The Garden was designed specifically as a girls house in 1993, and therefore has a very modern feel about it. The relaxed, friendly atmosphere encourages a very loyal and bonding house spirit that can be found in all aspects of the house in all year groups. This leads naturally into sporting successes and positions of responsibility that Garden girls achieve within the school. The younger years are influenced by the consistently high standard set by sixth form within the house, aspiring to follow in their footsteps. That each girl should achieve her very best academically is expected not only from the houseparents and tutors, but from the girls' themselves. Former Garden girls return every year, whether it is to our famous cabaret dinner or simply to pop in for tea and a chat to let us know how well they are doing at university, but also to let us know how much their time in the house has meant to them. What is perhaps most special about the Garden girls is their passion for life and full involvement in all things Reptonian, but also their care for each other. New B Blockers always comment on how wonderful it is to have so many big sisters looking out for them.
The structure of the house is that we have 25 single bedsits, 5 double bedsits and 5 four-bedded rooms. Boarders in B and A Blocks (Years 9 and 10) sleep in the four-bedded rooms, with a study space in one of the rooms on the ground floor. The studies have been newly refurbished this year so they are much brighter and cosier. O Block (Year 11), usually sharing in pairs, study in their bedrooms and the sixth form have university-style single study bedrooms. All study-bedrooms have access points to the internet, but the house now also has wi-fi.
The girls enjoy having the space to relax, whether it is dancing competitions on the Wii, table football, entertaining guests in the Lower Common Room with the large flat screen TV on the wall or in their own common rooms upstairs which are cosy with big leather sofas, bean bags and a kitchenette to prepare snacks. The sixth form also have a work area and Reebok exercise bike in their common room. There are literally hundreds of DVDs to choose from including over 50 foreign language films. There is a library in each Common Room, which is regularly updated as well as a reference library in the Quiet Room where the girls choose to work in their free time as well as for pair work in prep. Matron Sue is renowned for her weekend activities, ranging from films and ice-cream or make-overs on a Saturday night to baking, crafts or growing our own vegetables in the Greenhouse on a Sunday. It is lovely to see girls from all the different year groups enjoying these together. We are lucky enough to have our own music room with a piano and drum kit, which the girls use in prep and in their own free time. We also have a piano in the Dining Hall, so the girls can play at House events. These house events as well as socials and sporting achievements will be displayed each day on the dual digital photo board. Baby photos will also go up on birthdays which always causes great amusement!
The girls really do consider the Garden as a home and are able to seek help and guidance from the Houseparents, resident tutor, Matron as well as the tutors who come in every evening or their mentors and prefects. We all work together to make the Garden a happy home where each girl feels valued and can flourish in a supportive and caring atmosphere.
If you would like to chat to the girls to find out more about life in the Garden, please do get in touch so that we can arrange a visit. You would be most welcome to taste the delights of our Chef Simon who caters for all tastes, offering a vegetarian option every meal as well as an extensive salad bar. Our packed lunches have taken on a reputation of their own for the sporting girls who need an energising and nutritional replacement if they have to miss lunch or tea.