Orchard House is situated at the very front of the College overlooking the award-winning 1st XI cricket pitch. Orchard is home to around 75 day boys from Year 9 to Year 12, spread across three floors of a modern building. Our Year 13 boys and girls live closeby in College and Gilson Houses respectively.
The magnificent cricket pavilion is part of the House, allowing our pupils to enjoy using it at break and lunchtimes. There is also a common room with a pool table, table football and board games. With no boarders, space in the House is dedicated to providing light and spacious work environments where pupils can complete their prep.
Although one of the largest houses at Shiplake, Orchard still manages to be a welcoming and friendly home that offers everyone a small corner that they can call their own. The house is run as one big family, with all teaching staff and senior students playing their part to create an atmosphere which is based upon mutual respect, tolerance and the support of each other. This successful ethos allows for every pupil to feel comfortable and valued, and encourages them to flourish in whatever they might choose to do. All Orchard pupils are passionate about their House and enjoy taking part in inter-house competitions. Our brimming trophy cabinet and a long list of academic and co-curricular awards is testament to this!
Housemaster: Mr Andy Jones
Mr Jones joined the College in 2021 as a teacher of chemistry, joining Everett House as Deputy Housemaster in 2022.
He joined Shiplake from a secondary school in Wokingham, where he worked as a teacher of chemistry and was also a Head of Year and Pastoral Leader for many years.
Outside of the classroom, he coaches rowing at the college, a sport about which he is very passionate. Mr Jones loves nothing more than to share his passion for the sport and see the development of rowers he coaches.
As well as his love for science and sport, Mr Jones also enjoys the arts and frequently travels to London to watch many plays and musicals and is also a proud supporter of the Northern Ballet.
Deputy Housemaster: Mr Jasper Elliott
Mr Jasper Elliott joined the College in 2021 and is a music teacher here at Shiplake which involves leading the Year 12 and 13 Music BTEC courses, as well as leading multiple bands and organising instrumental lesson timetables
Mr Elliott is also Head of the J16 (Year 11) rowing squad and thoroughly enjoys putting them through their paces down at the Davies Centre.
When not in the Music Department or down at the Davies Centre, Mr Elliott's spare time is mostly spent walking his puppy Albie or liberating various shoes/socks! He and his partner are also keen rowers and cyclists and enjoy training in the gym or finding different gravel paths around the area to explore.
House Pastoral Leader and Tutors
Contacts
Please note that the College Management Information System is expected to hold current contact information for parents and guardians, including address, home and mobile telephone numbers and email.
If your information changes during the year, please inform the Housemaster and the College Office, as soon as possible.
Mobile telephone numbers for all pupils will be held by the Housemaster.