The House System at JAGS

There are four houses at JAGS: Bettany, Clarke, Desenfans and Holst. Each girl is allocated to a house when they enter the school and remains in that house until they finish at the end of the sixth form. This creates a real sense of house spirit among pupils and this is fostered further through trying to win the coveted house shield at the end of the academic year. Points towards this prize are accumulated during the year through various competitions. These include among others, senior and junior house music; inter-house sport including swimming, hockey, netball, tennis, rounders and, of course, sports day; the modern foreign languages quiz; the Year 7 readathon and the inter-house (university) challenge. Credits for academic work and house points for contributions to house events also contribute to the house shield. Through these various competitions each pupil can feel like they are contributing something to their House in their area of strength; participation is the key to a successful house and all of the houses at JAGS are very individual but very successful.

The house system is constantly changing and growing, and pupils can make suggestions concerning House business to their House Tutor, House Captains or House Representative.

Sixth Formers and the Houses:

The sixth form are a major part of each house. They are the people who, with the help of their House Tutors, lead and organise the rest of the house. This often involves the House Captains producing mad, yet motivational, house assemblies and Year 12 House Representatives encouraging their form group to work hard to organise their charity event or assembly. Any member of Year 13 who wishes to participate in leading the House may become a director for each house and take on a role such as Charity Co-ordinator, Treasurer, Publicity Officer or Sports or Music Director.

Other House events:

The house system is a great way for individual girls to be creative. They can make suggestions for events and the houses will often open up paths for them to follow. Most recently the houses have run a 'house crest competition' for pupils to design a crest for their house. The four house tutors then voted on the entries and the winners had the design made up into the House flags which are now proudly displayed at each interhouse event. Similarly, the houses have just produced their first House newsletters full of the news and views of each house and again, reflecting the individuality of each house.