Fircroft (13+ boys)

Founded in 1871 by Reverend George Christian, who was then school chaplain, Fircroft is one of the ‘hill houses’, alongside its neighbour Highfield, overlooking the southern approach to Uppingham. A five-minute walk from school, the house sits in private gardens, adjacent to open farmland and the Middle playing fields – giving a real sense of space and freedom. The house has its own football pitch, a games room with table tennis, pool and table football, and a large boys’ kitchen for year-group evenings.

Fircroft has a strong tradition of internal enterprise, including house plays (one of which went to the Edinburgh Fringe), selfless Sundays when boys spend time helping the elderly, charity sporting events and house concerts.

The boys also write their own in-house online magazine. 

Boys in the Fourth Form sleep in one bedroom, fondly known as “The Tish”, and the Lower Fifth sleep in two or three-bed dormitories. Upper Fifth and Sixth Form boys have individual bedsits.

Housemaster: Tom Hollyer
Tom Hollyer has been Housemaster of Fircroft since September 2020.

Tom joined Uppingham from Caldicott School, where he was Head of Boarding. Prior to Caldicott, he was a Housemaster at RGS High Wycombe. Tom studied Sociology at Newcastle University and completed a PGCE at the Institute of Education in London. Having been a boy at Tonbridge, Tom understands the boarding environment at Uppingham very well and brings dynamism, expertise and energy to Fircroft.

Alongside teaching Geography, Tom is an active member of the Wellbeing department, and is a trained Mindfulness teacher. His philosophy is one of kindness and participation amongst the boys.

Tom is joined in the house by his wife Kate, who is Legal and Public Affairs Director of the Boarding School’s Association (BSA) Group, and their three young daughters: Ava, Sadie and Florence.