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 Trista Gladstone.

Trista is Senior Head of House and Coordinator for Foundation & MOD students. Originally from Montreal, Canada, Trista was born into a military family. Her father served in the Royal Canadian Air Force and, throughout her childhood, she experienced the challenges and joys of being part of a Forces family.

Trista went on to complete a degree in Fine Arts with a speciality in theatre performance from Concordia University. Her early career was in theatre and film. She toured with the Montreal Shakespeare Company, worked on television and film sets, and taught theatre to children with special educational needs.

Trista made the transatlantic leap from Canada to the UK in 2015 when she joined the Royal Alexandra and Albert School as a House Tutor, prior to her appointment as Head of Alexandra House.

Despite never envisioning herself working in boarding, Trista describes her role as Head of House as a privilege. She feels honoured to be able to guide and inspire the young women who pass through the doors of Alexandra House.

Trista lives with her partner, Barny (who is the school’s Executive Chef Manager), her wonderful stepdaughter, Evie, and their lovable Labradoodle, Nala.