July 24, 2021

A Modern and Colourful Refurbishment for Fryer House

This term, Fryer eagerly stepped over the threshold to their refurbished house. Modern and comfortable, not only has the accommodation been given a new lease of life, social spaces for day, flexi, weekly and boarding students alike, have been treated to an impressive makeover.

Cali in Year 8, recently enthused, “The new Fryer boarding house is really nice, it’s really homely, it’s so colourful and it’s really comfortable, there’s so many cool rooms. The TV room has the biggest TV ever!” Amongst students’ favourite things to do in house are; baking, board games, playing hide and seek, film nights, and simply relaxing.

As part of the boarding review process, consultation deemed that the space should reflect and enable ‘sense of community and togetherness’ and tutors to be ‘actively involved in pupil care’. The home from home now offers downstairs communal spaces such as the day room, dining hall, music room and games room, as well as a wellness room for a moment away from the hustle and bustle.

Boarding House Manager, Chavelli Brewster, reflected “Fryer House is really special because it’s a community, all the students look out for each other and as much as the staff are there, students really take care of each other.”

Upstairs separate quarters include three new ensuite boarding rooms for girls to accommodate nine boarders, five new ensuite boarding rooms for boys to accommodate 15 boarders and three social spaces for relaxation consisting of a lounge area, office, and kitchen / living space with snack and hot drink facilities.

As a day student who often takes advantage of free boarding nights with his friends, Oscar, commented “You go to board if you want to hang out with your friends and have a good night together and so that really does make friendships stronger because you’ve got all these opportunities with your friends.”

From their HQ, over the past year, Fryer have been involved in a number of charity initiatives including collecting and cleaning outgrown shoes for Boots 2 Africa. Making use of their wellness room, many students also took it upon themselves to pen appreciation letters to their teachers and support staff. In the kitchen, culinary skills have come a long way, even though pancakes, cookies and waffles are still students’ best-loved snacks.

Nestled in its own corner of the Park, Fryer House began life in 1923 as the School’s Hospice. The building was given to the School by the mother and sister of Joseph Fryer, an Old Leightonian who sadly lost his life in a mountain accident two years prior.

The building was extended in 1968 to accommodate 30 Fourth Form boarders, known to us today as Year 9. From the mid-seventies part of the building was used as a Sixth Form girls’ hostel. In 1985 the building was re-opened as the boarding house it is today. Fryer continue to be an energetic bunch, enjoying the huge range of opportunities on offer to them.

Fryer House Fun

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