warm, friendly place, giving our pupils a strong sense of loyalty to House and to each other.

The pupils are competitive, enjoy inter-house tournaments, and tend to be well represented in many of the school sports teams. A large number take part in music, drama, London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), debating and Model United Nations (MUN).

We hold popular ‘Colvin-Thomason Dining Society’ evenings, where the Upper Sixth pupils from Thomason and Colvin, along with their tutors, cook and enjoy food together. A black-tie event, it’s an opportunity to learn new skills and socialise in a grown-up environment.

House facilities

A modern building, Colvin places wellbeing 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 one with a piano. There is also a Laundry Room, Boot Room, Tutor Room (for quiet work) and Computer Room, where visitors are welcome.

There is a large kitchen with a work space where pupils can do group work, as well as the Glass Room for relaxing in.

Matrons, tutors and HPA representative

Gabrielle is supported in her work by Mandy Burrows-Spooner, the House Matron, who helps with the day-to-day domestic management of the House and an experienced team of tutors. The House also has its own representative from the Haileybury Parents’ Association.

History

Colvin House was the last of the Quad Houses, opening in 1864 and moved 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 pupil to follow their path, confident in their values.