Taylor House
Girls' House
House Ethos
Being part of Taylor house usually means you are always on the go! Our girls work hard academically, strive for sporting prowess and stand out musically. Everyone has something to offer, be it academia, sport, music, drama, friendship or even a kind and supportive ear; one is no more important than the other. We are proud to have a number of scholars from every discipline, and engender a fierce (but healthy!) competitive appetite when it comes to house competitions, be it debating, general knowledge, hockey or swimming. The day girls play an equal part in the house, often staying for prep and board regularly.
It is our intention, along with the house staff, to make Taylor a friendly and happy house in which to live and learn, where fun, laughter and friendships are at the forefront of the girls' personal development. We are here to help the girls in our care to express themselves and fulfil their potential in whichever fields their interests lie. It is important that we all take pride in ourselves and in the relationships we have with one another; we are owed respect, but have to earn trust. By doing so we can make Taylor a place where everyone can study in peace and relax in comfort.
House History
Taylor House was established in 1997 when the number of girls in the school exceeded the capacity for Carpenter and Meynell. It was named after Prebendary Philip Taylor, (Chaplain and Headmaster 1920s / 1930s), whose great-great-niece was a member of our Fourth Form. This past few years we have updated and renovated some of our accommodation, and we now have three kitchens and two common rooms as well as the usual studies and bedrooms. Our common rooms are not age-related; we encourage all ages to mix together. Originally the school sanatorium, Taylor house girls are able to boast a sink in every bedroom!
Taylor Today
Taylor is situated on the edge of the main building at King’s. Our strong house system provides the best possible academic monitoring and pastoral care. Girls create deep bonds of friendship in this small boarding house. There are three common rooms and several small kitchens along with a house tuck shop which opens daily. The girls often have plenty of visitors in their common rooms. Junior and Senior girls share rooms and all girls in the Upper Sixth usually have a room of their own. All girls in the Third, Fourth and Fifth Forms have a study area on the ground floor. The close proximity of these study areas to the house office ensures all girls are fully supported during evening prep. All day girls in the sixth form also have their own designated study area whilst all sixth form boarders have a desk area in their own rooms.
Weekend Activities
House trips will include a variety of visits. Very often weekend trips are ad hoc such as visiting restaurants in the local area. Mrs Edwards encourages girls to host their own informal dinner parties and barbequing, as often as the weather permits, is a must! Regular cinema trips take place on Sundays and activities further afield suggested by the girls will take place regularly. Of course, we all know how girls enjoy duvet days on Sunday’s watching a good film and this is never overlooked!
House Staff Contact Details
Housemistress
Emma Edwards
Email: EMEdwards@kings-taunton.co.uk
Deputy Housemistress
Lyndsey Hollands
LMHollands@kings-taunton.co.uk
Housemistress
Emma Edwards
Mrs Edwards is the Housemistress of Taylor House.. She lives in ‘Hareston’, a separate house about 500 yards from Taylor on the school site in a house attached to the Health Centre. She lives with her husband Andrew, who is Head of Geography, and their two children Archie (11) and Hattie (7), not forgetting their little dog, Puddles!
Mrs Edwards teaches music, TRC and study skills and is also Head of Equestrian. She has been Taylor Housemistress for four years but spent many years working in another boarding school as a Housemistress and Deputy Head.
Mrs Edwards loves all music and has a passion for riding and driving horses. She competes in horse shows throughout the country and has her own horses back on her home farm in South Wales. As Head of Equestrian, Mrs Edwards also runs our busy and popular King's Equestrian Centre.
She would like all the girls to feel able to come and see her about anything. The kettle is always on!
Deputy Housemistress
Lyndsey Hollands
Assistants and House Matron
Assistants and Tutors:
Emma Gregory, nee Forward (Fourth Form)
Lisa Wrobel (Third Form)
Jane Berry
Lisa Cashmore
Karen Paul
Laura Burgos
Clare Schmidt
Jemma Day
House Matron
Mrs Julie Gillingham is our house matron. She wakes the girls up in the mornings, checks they're keeping their areas tidy, makes sure beds are changed on the right day, and is also a friendly ear if a chat is needed.
House Captain
Jenna Craig
From joining King’s in the Third Form, I have come a long way and am now studying biology, chemistry and history at A level, with four years of memories to look back on. I have been lucky enough to have been a member of Taylor House and to have lived with such amazing girls in such a loving atmosphere. So, as House Captain I’m looking forward to spending my final year adding to our already great atmosphere in house and making sure we all have a great year.
House Vice-Captain
Jenna Kirby
House Vice-Captain
Bianca Lam
My name is Bianca and I am this year’s deputy of Taylor House. I grew up in Hong Kong and at the age of 13 I decided to study abroad in the UK, joining King’s College in 2016. Being in Taylor House for four years helped me grow my confidence and to become more independent – they are like a second family to me!
I am also the international prefect for Taylor and help support new overseas pupils joining the house.
