Nestled between Boyne and Hazelwell Houses is Ashmead, whose emblem of the ‘apple’ is symbolic of the fact that this modern, purpose built girls’ boarding house occupies the site of Boyne orchard.

HRH The Princess Royal officially opened Ashmead in October 2000 having opened its doors to its first cohort of girls just a few weeks earlier.  Originally built to house 50 full time boarders, it opened at full capacity and has remained a popular choice ever since! Ashmead currently has a maximum boarding capacity of 62 girls with roughly 12 girls in each year group.

When girls join Ashmead in the 3rd form they are accommodated in triple bedded rooms with ‘cabin’ style beds.  During their 4th and 5th form years the girls generally share double rooms and we aim to provide all L6th and U6th girls with the privacy of their own rooms. The double and single rooms both have the benefit of their own sinks and the nearest bathroom is never far away!

I am now in my fifth year of tenure as Housemistress, but both myself, and my husband Graham, have been familiar faces around College for some time, having taught here for the last ten years. Graham is Head of the Design Technology department and I teach Theatre Studies and English. We have three young children: Lily (10), Imogen (8) and Finn (6), as well an overly affectionate Burmese cat called Alfie. Zoë La Valette-Cooper is our resident tutor and she, her husband Richard, their four year old daughter Hannah and one year old son Benjamin also live on site. With our two families at Ashmead’s heart we strive to replicate just a little of ‘home life’. We also have a resident matron called Beverley Burnham King who joined us in 2011. 

You are always more than welcome to come and visit us!

Anna Cutts, Ashmead Housemistress