Boarding Houses

Alexandra House

Alexandra House is a girls’ boarding house for students in Years 9-13.

In 1864, Frederick Barlow, with the endorsement of Queen Alexandra (then Princess of Wales), laid the foundation for a charitable initiative—an orphanage accommodating up to 200 infants, later named the Alexandra Orphanage for Infants. Cementing their commitment to the charity’s cause, Queen Alexandra and King Edward VII assumed patronage of the Orphanage in 1901. The house proudly bears its name in honour of Queen Alexandra.

The Head of House is Ms Helena Lamprell.

Born into a multicultural family and having spent her early years in Germany and Switzerland, Helena developed an early appreciation for different cultures and international communities. With English, Czech and German heritage, this upbringing has strongly influenced her approach to boarding and pastoral care.

After graduating from university, she began her career in the professional sector before moving into education, where she discovered a strong vocation for pastoral work. Helena now brings over six years of experience working in international boarding schools in both Switzerland and the UK, supporting students from a wide range of backgrounds.

Throughout her career, Helena has played an active role in building and establishing boarding environments, with a strong focus on student wellbeing, community, and pastoral support. She is committed to ensuring boarding provides a genuine “home away from home,” where students feel safe, supported, and confident to develop both personally and socially.