Field’s
Field’s is a large House situated at the centre of the College with a spacious and beautiful common room overlooking the sea.
The House is a perfect home-from-home for some 60 girls aged 13 to 18 years. It has a warm and friendly environment with a reputation of welcoming new pupils. There is a culture of someone constantly being there to talk to – the Housemistress, her team and also other experienced girls will always make time to listen to others.
Spend any time in Field’s and you soon witness laughter, chatter and fun. A rich mix of individuals and cultures gives a strong emphasis on sharing this diversity whether through cooking, sharing cultural stories and learning new languages. Strong and lifelong friendships develop as the girls spend time together as a family. Field’s girls are encouraged to explore new ventures; here they can discover what interests them in a safe environment. Field’s is never empty at weekends – the girls are often busy doing things together and being in touch with parents and guardians.
Girls leave in the Sixth Form prepared both academically and personally; many stay in touch with their friends around the world.
Meet the House Staff
History of the House
The first Housemaster was the Revd W H Ferguson, a notable musician and composer, who was later Warden of both St Edward’s Oxford and Radley and Precentor of Salisbury Cathedral. He was succeeded by the Revd Adam Fox, who went on to a very distinguished clerical and academic career; the Revd W M Howitt, the Chaplain, and then Patrick ‘Tiger’ Halsey who was a remarkable Housemaster for 32 years. Field’s, like Gibbs’, was designed with accommodation for a bachelor Housemaster in the middle of the House and a flat for a shared matron between the Houses. After Paul Witherington, Dennis Day was the last bachelor Housemaster and a house in the vernacular Sussex style by Wells-Thorpe and partners was built in 1987 for his married successor, David Austin.
In 2002 Field’s was re-constituted as a girls’ boarding House and Mrs Dugdale was the first Housemistress, bringing with her some of the very first intake of Third Form girls from Manor. The pioneering spirit very quickly established a strong tradition of sport, music and drama and some excellent academic results. Among distinguished ‘Agrarians’ are the playwright Sir David Hare, the distinguished Judge Sir Robert Megarry, the musicians Nicholas Kramer, David and Steuart Bedford, concert pianist Dennis Lee and the comedian Alex Horne.