House system

The house system is a traditional feature of British, Australian and Hong Kong schools, similar to the collegiate system of a university. Historically it was associated with established public schools, where a 'house' referred to a dormitory. The system has been common in the state sector for many years. Here, however, the word 'house' refers only to a grouping of pupils, rather than to a particular building.

Related Topics:
British - Australia - Hong Kong - School - Collegiate - University - Public schools - Dormitory - State sector

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Pupils are likely to be divided into three or four houses, which are often named after saints, famous historical alumni or notable regional landmarks. (Other more arbitrary names - animal names or colours, for example - may be used where the house system is adopted by a primary school.)

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Today, the house system exists largely for the purpose of competition. The traditional school sports day is usually an inter-house competition. Debating competitions and charity drives are also often organised along inter-house lines.

Related Topics:
School sports day - Debating

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In theory pupils are randomly assigned to houses to ensure a balance of numbers. Traditionally, however, once a pupil has been assigned to a house, any younger siblings he or she has will automatically become members of that house when they arrive at the school. (This tradition sometimes extends to the children of former pupils.)

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One notable feature of the house system is the nomination and election of house captains for the junior and senior school, whose job it is to rally fellow house-members and to pick individuals for team events. Large schools may have a house captain for each year group (with vice-captains in the largest schools).

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In boarding schools the term housemaster is held by the member of staff responsible for pupils living in a particular dormitory. In state schools, members of staff are appointed as (or volunteer to become) head of house

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The four houses at Hogwarts school in the Harry Potter books (Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin) provide a widely-known fictional example of the house system.

Related Topics:
Four houses - Hogwarts - Harry Potter

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