Our House System
The House System provides a strong sense of identity, belonging and Columban community; it also allows for bonds to be formed across year groups and it is through the House system that each student receives personal pastoral care from their House team.
Houses provide a focus for social interaction, healthy competition and a sense of identity for all pupils. They also allow for successes to be rewarded and recognised within a spirit of collaboration. Inter-House competitions encompass sport, music, public speaking and drama. Academic success and excellent attitudes to learning are also celebrated within Houses. Outstanding Sixth Form students aspire to fill the leadership roles of House Captain, House Prefect and organisers of House activities.
Prep
Every pupil who enters the Prep School is assigned to one of four Houses, which are named after English saints and martyrs: Alban, Becket, Fisher and More. Staff are also assigned to Houses and the Deputy Head (Pastoral) is responsible for the overall management of the House System. House Points can be awarded to pupils for academic performance, effort, industry, general good behaviour or service to the school.
House totals are collated and celebrated with the Prep School in weekly assemblies, the pupils being awarded different certificates based on the House Point totals they achieve. The House System helps the boys to build strong links with other pupils across the school and it allows for cross-year group competition in sports, music, art, photography and public speaking as well as friendly competition when fundraising for the Columban Fayre. The House System also underpins the school’s rewards system, and pupils compete each week for the House Trophy and individual awards.
Alban House
We wear green
Becket House
We wear yellow
Fisher House
We wear red
More House
We wear blue
Senior
The Senior School has six Houses - Charles, Guertin, Joseph, Martin, McClancy and Stanislaus. The Houses are named after the Brothers of the Sacred Heart schools in North America, which provide international links through exchange programmes.
Typically, there are between 14 and 16 students in each House tutor group. Students remain loyal members of their respective houses throughout their Columban careers.
The House team (Head of House, Deputy Head of House and Tutors) quickly gets to know each student and their parents, responding sensitively to students’ individual academic and pastoral needs: the House Tutor is the first point of contact for parents who wish to discuss any aspects of their child’s welfare, while subject teachers handle enquiries on academic matters.
Charles House
Charles House
Head of House: Mr S. Murphy
Deputy Head of House: Mr S. Pinto
Charles House is partnered with Mount St Charles Academy in Rhode Island. Within the House we celebrate the feast of our House saint, Charles Lwanga, on the 3rd June, which is an opportunity for the whole House to come together to celebrate our community and our common ethos and ambitions. We couple this with Inter-House sport, music and drama, to name a few of the activities where we stand behind the Charles House banner as a community.
Form 1 Tutor: Ms B. Guyomard
Form 2 Tutor: Mrs G. Sorrell
Form 3 Tutor: Ms A. Lalova
Form 4 Tutor: Mr S. Jenkinson
Form 5 Tutor: Ms K Cripps
Sixth Form Tutors: Mr A. Pimentao, Mr Gajendra
Guertin House
Guertin House
Head of House: Ms C. Treacy
Deputy Head of House: Mrs A. Rowe
The students in Guertin House pride themselves on their team spirit, strong moral compass and ambition to succeed. We are very proud of our reputation and each young person knows that they have a role to play in protecting this. Every student is tasked with being the very best version of themselves at all times and they know that they will always be supported and redirected if necessary, to ensure that they reach their full potential.
The Guertin House staff have high expectations of the students, spiritually, morally and academically, and they actively work to meet these with real determination and dedication.
There is a long-standing tradition within Guertin House of strong and continued student and family support in all of House initiatives. There are varying opportunities for students and their families to support the House, most notably with the following:
- Donating time and items to charity initiatives.
- Supporting the Swimming Gala each September and Sports Day in June, if possible.
- Columban Fayre preparations and/or doing a shift on the day itself.
- Joining us at our annual House social to meet other parents and get to know each other.
We are paired with Bishop Guertin High School in Nashua, New Hampshire, near Boston. There is a biannual US exchange trip to some of the US schools, where we both visit and host the US students from several Brothers of the Sacred Heart schools that year. This is for students in Form 4 upwards so that we can match the students’ ages and it is something that the boys and girls should aspire to attend, if possible.
House Tutors:
Form 1: Ms Gregson-Brooks
Form 2: Ms Ablett- Jackson
Form 3: Mr M Salih
Form 4: Miss R Tuckwell
Form 5: Mr D McGinnity
Sixth Form Tutors: Mr K Roberts, Mr R. Childs, Mr M Wright
Joseph House
Joseph House
Head of House: Mr C Sheils
Deputy Head of House: Mr M Finn
The students in Joseph House are proud of their House community, where they look out for one another and take pride in all that they do. Joseph House students grow into strong and independent young adults, just like their Patron Saint, and nothing is too much trouble to help a friend in need. Over the years, Joseph House students have raised a considerable amount of money for many charities. Whilst they all strive to reach their utmost with support from their teachers, they are kind and considerate students who are mindful of the needs and welfare of others.
There is a longstanding tradition within Joseph House of strong and continued student and family support in all of our initiatives. There are various opportunities for the students and their families to support the House, most notably with the following:
- Donating time and items to charity initiatives.
- Supporting the Swimming Gala each September and Sports Day in June, if possible.
- Columban Fayre preparations and/or doing a shift on the day itself.
- Joining us at our annual House social to meet other parents and get to know each other.
We are paired with St Joseph’s High School, New Jersey. A biennial US exchange trip to some of the US schools is in operation, and friendships have also been made with students from St Joe’s during the annual Mission Trip held in conjunction with our sister schools in the US Province of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart.
The focus in Joseph House is on being the best versions of ourselves we can be. Everybody is unique, and endowed with different talents and interests. We want our young people to find the things they are passionate about and to excel at them. In the earlier years they will be encouraged to try as many new things as possible, and then as they get older to share their experiences with younger students.
Form 1 Tutor: Mr T Gono
Form 2 Tutor: Mr J Devereux
Form 3 Tutor: Dr H Watkin
Form 4 Tutor: Mrs M Mester
Form 5 Tutor: Ms A Nicola
Sixth Form Tutors: Mrs M. Adair & Mrs E Goodwin and Mrs J Houchin
Martin House
Martin House
Head of House:Mr A. Lowles
Deputy Head of House:Ms R. Finn
The students in Martin House pride themselves on their team spirit, strong moral compass and ambition to succeed. We are extremely proud of our reputation and each young person knows that they have a role to play in protecting this. We encourage every student to be the very best version of themselves at all times and they know that they will always be supported and redirected, if necessary, to ensure that they reach their full potential.
We have high expectations of the students spiritually, morally and academically and they actively work to meet these with real determination and dedication.
There is a long-standing tradition within Martin House of strong and continued student and family support in all of our initiatives, which I hope that you will join us in continuing to embody. There will be varying opportunities for you to support the House, most notably with the following:
- Donating time and items to charity initiatives.
- Supporting the Swimming Gala each September and Sports Day in June, if possible.
- Columban Fayre preparations and/or doing a shift on the day itself.
- Joining us at our annual House social to meet other parents and get to know each other.
We are paired with Brother Martin High School in New Orleans. Known as the Crusaders, the school was founded in September 1969, when celebrating the 100th year of their educational commitment to the youth of the New Orleans area, the Brothers of the Sacred Heart consolidated St Aloysius and Cor Jesu High Schools under the title of Brother Martin High School.
House Tutors:
Form 1 Tutor: Mr K. Haack
Form 2 Tutor: Mr B Bourne
Form 3 Tutor: Mr W. Halford
Form 4 Tutor: Mrs S. Banerjee
Form 5 Tutor: Mr N. Hogan
Sixth Form Tutors: Miss E. McEvoy, Miss S. Pemberton, Mrs C. Gwynn
McClancy House
McClancy House
Head of House:Mr M. Livesey
Deputy Head of House:Mr B. O’Sullivan
The students in McClancy House pride themselves on their camaraderie, desire to succeed and determination in the face of adversity. We are extremely proud of our reputation and each young person knows that they have a role to play in protecting this. We have high expectations of the students spiritually, morally and academically and they actively work to meet these with resolve and diligence. McClancy is traditionally a strong all-rounder House, winning numerous accolades in the sporting, academic and musical fields. McClancy alumni will all attest to the adage that the more you put into the House the more you will get out of it and we would recommend new students to get involved with as much as possible!
We are paired with Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School in Queens, New York. They are a strong sporting school with a rich history in Baseball. Students in Form 4 onwards get the chance to take part in an exchange programme with their partner schools and I would highly recommend the students aspire to this, if possible.
Form 1 Tutor: Ms A. Overton
Form 2 Tutor : Mr R. Staniforth
Form 3 Tutor: Mr S. Graves
Form 4 Tutor: Mrs M James
Form 5 Tutor: Ms E. McCarthy
Sixth Form Tutors: Mr C Yeo, Mrs K Seagrave, Mr J Laleye
Stanislaus House
Stanislaus House
Head of House:Mrs I De Vos
Deputy Head of House:Mr C Rowland
In Stanislaus we pride ourselves on being an ‘all-rounder’ House. There is no such thing as a typical Stanislaus student. They are all talented; whether it is music, academics, art or sport, all the students compete for the House with their best efforts. In the past, we have been seen as the ‘musical’ House, however in recent years we have won Sports Day to complement our success as winners of Eisteddfod.
Named after St Stanislaus High School – Mississippi
Form 1Tutor: Mrs R Meadows
Form 2Tutor: Miss M Martinez
Form 3 Tutor: Mr R. McKenzie
Form 4Tutor:Ms K Poole
Form 5 Tutor: Mrs R. Barley
Sixth Form Tutors: Mrs K. Parsons, Dr R. Clarke
