House System

The house system is a traditional feature of schools in the English-speaking world, particularly in Commonwealth countries, and originated in England.

The school is divided into a number of houses and each student is allocated to one house. Houses may compete with one another at sports and maybe in other ways, thus providing a focus for group loyalty. Typically, each house will have around 50 students; thus, a school with 750 students might have 15 houses. Facilities, such as pastoral care, may be provided on a house basis to a greater or lesser extent depending on the type of school. Historically, the house system was associated with established public schools in England, especially full boarding schools, where a 'house' referred to a boarding house at the school. In the case of a day school, however, the word 'house' refers only to a grouping of pupils, rather than to a particular building.

Houses may be named after saints, famous historical alumni or notable regional landmarks. Other more arbitrary names – animal names or colours, for example – are also often used. Houses are also often referred to by the original name of the building or by the name or initials of the teacher in charge of the house (housemistress or housemaster). Each house will usually also be identified by its own symbol, logo, or colours.

At co-educational boarding schools, there may be separate houses for boys and girls. Students may also be grouped by year groups or status as a boarder or day student. At Winchester College and Eton College, there is a separate house for foundation scholars. Where the school has boarders and day pupils, they will often be allocated to separate houses. There have also been cases, for example at Cheltenham College, of pupils being allocated to different houses according to their religion. At traditional full boarding schools such as Radley College and Harrow School, students are grouped by boarding house.