I was appointed as Housemaster of Cubitt in September 2007 and was delighted to move into the newly-constructed Housemaster’s House overlooking the South Field with my wife and our four young children. Previously I had spent six years as Deputy Housemaster of Loveday before taking over the reins in Cubitt from Andrew Griffiths, now Deputy Head, and felt privileged to join the tremendously friendly, warm and open Cubitt community. I arrived at Cranleigh in 1998 having completed my PGCE course at the University of London and was educated before this at Durham University and Rugby School.
Since joining Cubitt I have attempted to foster the relaxed, good-natured and supportive atmosphere that the House is often noted for whilst at the same time emphasising the importance of having a clear set of routines and boundaries. The boys are encouraged through close pastoral support to give of their best, to respect individuality and to become independent, caring and responsible young men with a clear moral sense. I also believe in placing a particular emphasis on building a close relationship with parents and families and appreciating the importance of good communication, mutual support and working in partnership.
Beyond the House, I enjoy being fully immersed in School life, particularly in teaching Economics and Business Studies and coaching on the sports field. I was formerly Head of the Economics and Business Studies Department and have co-authored several Economics and Business Studies books as well as running an A Level Business Studies Easter Revision Course for many years. Sport is a particular passion and I would try to classify myself as something of an all-rounder, but at Cranleigh I have focused my attentions on coaching various rugby and cricket A teams and 2nd XI or B team hockey. Any spare time that may be left is normally spent trying to play some sport of my own (aging limbs/joints permitting) or enjoying some family time and catching up on the exploits of my children, the eldest two of whom are at Cranleigh Prep School.
Housemaster – Mr Charlie Boddington Mr Charlie Boddingtonwas appointed Housemaster of Cubitt in September 2007, after six years as Deputy Housemaster of Loveday. When not overseeing the House, he teaches Business Studies and Economics (and helps write the exam case study revision disc, so is a useful person for the pupils to know!); coaches rugby, cricket and hockey, and tries to pursue some personal sporting interests (age and joints permitting). He lives with his wife and four young children, two of whom are at Cranleigh Preparatory School.
Deputy Housemaster – Mr Sam Cooke Mr Sam Cooke was appointed Deputy Housemaster of Cubitt in September 2011 having previously been in Loveday since arriving at Cranleigh in 2007. He lives on-site with his wife Anne and two twin daughters Maddy and Louisa. He was educated at Eastbourne College, Oxford University and Bath University (GTP). Outside the House, he is Head of the Religious Studies Department, Head of Critical Thinking and Assistant Chaplain.
Day Warden – Mr Tim Fearn Mr Tim Fearn having been a tutor in Cubitt since 2001 he has now taken on the role of Day Warden. His dry sense of humour, eye for the absurd and commitment to the Cubitt cause has made him a most popular member of the Tutor team. In addition to this he teaches physics and is the Head of Academic Administration – mention the word ‘timetabling’ to him and see what happens! – he is also a keen sportsman who has coached football and cricket, as well as representing the Common Room golf team.
TUTORS
Mr Brian Browne is an experienced IVth Form Tutor who has been part of the Cubitt team for the past eight years. A native of Belfast, he teaches Mathematics in all year groups and is a keen and talented sportsman, coaching both the Colts A XV and the soccer 1st XI, as well as being Master i/c football. He is renowned for his ability to dominate a midfield, as well as for his remarkable sartorial elegance.
Mr Jonathan Monk is a recent recruit to the Cubitt ranks, joining in 2010 having received a first class degree in English from Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. He has a love of travel, having spent his recent summers teaching in China, and he indulged this passion with a stint editing a student travel magazine. A keen sportsman, he particularly enjoys hockey and cycling and has, with foolish gallantry, offered to help with the School’s Duke of Edinburgh award, thus embracing a future of baked beans and blisters.
Mr Kevin Weaver is the latest in a long line of Music specialists to have been a member of the Cubitt tutor team. A most able violinist, who has worked with the English Symphony Orchestra, he was appointed Head of Strings for September 2010, arriving at Cranleigh via Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge and the Royal Academy of Music. Away from the Music School, he is a keen cross-country runner and, as a regular visitor to Finland, is something of a devotee of the sauna and ice bath Scandanavian culture.
Miss Sarah Roberts currently works in the Design department and has recently moved into Cubitt after serving her first year at Cranleigh in South. Previously, she was teaching at Salesian School in Chertsey where she was a teacher of Resistant Materials, Product Design and Graphics teaching through to GCSE and A-Level. Outside of Design Sarah has been known to work on ski resorts in America and live in Finland as part of her Furniture Design Degree. Together with an intuitive approach to teaching young people by enthusing and encouraging them makes her a friendly part of our team.
Mrs Olivia Ravilious has been at Cranleigh School for the past ten years and is an experienced tutor to all year groups. She is currently Assistant Head of English and enjoys coaching lacrosse, netball and athletics. She is a keen sportswoman and enjoys competing in triathlons, adventure racing and teaching Pilates in her spare time.
Dr Richard Gale is new to Cubitt and to Cranleigh this year having spent the last three years researching Huntington’s disease at King’s College London. Prior to this he was at Oxford University where he studied for his doctorate of philosophy in Genetics. He is an exceptionally keen sportsman and is helping the coaching of rugby and hockey in the school while trying to fit in some cross country running as well. Also a lover of the arts he is looking forward to supporting the Cubittians in their performances.
Mr Tom Mariott joined Cubitt this year after having taught History and Politics at St Peter’s School, York. He studied History at St John’s College, Cambridge and is a keen sportsman; most notably rugby and rowing but he thoroughly enjoys turning his hand to any competitive sport.
MATRONS
Mrs Jan Goldsmith has been Matron in Cubitt since 1992, a position she filled single-handedly until 2004, and has been a much-loved figure to hundreds of Cubittians over the last sixteen years. As the wife of an experienced schoolmaster (who taught at Cranleigh), the mother of three sons and being from a nursing background, she is ideally placed to help supervise a boys' boarding house, noting that a sense of humour is a prerequisite for the job! Outside Cubitt, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, gardening, walking and going to the theatre, whilst she is also a keen follower of all sports.
Mrs Andrea Young has joined the Cubitt team in 2010 and has already proved a most able and popular matron, whose calm, efficient manner has done much to endear her to the House. The wife of Dr Simon Young - a member of the Biology department and a Cubitt tutor – and a mother of four, Andrea used to be a solicitor before doing stints as Matron in East, South, North and Cubitt. In her spare time, she thoroughly enjoys bell-ringing.
The IVth Form have their own section of the House next to the Housemaster where (with their input) they are allocated into dorms of four, and these are changed on a regular basis (four or five times during the year). In the rest of the House the boys are put into dorms with their year group, but the year groups are then deliberately mixed up on the corridors. This helps to ensure that senior and junior boys mix well and any hierarchical structure is broken down, which is a key feature of Cubitt.
The numbers of boys sharing in each room decreases as they get older: three in the LVth, two in the UVth and everyone (day or boarder) has his own study in the VIth Form. LVth and UVth boys change rooms at the end of each term and VIth Formers will move studies. The day boys share with boarders and are distributed around the House so they are fully integrated.
The main common room spaces are the well-equipped games room, large TV/House room (large enough for whole-House callovers to take place each morning), computer room, separate VIth Form TV/ computer room and, most importantly, Matron’s room.
Matron’s room is at the heart of the House and is often the social hub of the House with a large kitchen and a patio area leading out onto the South Field. This is an ideal venue for boys to relax, socialise and often for barbecuing. There are three other well–equipped kitchens (moabs) located around the House for different year groups to use.
Cubitt was originally constructed in 1880 as a purpose-built Sanatorium, and was a source of great pride at the time; the Headmaster, George Cantrell Allen, boasted in 1894 that Cranleigh ‘might claim now to be one of the healthiest schools in England.’ The benefactor was George Cubitt, later Lord Ashcombe, a local landowner and philanthropist who, along with John Henry Sapte, is often regarded as the founder of the School. It functioned as a sanatorium until 1961, when David Emms decided to transform the House system at Cranleigh, and Cubitt House was opened with accommodation for sixty boys and a bachelor Housemaster, Lance Marshall. Since that time, the House has been a byword for stability and continuity, having had just five Housemasters in forty-seven years: Marshall (1961-1976), Joe Poleglase (1976-1990), David Derbyshire (1990-1996), Andrew Griffiths (1996-2007) and the current incumbent, Charlie Boddington. It has expanded considerably over the last decade or so: a new wing was built in 1995 and, in 1999, the old 1 and 4 South House was amalgamated with Cubitt. The most recent renovation was concluded in 2008, resulting in the complete integration of day boys who had hitherto been accommodated on a separate site.
Visitors & Prospectus 
The IVth Form have their own section of the House next to the Housemaster where (with their input) they are allocated into dorms of four, and these are changed on a regular basis (four or five times during the year). In the rest of the House the boys are put into dorms with their year group, but the year groups are then deliberately mixed up on the corridors. This helps to ensure that senior and junior boys mix well and any hierarchical structure is broken down, which is a key feature of Cubitt.