Welcome to Shelburne

Located at the top of the Wycombe Abbey site, Cloister, Shelburne and Wendover make up Daws Hill, originally an 18th century hunting lodge, home to the Carrington family when they sold the main Abbey building to the School. Within the collection of buildings making up Daws Hill, we have a number of music practise rooms, a large dining room, kitchen areas and communal living rooms. Daws Hill is a very special community; as much as the walk can sometimes seem a little tiring at the end of the day, it also means that there is a sense of going home in the evening, and it definitely wakes you up in the morning!

Shelburne receives its name from Lord Shelburne who owned the site that is now Wycombe Abbey from 1700 until 1798. Our House colour is indigo and you will see this throughout the site as House ties are worn by the girls. We have around 46 pupils from ages 12 to 17. The youngest four-year groups share dorms and have their own year group studies, and the oldest pupils have study bedrooms and their own sitting room.

In addition to the shared communal areas and work spaces, we have created a ‘Shelburne Snug’ which can be used as a quiet reading or reflective space when you feel like having some time out. Shelburne is a very caring community where each pupil is valued as an individual. From our House Mother/House Daughter and Buddy schemes to provide peer-to-peer support, to our weekly Toastie Thursday evenings and Treats with ‘Granny Pen’ where we come together informally as a House community. We pride ourselves on being a warm, friendly and encouraging environment where girls are resilient, positive, kind, and supportive of one another.

Miss Sarah Phillips and the Shelburne House team

Meet the Shelburne Team

Sarah joined Wycombe Abbey in April 2020 as Assistant Housemistress of Shelburne and Teacher of Mathematics. She became Housemistress of Shelburne in April 2023. Previously, Sarah taught at The Manchester Grammar School after completing degrees at the Royal Northern College of Music and the University of Manchester.

Sarah enjoys contributing to the co-curricular life of the School. She is Assistant Head of the Model United Nations Society, plays the clarinet in several school bands and runs the mighty Daws Hill Rounders Club in the Summer Term.

In her spare time, Sarah can usually be found outdoors; either walking in the Chilterns or running long distances. In April 2023, she ran the London Marathon for the School’s charity, Ripple Africa. She lives with her partner Ben and her dog Mabel, who is a popular member of the Shelburne family.

Lettie joined Wycombe Abbey in September 2021 as a Teacher of Physical Education. She became Assistant Housemistress of Junior House in April 2022 before joining Shelburne in April 2023. After completing her BSc at the University of Bath, Lettie worked at Shrewsbury School as a rowing coach, before completing her PGCE at the University of Wolverhampton in Secondary Physical Education and Biology.

Within the PE Department, Lettie is Teacher in Charge of Rowing and has recently taken on Teacher in Charge of Swimming, both of which she enjoys and has competed in herself. In her spare time, Lettie enjoys the outdoors and physical activity, usually on or in the water, and continues to train competitively with Wycombe District Swimming Club whom the school is partnered with.

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