Houses

Bonjour!  Guten Tag!  I’m Mrs Goss, Head of Amethyst House and formerly Head of Somerville House. I began my Calthorpe Park journey back in 2005, and it’s been a privilege to work with so many lovely students, their lovely families and lovely colleagues over the years. In my time here, the Calthorpe community has grown, but I still love the small community feel thanks to our House system. 

Amethyst House is a brilliant community to be in!  We have a whole host of skills within the House, and we like to reflect our ‘A-Team’ motto.  

As a teacher, I am a proud member of Calthorpe’s Languages Department.  I teach German and French and love doing so.  I enjoy being in the classroom and helping others experience the joy and enrichment that learning a language can bring. 

My day-to-day school life is made all the more satisfying by my passion for all things stationery.  I love a pretty notebook and a full complement of coloured pens! 

What I enjoy most about being Head of House is getting to know students and their families. It’s great to be part of a student’s journey—celebrating the wins and offering support if things get tough. Being there for students is a very important aspect of my role.

This is my 7th year here at Calthorpe Park, teaching Geography, and I’m now in my second year leading Emerald House. If you met me without an introduction, the green tie, shirt or accessory along with the green Positive Vibes pin badge would give me away! 

I absolutely love the role of Head of House, especially the opportunity to make a difference to students’ days and supporting them pastorally. As a proud Fleet boy, it means a lot to work in and give back to the community I live in. Emerald is proud to have Positive Vibes as our House slogan, which not only reflects our principles, but also the school’s core values of Respect, Integrity, Aspiration, Kindness and Resilience. 

We are a competitive House with high expectations and impressively low behaviour points. As a massive Arsenal fan, I bring plenty of competitive spirit — and with two amazing children at home (including an 8-month-old!), I’m inspired every day to help Emerald aim high. Bring on the House Cup and Sports Day!

What do I enjoy most about my role as HoH? 100% the feeling that I’ve made a difference. I love teaching Geography, however the ability to make a positive impact every day on a student or tutor’s day is what I enjoy most about my role.

I started my teaching journey as a PE teacher, spending six great years helping students stay active and build confidence. After that, I fancied a change and moved into Business Studies, which gave me a fresh challenge and a chance to stretch my skills in a different direction. I took on a Head of Department role, which was a brilliant learning experience—but it was the pastoral side of school life that really clicked for me. I’ve now been in a pastoral role at Calthorpe Park School for four years, and it’s where I feel most at home. Supporting students through their ups and downs, helping them grow, and being a steady presence in their school journey is something I enjoy. I also find joy unpicking the frustrations young people face today—whether it’s fast-moving trends, the grip of social media, or the fact they seem to speak an entirely different language. Their vocab is constantly evolving, and I do my best to keep up!  

I especially enjoy getting overly competitive at Sports Day! But more so I enjoy relating my own school experiences to theirs, helping me empathise with their challenges and offer advice that’s realistic, supportive, and achievable.

I have been Head of Ruby house since 2023 where I shared the role, then taking on the full-time role in 2024. I moved from Ireland in 2019 to work in CPS. In my time as Ruby House we have been winners of the House Cup for three years running, and this is not a title I will be giving up easily. I encourage all Ruby students to get involved in all activities as much as possible, even if it is to just give it a go. 

On the outside we are a quiet and unassuming house, but we have a fiercely competitive side. Outside of school I am a keen runner and run for a local run club. You will often see me around the area on runs, and I am always training for my next race. When I am not in HQ, you will find me in the English classes teaching the world of novels, poetry and language. The world of literature is my second love to supporting the students of CPS.  

What I enjoy most about being a Head of House is working with all the students and helping them overcome their challenges. Seeing a student come out the other side of something they thought was ‘impossible’ makes the job worth it.

I joined in September 2002 as Miss Scott, fresh-faced and ready to teach Maths. Since then, I’ve had one job but many adventures: I’ve changed my name (hello, Mrs Lambert!), worked in two departments (Maths and Pastoral), had three children and seen five headteachers come and go. Back in 2002, the school had fewer than 900 students – now we’re closer to 1,700! 

My journey began in the Maths department, where I quickly became Second in Department and even stepped up as Acting Head of Department for a time. A maternity cover opportunity led me into Pastoral work, and I discovered a real passion for supporting students beyond the classroom. That role evolved into Director of Transition, where I spent ten years helping students navigate the leap from primary to secondary school – a role that was as rewarding as it was busy. 

As the school expanded and restructured into six Houses, I embraced a new challenge and became Head of Sapphire House. It’s a role that allows me to combine my love of pastoral care, team-building, and student support – and I couldn’t be more proud to lead such a vibrant, caring community. 

We live by the motto “In blue we trust”. It’s more than just a slogan – it’s a spirit. It’s about loyalty, resilience, and showing up for one another. Whether it’s cheering at Sports Day, supporting each other through tough times, or celebrating achievements big and small, Sapphire House is a place where students feel seen, heard, and valued.