Orchard Building is the location of the new Sixth Form Centre from September 2025. The Sixth Form Centre is situated at the very front of the College, it is home to around 131 day pupils in Years 12 and 13, spread across three floors of a modern and recently renovated building.
This is an exciting development that helps pave the way for junior co-ed year groups rising through the school since the successful introduction of girls into Year 7 in 2023.
Our Sixth Form boarding boys and girls are close by in the adjacent College and Gilson Buildings respectively.
The building has been renovated to provide light and spacious work environments where pupils can complete their prep and spend their breaktimes. Although one of the largest buildings at Shiplake, it still manages to be a welcoming and friendly home that offers everyone a small corner that they can call their own. Teaching and pastoral staff and senior students play their part to create an atmosphere which is based upon mutual respect, tolerance and the support of each other. This successful ethos allows for every pupil to feel comfortable and valued, and encourages them to flourish in whatever they might choose to do.
All pupils have a house affiliation and are passionate about this and enjoy taking part in inter-house competitions.
Housemaster: Miss Nicola Jones
Miss Nicola Jones joined Shiplake in 2020, teaching theology & philosophy and has been a tutor in Everett as well as Deputy Housemaster of Skipwith.
She has been a teacher since 2013 and previously worked at schools in Rugby and Banbury as a teacher, Head of Year and Housemistress. She has a Cardigan Corgi called Diggle, who is often in school with her.
Miss Jones is involved with DofE, public speaking and boardgames clubs, sometimes also helping with music and drama. In her spare time, she is a trustee of a musical theatre company based in Oxford and performs with them (and other amateur groups) regularly; she enjoys performing music (singing, cello and ukulele!) and theatre of all kinds.
Deputy Housemaster: Mr James Batchelor
After graduating with a degree in Biological Sciences from Exeter University, Mr Batchelor moved to Reading in 2008 and joined Shiplake College as a teacher of Science in January 2019.
Mr Batchelor is our KS3 Science Lead, Year 9 Head Rowing Coach and became Assistant Head of Lower School in September 2021.
By his own admission, a fair-weather golfer during the summer months, in 2018 Mr Batchelor was part of a team who won the Berkshire Schools Golf Association Herbert Trophy at Eton’s golf course. His true passion, however, is rowing. Having rowed competitively since 2007 he represents Marlow Rowing Club and has thoroughly enjoyed competing at Henley Royal Regatta.
Mr Batchelor has also been a Deputy Housemaster in Lower School and Everett.
Deputy Housemistress: Miss Alice Griffiths
Miss Griffiths joined the Shiplake Drama Department in September 2019 as a Drama Technician, making and designing props but after spending time in lessons and building relationships with pupils she has qualified as a drama teacher.
Miss Griffiths is also involved in leading co-curricular activities and is also an EPQ tutor which makes her well placed to support Sixth Form students.
Pastoral Leaders
Mrs Vicky ThomasMonday to Thursday
Mrs Kirsteen McLellanFriday