Fry Hall has been our home for the past eight years. Our boarders talk about ‘coming home’ after their lessons each day and we take pride in making Fry as welcoming and homely as possible for all. Fry students are an active part of this endeavour, bursting with enthusiasm when we have visitors or when new students arrive, and collaborating with staff to keep Fry looking smart. Beyond appearances, there’s a strong sense of community that binds everyone here. Shared meals, late-night conversations, and support during exam season, all contribute to the deep connections formed within Fry’s walls. The laughter echoing through the halls, the friendly competitions in communal areas, and the simple rituals of daily life create a warm, inclusive environment that helps every student feel valued and understood. Fry Hall is not just a place to live; it’s where friendships are forged, memories are made, and young people grow into confident, caring individuals.

Although Fry Hall is one of the smaller boarding houses at Wymondham College, we make good use of the space and students can often be found at the pool table or air hockey table, watching Sky TV, playing on the Xbox or Playstation, playing games in the Prep room, lounging on our comfy sofas or deep in concentration in the Year 11 study room. We have extensive kitchen facilities with a kettle and microwave available for use in the evenings, and double ovens ready for baking treats at the weekends. The balance between spaces for fun and quiet study makes Fry a versatile and comfortable environment that supports both personal and academic growth.

We live within the boarding house in a private residence with our two children, Elisa and Eva (aged 11 & 8) and our Spanish Bodeguero rescue dog, Chester, although you will often find all three sneaking into Fry as they are most definitely included as part of the Fry Family. Originally from North London, we met when working as lifeguards over 25 years ago then moved to Italy, where we were married and Elisa was born. We have 35 years of teaching experience between us;  Mr Padreddii was previously a teacher in London and then Director of Inlingua Parma (Italy);  Mrs Padreddii was a Languages teacher in St Albans, having previously studied in Cuba and worked as an English teacher at the university in Valdivia, Chile, before choosing to settle in wonderful, peaceful Norfolk.

Our passion for boarding stems from our desire to support young people to become rounded individuals; we encourage students to succeed in their studies, but also ensure they look after their own wellbeing and develop skills they will need later in life. Mr Padreddii will often be found assembling furniture, throwing some darts, making pizza dough, or sharing life stories over a game of cards. Mrs Padreddii enjoys playing rounders with the students or sharing money-saving tips as well as pearls of wisdom and a reason to smile if students are experiencing tough times. Elisa and Eva are always around for students to develop their childcare skills (and patience when the craft cupboard opens!) and to play games, and Chester always appreciates cuddles and walks around our glorious campus.

We continue to focus on student leadership for Fry this year and improving relationships between year groups. Our team of House Captains work closely with us to drive ideas forward, holding various roles such as Mentoring, Academic, Wellbeing, Pastoral, Marketing and more. We are excited to be working on various projects with the Student Leadership Team this year, including improving communal areas and providing more interaction between year groups, leaning on sibling-like relationships. Our Deputy Head of House, Mr Larter has many years of pastoral and teaching experience, sharing our passion for boarding, and our matron, pastoral and tutor teams have extensive skills in providing outstanding care for young people.

Mr Chris Padreddii and Mrs Kristi Padreddii, Heads of House, Fry Hall