Our House System

Our House System reflects the structure and systems that have been instrumental our success and creates a strong team and community identity linking in with the curriculum teams. It reflects and delivers the commitment to 'know, value and support every student to achieve.' 

The College is divided into five Houses of 250 students.

The Houses provide support and guidance within an environment where the needs of each child are known by his or her Tutor and Senior Tutor and their individual progress is monitored closely. Importantly, the House is the focus of the relationship between the school and families, with siblings in the same House. The House Office is the focal point for the House with the Student Support Assistant available at all times during the school day to support the needs of students and parents within that House family.

Here are some of the key aspects of the House System and how it helps our students.

House Teams

There are five Houses and all members of staff are a member of one of these Houses. Each House has a Senior Tutor and Curriculum Leader who manage the same team of staff in their dual roles as tutor and subject teacher respectively.

Tutorial Teams

Pupils entering the College are all placed in one of the House’s twelve tutor groups in each House, with approx 20 students in each; these tutor groups are vertical, with a cross-section of students from years 7 – 11. The tutor’s role is to support and guide students, along with their parents, to achieve their best academically and develop as individuals. Each House tutorial team is led by a Senior Tutor who is:

  • Responsible for the quality of guidance and support provided by tutors within the House
  • Accountable for promoting the personal, academic and wider achievement of students within the House.

Curriculum Teams

There are six Curriculum Teams, (led by a Curriculum Leader), each one linked to the House Teams:

English and Languages: Orwell

Mathematics: Newton

Design and Enterprise: Brunel

Science: Cavendish

Humanities: Wilberforce

The Curriculum Leader is responsible for

  • The learning and teaching that takes place within the subjects in the curriculum area.
  • Establishing and maintaining consistent standards and expectations of both students and staff within their team.

The Arts and Sport

The Arts subjects (Art, Music and Drama) and PE are separate because of the distinctive role that they play within the school. We have created ‘Director’ posts that recognise the distinctive contribution of the Arts and Sport within and beyond the school community.