The ‘house’ structure brings a plethora of benefits to pupils at Ysgol Greenhill:
The ‘house system’ is an effective way of bringing pupils of different age groups together.
Our house system creates a cohesive school community and helps break down barriers between age groups.
The house system places a greater emphasis on mutual support and responsibility with greater opportunities for student leadership.
Our older pupils assume leadership and mentor roles and our younger pupils have older students that serve as role models.
Each student becomes naturally connected with other pupils in their house. This promotes a community culture.
The upper school pupils have clearly defined expectations in relation to being positive role models. Those pupils with leadership responsibilities can/will share advice e.g. settling into secondary education, advice relating to GCSE and A’ Level choices, revision guidance and exam preparation.
Tutors tend to a small number of students at the same time – New intake; Option choices; work experience. Each tutor will have a small number of pupils from certain year groups who will need their guidance and attention at specific times.
Tutors get to know their pupils over the years as they move through the school.
Increases scope for pupils to develop their social skills through working with pupils of different ages via a mentoring and support role.
The house system offers the pupils practical preparation for the work place – where else in life do we interact exclusively with people the same age as ourselves?
Siblings are placed in the same house as their other family members – during house competitions this conjures a huge sense of competition and rewards involvement in non-academic and after-school events.
A sense of tradition is created and developed over subsequent years with the family connections to a specific house. Parents/Carers will develop and form closer relationships with the ‘Head of House’ and tutors due to this house affiliation.
The house structure raises the profile of the House activities, competitions and charity work.
Throughout the year older students are provided with opportunities to lead activities for younger students in their house. House competitions are envisaged across all curriculum areas on a half termly basis.
We anticipate that the connections formed across year groups through the house system will be a favourite aspect of pupils’ Ysgol Greenhill experience. We anticipate this to be a catalyst for a marked change in attitudes towards learning – because of the competition and the identification of each student within a house, there will be constant encouragement for students to do their best.
All members of staff at Ysgol Greenhill will be allocated a house. Therefore; the sense of belonging and identification goes further than the pupils.