Welcome to Fonthill

Welcome to Fonthill from the Housemistress

This will be my third year as Housemistress of Fonthill, and I am really looking forward to welcoming everyone back in September – new and existing pupils alike.

I still feel hugely privileged to have been given this role, having worked in Kingswood boarding for 17 years, as well as being a teacher of English, Games and PSHCE, and involved in many aspects of the extra-curricular programme of the School. I am proud that, despite the challenges of the last two years, the house has maintained it’s spirit and identity, and the Fonthill family is stronger than ever. Here’s hoping for another great year!

Mrs Juliette Mainwaring

House History

The original Fonthill House (on Lansdown Road, opposite the main school gates) was built well over a hundred years ago (c.1874/5). It opened in 1972 as the first girls’ house in Kingswood School, with just eight Sixth Form boarders. In 1979, junior girls also joined the house, and within a few years Fonthill numbers had increased to almost 60 girls. In 2001, under the stewardship of Housemistress, Miss Angie Wright (who then became Kingswood’s Head of Boarding until retiring in July 2020), the house was relocated to its current position at the end of Fonthill Road, at the top of the line of four boarding houses on this side of the School campus. Until 2019, the house was led by Mrs Clare Sergeant, who stepped down from leadership of the house to take up a position as Kingswood’s Assistant Head (Pastoral). Both Miss Wright and Mrs Sergeant give their names to house end-of-year awards.

In Fonthill this year there are 93 pupils, of whom 29 are boarders. There are over 10 different nationalities represented by members of the house. Fonthill is paired with a boys’ house - Hall - with whom it shares many events throughout the school year, including regular tutor time discussions of various topics. House Emblem

Fonthill’s house colour is red, as reflected in the house’s current emblem, which was formalised in 2021. It comprises of a design of its main letters (produced by former Fonthill member, Maddy, several years ago), and the house symbol of a bird in flight. The bird was drawn by former Fonthill pupil, Lizzie, as representation of freedom and independence, which we hope all Fonthill members will achieve a sense of through their time in the house. The bird is sometimes affectionately known by Fonthill as the ‘flying seal’!

The two house mottos were established by Upper Sixth pupils in 2019-20, led by Head of House, Minnie – an inspiring group who were extremely principled and passionate, and who worked tirelessly for change in all areas of school and global life. These mottos are also reflected in the house aims and ethos.

House Aims & Ethos

In addition to the general ethos of the School, Fonthill House has its own specific values, which reflect the nature of the pupils in it. The following aims are actively promoted within the house – both by its tutors and senior pupils:

• To encourage Fonthill members to take responsibility through service – for themselves and their actions, for others, and for the closer community and wider world around them • To encourage Fonthill pupils to take pride in, and be principled and passionate about all that they do, say and believe in - whatever that may be • To foster in all Fonthill members a sense of their importance as women, recognising their value and worth as such, whatever future path they choose to take