INTRODUCTION TO UPPER HOUSE
House History
Upper House dates back to 1895 and derives its name from the old dormitory block where the three houses, Lower, Middle and Upper, were to be found. Upper House was based on the top floor where the New Exam Hall is now located. Upper is now located in the main school, at lower ground level, in the space that used to be called the Piazza.
Upper House has 125 boys from Year 9 to Year 13 and a team of 12 tutors.
Upper is paired with the girls’ School House for events and for House Entertainment.
The Upper House colour is amber.
House Emblem
House Aims & Ethos
Upper aims to create a friendly and supportive environment where students can be themselves, develop resilience and have the opportunity to flourish. In this regard, we encourage the boys to follow three simple guidelines: Be nice; Work hard; Get involved. The use of the vertical structure whereby older students support the younger ones is vital for the development of all in the House. We celebrate each other’s successes regularly, not least with the awarding of the prestigious Yellow jacket to the ‘Man of the week’ and, given its’ location, we like to think that the House is a natural, welcoming ‘base’ for Upper boys to return to at various times of the day to play, to talk or just to relax.
In addition to the general aims of the School, Upper House aims:
• To encourage all to achieve their potential academically, and to participate positively in the wider aspects of school life; (Be nice; work hard; get involved.)
• To provide a secure, supportive and friendly environment in which all can flourish;
• To foster a sense of personal responsibility, and a willingness to serve others;
• To give all the opportunity to develop leadership skills.
WELCOME TO UPPER HOUSE
I have just completed my third year as Senior Houseparent in Upper and have really enjoyed taking on the challenge as a Pastoral leader. I have been at Kingswood since 2009 and will have met many of you at weekend fixtures and similar events in my other role as Head of Boys’ Games.
Mr Olly East, Teacher of Design & Technology, is the Deputy Houseparent and between us and the Senior Prefects we will oversee the House during the day.
We have a very experienced and attentive team of tutors in Upper. As a tutor team, we supervise the academic progress, extra-curricular involvements and general pastoral needs of all of the boys in the House.
Each Tutor has responsibility for up to 14 boys and will get to know their tutees extremely well. They should, therefore, be the first point of contact in the event that any issues arise. Tutees meet their
tutors daily from 8.25am - 9.00am. During these allocated times there are House assemblies, the School Services, Whole School Assemblies and discussion-based tutorials. As well as this, your child will also have individual tutorials. Your child’s tutor will contact you at the start of the term to introduce themselves and ensure you have details of how to contact them should the need arise.
However, please do not hesitate to contact me regarding your child if you feel it appropriate. I would rather deal with things as they occur and not let them develop into bigger issues and, likewise, I will contact you if there are any concerns or if things are going particularly well. I would also love to hear about your child’s endeavours and successes outside of school.
Mr James Brown (Senior Houseparent)
ADDRESS AND CONTACT DETAILS
House Address:
Upper House Kingswood School Lansdown Bath BA1 5RG
Upper House Office: 01225 734427
Senior Houseparent Mobile: 07710 163879
School Reception: 01225 734200
Senior Houseparent Email: jbrown@kingswood.bath.sch.uk
There will be a member of staff in the House between 4.25pm and 5.45pm. Duty staff will be available on the House Office number during this time.
During the day, it is best to contact the School Reception for any urgent messages.
Senior Houseparents regularly check their emails and will endeavor to respond to them within 24 hours, unless they require more urgent attention.
House Social Media
Upper House has an Instagram account, which records and celebrates the life of the House. This can be found on Instagram as follows: @kws_upperhouse
HOUSE STAFF
Senior Houseparent
Mr James Brown
Sixth Form Tutor
Head of Boys’ Games jbrown@kingswood.bath.sch.uk
Deputy Houseparent
Mr Olly East
Year 10 Tutor
Design and Technology Teacher oeast@kingswood.bath.sch.uk
Tutors
Mr Stephen Brown
Sixth Form Tutor Head of Art sbrown@kingswood.bath.sch.uk
Mr Alex Carlton-Porter
Year 9 Tutor
PE and Games Teacher acarltonporter@kingswood.bath.sch.uk
Ms Rebecca Calder
Sixth Form Tutor
RPE Teacher rcalder@kingswood.bath.sch.uk
Mr Cameron Christie
Year 10 Tutor Economics Teacher cchristie@kingswood.bath.sch.uk
Mr Dan Darwin
Year 9 Tutor
Head of History ddarwin@kingswood.bath.sch.uk
Mr James Hills
Sixth Form Tutor
Business Studies Teacher jhills@kingswood.bath.sch.uk
Mr David Lehmann
Year 11 Tutor
Head of Mathematics dlehmann@kingswood.bath.sch.uk
Mr Peter MacDonald
Sixth Form Tutor
History Teacher and Assistant Head Academic pmacdonald@kingswood.bath.sch.uk
Mr Will Musgrove
Sixth Form Tutor
Physics Teacher wmusgrove@kingswood.bath.sch.uk
Mr Barney Stuttard
Year 11 Tutor
Geography Teacher and Head of Year 11 bstuttard@kingswood.bath.sch.uk
PREFECTS
The School gives positions of responsibility to Upper Sixth pupils. These are chosen from each House at the end of the Lower Sixth. Roles include the Head and Deputy Head of School; Head of House, Deputy Head of House and Senior Prefects. Pupils are supported in undertaking these roles and training is provided along with regular meetings with senior staff.
The Upper House positions of responsibility for 2025/26 are as follows:
PR: Charlie W (Deputy Head of School), Jim P (Sustainability)
Head of House: Jimmy S
Deputy Head of House: Ed A and George H
Senior Prefects: Theo A
Jamie D
George G
Alexander K
Dan L
Jack P
Stan W
Jack W
Heath W
Lower Sixth Prefects
Year 12 pupils can engage in a range of prefect and mentoring roles. These include Westwood Prefects (who work with Year 7 and 8 pupils), Senior School Activities Prefects, Prep School Activities Prefects, Library Prefects, Computer Science Prefects, Careers Prefects and Academic Mentors. Some students also get involved in Mentoring Plus, and work with young disadvantaged pupils from a local primary school, or within Kingswood.
HOUSE DAILY ROUTINE
Monday – Friday
7.30am Boarders breakfast Pupils in Years 9 to 11 must be in breakfast by 7.50am and Sixth Formers by 8.00am. All meals must be cleared by 8.20am.
8.25am Registration followed by School Assembly, Chapel, Tutorial or House Assembly Pupils in Year 9 – 11 to lock their mobile phones into Yondr pouches.
9.00am Lessons begin (School Service for some year groups Period 1 on Fridays)
12.15 - 2.15pm Lunch / Activities / Lesson
4.20pm End of lessons followed by Activities
4.20pm Year 12 day pupils with no further commitments may leave
4.30pm Pupils in Year 9 – 11 may unlock their Yondr pouch in their House
5.30pm End of the school day: Year 9 to 11 day pupils sign out in the House Office
5.30pm Supper
6.30pm Prep begins for all year groups (for boarders and any day pupils who have signed in)
8.00pm Prep finishes for Year 9
8.30pm Prep finishes for Year 10, 11 and Sixth Form
HOUSE ROUTINES & ARRANGEMENTS
Registration
The school day starts at 8.25am every weekday. Your help in ensuring your child arrives at school in time for morning registration is much appreciated.
Registration Venues:
Fonthill: Association Café
Hall: Theatre Foyer
Middle: Dining Hall
Summerhill: Sixth Form Dining Room
School: Library
Upper: Upper House
There is a pattern of assemblies, tutor time and services after registration in the mornings all finishing before 9.00am when Period 1 begins. Pupils are then registered at each of their lessons throughout the day.
The School is required by law to keep detailed and accurate registers and evidence is required from parents to cover every period of absence. If your child is going to be late or absent for any reason please email registration@kingswood.bath.sch.uk copying in your child’s tutor and Senior Houseparent. Alternatively, you can call the School Office on 01225 734200.
Arriving Late / Leaving Early
If a day pupil arrives late to school they must sign in at the School Office. If their lateness is due to a foreseen circumstance, e.g. medical appointment, written notification from a parent or guardian should be given in advance.
If a day pupil has to leave school before lessons end, written notification from a parent or guardian must be given in advance. Pupils should sign out of the School Office.
After 4.20pm students should sign out in their House.
Permission for a regular early leave time (e.g. for an out-of-school club) should be requested from your child’s Senior Houseparent.
Signing Out
For day pupils not staying for prep the earliest time of departure for pupils in Years 9, 10 and 11 is 5.30pm. Day pupils may sign out from 4.20pm if prior arrangements have been made with Senior Houseparents. Pupils sign out from their House.
Year 12 day pupils may leave the school at 4.20pm if they have no further school commitments that day.
Year 13 may leave following their last afternoon lesson of the day, if they are leaving before 4.20pm they must sign out from the School Office.
Supper and Prep
Parents of day pupils may opt for their child to stay for supper or supper and prep Mondays to Fridays. This can be either on a regular or ad hoc basis. Bookings are to be made via SCOPAY and paid in advance. Bookings must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Pupils should ensure that duty staff are aware of their presence at supper and prep. Prefects doing evening school duties are allowed supper with no charge and do not need to book in advance.
Year 9 prep runs from 6.30pm to 8.00pm Year 10 -13 prep runs from 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Prep takes place in the following venues for Years 9 to 11 and the Dixon for Sixth Form. Pupils are registered at the start.
Prep Venues
Fonthill: Main School IT Hall: Glasgow Room
Middle: Library
Summerhill: DT IT
Prep is supervised by a member of staff with help from the House prefects.
The Music School is open during prep Monday to Thursday for students to practise.
Casual Boarding
Casual boarding is usually possible by prior arrangement. Please email your child’s Senior Houseparent if you would like your child to board and they will send you a form to complete.
HOUSE ROUTINES & ARRANGEMENTS
Illness During the School Day
If a pupil is ill during the school day and needs to go home, they must only do this through the Health and Wellbeing Centre. Pupils should not contact parents directly to collect them, the Health and Wellbeing Centre will ring parents if necessary. The Health and Wellbeing Centre will let us know if your child has had to go home.
The Health and Wellbeing Centre must be made aware of any medical conditions and regular medication that is being taken by a pupil. Any medicines of any kind must be given into the care of the Health and Wellbeing Centre staff who will ensure that they are available to the pupil when appropriate.
Support for Pupils
There are a range of services at Kingswood designed to offer students support. Their tutor and Houseparents are the initial points of support, but if a student wants to, they can communicate with any member of staff they feel comfortable speaking with, which could include the Deputy Head Pastoral or Designated Safeguarding Lead.
The Health and Wellbeing Centre can be accessed by pupils during the school day.
Additional support systems in place for pupils include the school counsellors, Off the Record, Childline, Frank, the Riverside Clinic and the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. The contact details for these services are displayed in the school and on the boarding house notice boards.
HOUSE RULES
In addition to the school rules, the following rules are specific to the House, or are a reiteration of school rules that are particularly important.
1. Pupils are expected to behave with good sense, good manners and good will at all times.
2. Friendliness, helpfulness and sensitivity to others is expected of all pupils.
3. All members of the House are expected to co-operate with the prefects, housekeepers and duty staff as they carry out their duties.
4. Pupils are expected to support the House ethos, House events and competitions.
5. Pupils are expected to treat the House belongings, furniture, staff and each other with respect and care.
6. During prep, pupils work quietly. The use of personal electronic equipment is only permitted in consultation with duty staff. Nobody is permitted to leave prep unless they have permission from the prefect or member of staff on duty.
7. Visitors from other Houses are welcome in the House at Quarter, Lunchtime, Afternoon Quarter and after lessons. They must be signed in by a member of the House who is then responsible for their guest’s behaviour. Only two guests per House member allowed. Everyone who visits the House must sign in, this includes day pupils from that House.
8. Visitors from other Houses and day pupils are not permitted in bedrooms.
9. Parents, guardians, family members should be introduced to House staff on arrival and signed in. No visitors are allowed in the communal areas or bedrooms (except to help with carrying luggage at the start and end of term). Visitors should not be left alone in the House, you must supervise them yourself or, if you need to go elsewhere, inform a member of staff on duty. You must check the toilet is not occupied before visitors use it.
10. Do not allow unauthorised visitors into the House – you must check who they are and ask them to wait outside until you have found a member of staff.
11. A person who is not part of the Kingswood community can only enter the House with prior permission from the Senior Houseparent. On arrival to the school they must sign in at Reception to obtain a visitors badge. They must also sign in to the House.
12. All of the House are responsible for keeping it clean and tidy. Food should be eaten off a plate and, along with hot drinks, may only be prepared and consumed in the kitchen / common room. Everyone should ensure that rubbish is put in bins and appropriate items put into the recycle bins. Everyone is responsible for doing their own washing up / loading the dishwasher and cleaning the work tops.
13. Food from the House kitchen must not been eaten during the school day, but may be eaten during activity time. This food is for House members, not their guests. Boarders own snacks and food are for the boarders only.
14. Nobody should be in the House during lesson times without specific permission from a member of House Staff. Pupils should notify Housekeepers when they are in the House.
15. Pupils using the television in the Common Room must ensure that their viewing is age appropriate. 18 certificate films and games are not to be shown or played in the House. Other films may be shown but the member of staff on duty must give permission first.
16. No mobile phones should be used at registration or during other communal House gatherings.
17. Smoking or vaping or bringing alcohol or drugs (or any related paraphernalia) into the House or its gardens are considered very serious breaches of trust and will be dealt with according to the School policies.
PUPIL BEHAVIOUR
House Rewards
Houses take great pride in the achievements of all their members. Individual or one-off achievements in specific fields e.g. Academic, Music, Drama or Sport will be recognised in House via assemblies or the House Instagram account, as well as in Whole School Assembly and the School Newsletter.
In addition, the House recognises those whose values, actions or general demeanour consistently go ‘above and beyond’ the normal expectations of House members, in the form of House Colours and House Awards which are given at the end of term or academic year.
Discipline
Any behavioural issues will be managed individually, with empathy and with reference to the Pupil and Parent Handbook (which can be found on the Parent Portal). Communication will be maintained with parents throughout.
HOUSE EVENTS AND COMPETITIONS
Competitions
There are several inter-house competitions which take place throughout the year. These include:
• All major school sports: Hockey, Netball, Athletics (Senior Sports Day), Tennis, Swimming, Cross Country
• Debating
• House Reward LeagueMerits and Commendations
• House Performance
These events often require different year groups within the House to work together and are great for bonding and promoting healthy and friendly competition in the right spirit.
House Entertainment
There is always evening House Entertainment in the final week before the end of each term. All members of the House are invited to attend. Examples of activities that might take place are:
Autumn Term: Ice Skating
Spring Term: Dodgeball / Easter Egg Hunt / Quiz
Summer Term: Outdoor Games / BBQ
For some House competitions and for House Entertainment twinned girls and boys Houses participate together.
The Houses are paired as follows:
Fonthill and Hall
Middle and Summerhill
School and Upper
GENERAL HOUSE INFORMATION
Inviting Boarders Home at Weekends
It is lovely that, on occasions, day parents invite boarders into their homes. Please email the boarder’s Senior Houseparent a request in writing by Thursday. They will then send you and the boarder’s parents/guardian a form to fill in with the details of the exeat. Please let the boarder’s Senior Houseparent know exactly what time the boarder will return to the House, and therefore when you relinquish responsibility for them.
The House Fund
House facilities may include satellite TV, games console, DVD player, games and supplies for the kitchen. These are available for use by anyone in the House, and their guests. A number of House social occasions take place during the year, including end of term ‘entertainment’. The School provides each House with a small allowance to help towards the cost of these facilities and events, but each House also applies a levy of £8.20 for day pupils and £15.20 for boarders per term, which is added to the school bill.
Personal Property
It is imperative that all clothing and personal possessions are clearly labelled with the pupil’s name so any items that go missing can be returned to their owner through the lost property system. It is recommended that valuable items such as mobile phones, laptops, tablets and musical instruments be privately insured. Every pupil has a lockable space and is encouraged to use it for valuables. Pupils must take full responsibility for valuable items and borrowing / lending is strongly discouraged.
Lockers
Year 9 – 11 Locker Rooms are located in Main School. Each member of the House has a locker.
Pupils are asked to provide their own padlocks for their lockers (a combination lock is best to avoid lost keys). If a padlock with a key is used a spare copy can be kept in the House office.
The lockers should be securely locked, so that personal belongings can be kept safe.
Sixth Form have a study in the Dixon where they keep their belongings, and this also includes a lockable space.
Lansdown Road, Bath BA1 5RG T. 01225 734210 | E. admissions@kingswood.bath.sch.uk www.kingswood.bath.sch.uk