The House System at Gateways

Each pupil is a member of one of the three Houses, Beningbrough, Harewood and Newby, and has an opportunity to contribute to its success through active participation in the numerous House events which are organised throughout the year and through her own individual achievements.

House Organisation

The Houses are led by two Lower VI House Captains, supported by an Upper V House Assistant, under the guidance of a Head of House member of staff. It is their responsibility to create a sense of community and House loyalty throughout the school and they do this by leading regular House Assemblies and motivating girls from all years to take part in House Challenges. High School House Captains work, where possible, with their counterparts in Prep who are chosen from Lower 3 and are part of the Prefect body.

Individual House Points

Individual House Points and Commendations are awarded to girls in High School and Prep in recognition of academic achievement, good and/or helpful behaviour or special effort in academic or extra-curricular activities. Once a term, in a special Awards Assembly, these House Points are collated to reveal the House with the greatest number – a moment awaited with great excitement and celebrated throughout the school – and individual achievement is also rewarded with Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards for those girls who achieve 100, 60 and 30 House Points respectively.

House Challenges

This friendly rivalry between the Houses is encouraged through the regular House Challenges which provide pupils with opportunities across a broad range of activities and, most importantly, offer girls from all parts of the school a chance to join in and have fun, while contributing to a team effort. The exact schedule of Challenges varies from year to year but includes activities from most areas of the wider school curriculum: music, sports, performing arts, community service, creative arts.

For example, just before October half term the school enjoys a truly memorable afternoon when the House Music Competition is held in the Performing Arts Centre. As well as the traditional sports activities, such as netball, tennis and rounders, the Houses are involved in orienteering and cross-country. Sports Day is competitive and great fun: all pupils are able to participate in an activity of their choice and in so doing they contribute to the whole school House results. In Prep, a House Spelling Bee and a Maths Challenge are held and in High School, a House Photography competition and a House Community Outreach project were introduced last year to encourage wider participation in House events.

Each of these House Challenges is awarded House Challenge Points and, at the end of the school year on Exhibition Day, the House Challenge Trophy is awarded to the House with the greatest number of House Challenge Points. The Harewood House Captains from Prep and High School proudly collected their trophies last year as the marquee was filled with applause.

Mentoring

Early in the Autumn term, girls from Lower VI are paired with the Upper III pupils who have just arrived in High School in a mentoring programme which is based for the first time this year on the House System. So younger girls get to know older pupils in their House and this will, we believe, strengthen their sense of belonging.

We believe that the House System at Gateways provides opportunities for interaction and teamwork between girls from different sections of the school. It also encourages a sense of responsibility and develops leadership skills. There have been few sights more memorable than watching a House Captain who quietly used her initiative and kindness to encourage a soloist from the Prep School, who faltered in her public performance. The completion of the song was a credit to both girls and maintained the young pupil’s self esteem and confidence. It was a tribute to the sense of community that exists within the school.