Sophie Jobson, Hardinge HM

The HM

Sophie Jobson joined Wellington 12 years ago as Head of French and became an HM in 2014. She has been looking after the Hardinge girls for the last five years, having previously been Housemistress of the Apsley Juniors. A French national and graduate of the University of Rouen and IFI Business School, Sophie took a PGCE in French at the University of Surrey in 1996 and spent twelve years teaching in the maintained sector before joining Wellington College. Sophie is married to Chris, himself a former PE teacher, and they have twin daughters, Elodie and Charlotte (21), who spend most of the year at university in France. Sophie co-authored Hodder Education’s IB French textbooks and is a Specialist Leader in Education for the Wellington Teaching Schools network.

The House

The Hardinge is unique at Wellington as it is the only House which solely accommodates Sixth Form pupils new to the College. Located in the heart of College in Back Quad, it provides a living space for 48 bright, talented and engaging girls. All the girls have their own study bedrooms and the House is equipped with generous communal spaces enabling the girls to relax and socialise. Around 40% of the girls join Wellington from UK schools, the others coming from international and overseas backgrounds such as USA, Italy, France, Portugal, China, Switzerland and Estonia: in total 16 different countries are represented, giving the House the feel of a teenage United Nations, and ensuring that all nationalities are valued and respected! It is an exciting and eclectic mix.

Equally diverse is the range of talents within the House, containing Academic, Sports, Art and Music scholars. The academic focus of the House is defined by the fact that every girl is working towards either A Levels or the IB Diploma while simultaneously preparing for the next stage of education beyond Wellington. It is no exaggeration to suggest that the Hardinge offers the nearest thing to a university experience at Wellington, allowing the girls to mature safely while still under the watchful and caring eye of their experienced HM.