College House
Housemaster: College House
Gareth Playfair
Born and raised in Northern Ireland, Gareth attended Methodist College, Belfast, before reading Theology and Religious Studies at Cambridge University where he gained three Blues for hockey and was a Choral Scholar.
He joined Marlborough in 1998 as a teacher of Religious Studies. He was RHT in Preshute and Master in Charge of Boys’ Hockey, coached athletics and sang in the Choir. He moved to St Edward’s, Oxford, in 2007 as Head of Religious Studies and RHT of a boys’ boarding house, returning to Marlborough in 2010 as Head of Philosophy and Religious Studies. He has been Housemaster of C2 for the last 14 years.
Gareth enjoys hockey, choral music, playing board games with his family and is a lifelong supporter of the Miami Dolphins. Married to Emma, the Head of Mathematics, they have two children currently at the College.
Housemistress: College House
Ginny Brown
Ginny read Religious Studies at the University of Exeter before starting her teaching career at Mount Kelly in Tavistock, where she served as an Assistant Housemistress. She later gained a master’s degree in World Archaeology at the University of Oxford. Before joining Marlborough in 2014 as a teacher of TPE, she spent two years at the Dragon School, Oxford, as Housemistress of Stringers, the Year 6 girls’ boarding house.
Ginny has held several roles at Marlborough including Resident House Tutor, Head of Remove and Hundred Scholars, second in the Futures Department and Acting Head of TPE. An Old Marlburian herself (MO 1997–02), she values supporting pupils as they plan their futures.
Married to Kirsty and stepmother to two girls, she enjoys travel, learning, and exploring creative, historical, and philosophical interests.
COLLEGE HOUSE Day House
Key Facts
College House is a sympathetic conversion of The Master’s Lodge. It was constructed between 1845-8 at the founding of the school and has been the home of the Masters of Marlborough College ever since. The beautiful garden that stretches down to the River Kennet is a remarkable feature. The very large copper beech trees at the far end are known as the Tennyson beeches because Alfred, Lord Tennyson, regularly stayed at the Lodge and wrote in the gardens whilst his son, Hallam, was a pupil at the College in the 1860s.
Location: Adjacent to Court
Gender: Mixed
Type: Day pupils
Number of pupils: 100
Amanda Dobbs
Dame
Mandy has worked in education for over a decade. She is passionate about creating welcoming environments and helping young people build confidence, feel valued, and thrive. She enjoys gardening, hiking, baking, travelling, and spending time with her husband and two young sons.
Amy Young
ASSISTANT DAME
Amy has worked at the College 11 years in both domestic and pastoral roles. She is dedicated to supporting the wellbeing of pupils. Her hobbies include quilting, cross-stitching and baking, she also has a keen interest in history and archaeology.
