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Housemaster:	Contact:
Mr Ed Burnett BSc, MBA, PGCE	Phone: 01483 542038 E-mail: emb@cranleigh.org

	The Boarding House is central to all the students, boarding and day alike: it offers support at all times and helps the boys to develop the self-discipline required to make the most of their time at the School. As Housemaster my over-riding aim is to foster a spirit of community and ambition which enables all the pupils in North to make the most of their time at the school and develop the interests and friendships which will endure long beyond their time here. I firmly believe that the busier pupils are the more likely they are to be successful in their academic work: active involvement in the co-curricular life of the school makes each day exciting and enriching enabling the students to discover for themselves and to learn to problem solve independently. This latter skill is vital for them if they are to properly engage with their work and succeed in their future lives. However, this message would be lost without the support of a friendly and rewarding House atmosphere and thus the over-riding message within North is one of care, kindness and empathy. I am very lucky to have a superb team of tutors, matrons and cleaners but the pastoral systems are often best provided by the pupils themselves. The ‘Big Brother’ system (where older students mentor younger students) lies at the heart of the House and this helps the younger students to quickly find their feet as they make the exciting yet challenging transition from Prep School to Senior School. In such a busy School pupils need their downtime and North boys are certainly spoilt by their Matrons with regular treat nights and (in spite of the weather) the BBQ is fired up all year round. With a bellyful of food, boys are normally happy and compliant but as with all teenagers they also need firm boundaries, structure and plenty of praise and encouragement to make the most of their time and cope with the inevitable roller coaster ride of teenage life. Prior to becoming Housemaster in 2010 I was Head of Economics and Business Studies, a job I combined with being Deputy Housemaster of North. Preceding this I was Head of Rugby and Warden of North, positions I held after joining the School in 2004. Before joining Cranleigh I spent two years teaching at an International School in Hong Kong. Joining me in North is my wife, Valerie, who teaches History at the School and our very active son, Jack, who is almost a permanent fixture in North (mainly on Matron’s sofa eating toast that he has got the boys to make him). Finally, our two Dalmatians… well, they can usually be found in the nearest bin in North scavenging for food or darting up and down the corridors!

Housemaster - Mr Ed Burnett

Ed Burnett (EMB) has been Housemaster since January 2010. After leaving Cranleigh in 2001 to teach at an International School in Hong Kong he could not resist the opportunity to return in 2004. Prior to his current appointment, he was Deputy Housemaster of North, Head of Economics and Business Studies and Head of Rugby. Outside the classroom, EMB coaches Rugby (Junior Colts A), Netball and Cricket. He is married to Valerie who teaches History at Cranleigh and is also a tutor in North. They have a son, Jack, who is regularly seen tearing round the Boarding House, and two Dalmatians.

Deputy Housemaster – Mr James Witcombe

James Witcombe (JMW) joined Cranleigh in 2007 from Trent College to teach Physics. He is the Deputy Housemaster and lives in Fir Trees with his wife Jo, who teaches at the Prep School. JMW is heavily involved in Rugby at the School as Head of Rugby and coach to the Colts A team. Educated at Llandovery College, he played in a number of very strong and successful school teams alonsgide the likes of Andy Powell (Cardiff, Wales and the British Lions) and then played in the BUSA team at Loughborough University. JMW also coaches Football and Athletics and is a Tutor to the Fourth Form.

Day Warden – Mr Rod Jackson

Rod Jackson (RHGJ) is the non-resident Deputy Housemaster / Day Warden. He joined Cranleigh in 2007 to become Head of Classics, having previously been the Senior Housemaster at Aldenham School. He is a Tutor to the Fourth Form; his wife is Head of Biology and their daughters are at the Prep School.Outside the classroom, RHGJ is heavily involved in Archery and many of the academic competitions.

TUTORS

Mr David Ardley (DIA) took a break from teaching in 2005 to set up his own educational consultancy, focusing on the delivery of the International Baccalaureate programme as well as advising on the design and build of Art, Design and ICT facilities around the globe and continuing his role as an HMC/ISI inspector. He then moved back to the UK (although Toulouse still remains home!) and joined Stowe as Head of Design before coming to Cranleigh as Design Director in 2009. David is married to Laurence, who teaches French in the Senior School, and they have two daughters. David is a Tutor to the Upper Fifth.

Mr Tom Barnett (THJB) joined Cranleigh in 2004 and became a Tutor in North House in 2006. He teaches Sculpture within the thriving Art Department and is currently a Tutor to the Lower Fifth. He has devised and organised various projects with pupils to create large-scale sculptures that can now be found situated in various places around the School. He also organised the design, creation and implementation of the North House Mural in 2008. Tom Barnett is a practising sculptor, having conducted numerous spectacular fire-related performance installations in this country and abroad. His most recent large scale artwork was the highlight of the Aberystwyth International Ceramics Festival in 2009. Further information about his work can be found at www.tombarnett.net or see his channel ‘tombarnett’ on youtube.com.

Mrs Val Burnett (VJB) completed her History degree and then went on to complete her Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Course. She then practised as a Commercial Litigation Solicitor for Eversheds, a major national law firm in Birmingham. Having already taught at Cranleigh, VJB returned in 2004 (via an International School in Hong Kong) to become Head of History. Since the arrival of Jack, she has taught part time at the School and is a Tutor to the Upper Fifth.

Mr Damian Henderson (DCH) joined Cranleigh in September 2010 as Head of Modern Languages and Assistant Director of Studies, with particular responsibility for the Oxbridge programme. He teaches French and German and coaches Rugby at U16 level. He is recently married to Caroline and they have a baby girl, Chloe. DCH is passionate about languages, sport and soul music. He is a Lower Fifth Tutor in North.

Mr Frank Hardee (FTH) teaches Politics and Economics. FTH joined Cranleigh in 2007 from Oxford University, where he studied PPE. He lives and breathes his subjects, campaigning for Obama in Virginia and for the local Lib Dem candidate in the last election. Outside the classroom, FTH runs the School's ‘Academic Competitions’ programme of debating and public speaking. He is a world-class debating judge and has just returned from the Debating World Championships which were held in Bostwana. He also runs the School Croquet programme and helps out with the Outdoor Education programme. He is a Tutor to the Foutth Form.

Mr Mark Jenkins (MRJ) is Cranleigh’s Theatre Manager, giving technical support to School performances and events as well as training the technical crew. He joined Cranleigh in 2008, having previously worked at the Almeida Theatre, Islington and the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Beyond the theatre Mark is involved with the Fire Service, teaches air rifle shooting to the Fourth Form and works on restoring his old Land Rover.He continues to work as a freelance lighting engineer and designer in London theatre and for events such as the National Student Drama Festival.

Dr Ben Tyrrell (BRT) completed his DPhil at Oxford before joining Cranleigh in 2003 to teach Chemistry and has now been a Tutor in North since joining the School. He is currently a Tutor to the Lower Fifth. Outside the classroom, BRT is in charge of Climbing and is also heavily involved in Hockey.

Mr James Brookes (JJB) was a pupil at Cranleigh between 1999 and 2004 before going on to read English and Creative Writing at the University of Warwick. He regularly contributes poetry, reviews and criticism to international publications and in 2009 he received an Eric Gregory Award for young poets from the Society of Authors. After working for a time in publishing, he studied at the College of Law in Guildford before returning to teach English at Cranleigh and putting aside old House rivalries to join North as a Tutor. When not teaching or working on his next book he enjoys cooking, watching (but alas, not playing) cricket and walking around Sussex with his ancient Labrador, Max.

MATRONS

Marion Gallafant joined North as a Matron in 2002. She absolutely loves her job and unashamedly spoils ‘her boys’. She has six children and is an active member of the Cranleigh Baptist Church, where her love of cooking and organising major functions is put to good use. In the last five years she has also spent a significant amount of her own time supporting a charity in South Africa (‘Little Angels’), where she helps look after abandoned babies. In 2009 the House was very proud to support Marion and her charity by raising over £5,500 as part of the annual North House Charity event.

Sandi McConnell-Wood joined North in January 2010 as a Matron. Sandi brings a great deal of experience to the role as she was previously a Matron in East for four years. She has two children at the Senior School and, most importantly, owns a wonderful cocker spaniel called Indy, who joins her in the House and provides company for all the boys.

North Accommodation In 2008-9 there are 86 boarders and 18 day boys. In the first year, as much as possible, boarders and day boys share rooms. The largest room houses four boarders and one day boy. In the LVth the maximum in a room is three, and, for boarders, two. In the UVth all boarders are in rooms of two. In the VIth Form every boy is in his own study. Each year has its own kitchen which they use to supplement the meals in the Dining Hall. Matron’s room is the hub of the House: here they have music, food, drink, sofas and an ever-present person to talk to. In the games room there is a piano, air-hockey table, pool table and table tennis table. The TV room, which is used by all year groups, has a fifty-inch plasma screen and Sky channels. The computer room has nine terminals.

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