Have you ever stopped, slowed down and thought about all the wonderful things you get to do as a Housemaster?

Tonight was, without question, the most wonderful night of the year so far. I saw the fruits of seeds planted back in September – both the ones you plan for and the ones that grow quietly on their own. Tonight was the School House Christmas Dinner.

A night like this simply isn’t possible without the support of so many unseen people: catering, estates, maintenance, admissions, marketing. I couldn’t do what I do without being surrounded by phenomenal, generous and tireless teams.

And yet, arranging a dinner party of this size is no small feat. I pushed myself to learn Canva in ways I didn’t know existed, designed menus, chose decorations, planned the layout and created a seating plan that felt natural – one where conversation could flow freely across the room.

But the most important part of the evening was listening to the Upper Sixth and Prefect speeches. The word that rang out, loudest and clearest, was family. That’s not something you can engineer; it’s something you nurture. Hearing it said aloud was a touching reminder of what it truly means to be a co-educational house.

My final reflection came at the after-party. I leaned against the doorframe, spooning up a second pudding (whoops), watching them attempt the after-eight challenge, waltz across the floor, and sing Christmas songs at the top of their voices. In that moment, I simply stopped. Took a breath. Let it sink in that every second given to School House is worth it in ways no one else will ever fully understand.

Proud doesn’t quite cover it.
We belong here.

Callum Carroll
Housemaster

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