Tutors & Houses

In the Junior School, the class teacher naturally takes on this role. Class teachers see their children at the beginning and end of every school day, in addition to teaching them for their core subjects, providing plenty of opportunity to forge a close relationship with each pupil in their care. The class teacher will also liaise with specialist teachers and communicate regularly with parents to ensure that every child is happy and making progress across the different spheres of school life.

As children move forward, we balance the close support of the children alongside their need to develop greater independence and responsibility. Children in Years 5 and 6 will each have a class teacher as their tutor. This teacher sees them at the beginning and end of the day and teaches a significant proportion of their lessons, but they will also have greater input from specialist teachers. The tutor will continue to liaise closely with all a child’s teachers and provide regular communication and a point of contact with parents.

In Year 7 and 8, children move to being taught by subject specialists across the board. They will see their tutor twice a day, in the morning and afternoon, and may well be taught by them. Again, the tutor will be in regular contact with the individual teachers and will have an overview of each child, both academically and pastorally, providing a point of contact for parents.

The tutors, in turn, are supported by the Head of Juniors, the Assistant Head Pastoral and the Deputy Head who are always happy to help answer questions or discuss any concerns you may have.

We appreciate how important it is for your child to mix with others of different ages as well as those in their own class or year group. Older children naturally act as role models for the younger ones and opportunities for responsibility and leadership flow from this. Our vertical ‘House’ system provides our children with an ideal structure within which to interact with others across all year groups.

Named after local villages, the four houses and have their own colour and are as follows:

Every pupil joins a house as soon as they start school and siblings are typically put in the same house. This house system dates back to the 1940’s when a system of ‘Packs’ was used and each house was named after an animal; lions, panthers and tigers. These animals are still assigned to houses today and appear on the house banners that are used on competition days, such as sports day.

There is also a very loyal band of staff attached to each house who encourage the children and help the two ‘House Captains’ in each house to organise events.

House points and/or merits can be awarded and earnt in various different ways. These include recognition for effort, outstanding classwork, raising money for charity and good citizenship as well for inter-house competitions (Poetry, Music, Art, Photography) and the many different sporting events. Our children are very loyal to their houses and the enthusiasm and keen competitive spirit is palpable. Winners’ cups take pride of place above each house’s notice board outside the dining room. Points are accumulated throughout the year and at the end of the summer term, after much speculation and excitement, the House Champions are announced.