Houses are a key part of School life in both Prep and Senior School, encouraging team spirit, loyalty and – at times- healthy competition while bringing together girls from different year groups with a range of interests and talents.

Girls’ awareness of and identification with their House is influenced through events such as Sports Day, House Assemblies, inter-house swimming, the Christmas performance competition and the House Quiz. At the end of a girl’s school career she has the chance to lead her House as Captain, Deputy Captain or Sports Captain.

Prep houses are named after pioneering women in history who broke the mould and changed expectations of women for ever: Curie, Frank, Johnson and Nightingale. They were introduced relatively recently when Mrs Laura Bartlett became Head of Lower School in 1994.

In Senior School the houses were established during the tenure of its fourth Headmistress, Miss Collier, from 1924 to 1931. Perhaps in keeping with the times they were named after the patron saints of the United Kingdom (St George, St Patrick, St Andrew and St David) plus that of Italy (and animals!) St Francis.

Our houses contribute to extra-curricular activities in School through competitive sport, fund-raising for charity – each House nominates a cause each year – and end of term celebrations such as the House Quiz and Christmas performances.