The House System

From the Deputy Head Pastoral Nick Watkins

A major feature of this school year was our consultation about our tutor system, and the way we support our pupils through their time at the school. The views of staff, parents, and both current and former pupils were sought on how we might best learn and move forward from two years of ‘bubble-proof’ year-group tutor forms. The outcome was a powerful endorsement of our traditional vertical tutor system, with many interesting thoughts on how to make this hallmark of the school even stronger.

The new House system that has emerged marks a powerful commitment to the pastoral care and tutorial support that we offer each of our pupils. The constancy of tutorial relationships central to our vertical system will now be augmented by a constancy of relationship with the Undermaster too, and valuable new supportive relationships between tutors and Undermasters within Houses. Two new Heads of Section will oversee the progression of each year group as they move through the school, meaning each individual pupil will receive superb personalised support from skilled adults charged with helping them to flourish.

The House system also brings our former club competition into alignment with tutor groups and Undermasters – something that will give our in-school competitions greater prominence and support within the school, and help ensure the broadest opportunities for participation and leadership for all pupils, including enabling the older to lead and rolemodel for the younger.

The pastoral efforts made by staff during the pandemic were extraordinary. Great time and care was spent building relationships with and among new tutees, and supporting pupils through the challenges of this crisis. The winding down of the horizontal form groups brings some sadness as pupils now move on (or back!) to their vertical tutors. But it is right that vertical tutor groups, the small families that enable so much mature communing between older and younger pupils, return to take their place at the heart of our school. We are excited at how our new system can help each group, and each individual child within, to thrive.

Comments from the new undermaster team

Douglas Perrin

The Middle School is an important pathway between prep school and A-Levels, and the new house system will help us bring greater cohesion to these three crucial years. Whereas Undermasters have previously focused on one year group, I am excited by the opportunity to shape pupils’ journey as they move through their first three years at St Paul’s, from induction in the Fourth Form to GCSE examinations in the Sixth Form. I am hoping that in the younger year groups we will be able to reinforce and strengthen the inquiring, proactive and enterprising spirit that is the hallmark of Paulines, as well as building a sense of humility and community.

Sarah Field

I am very excited about being a part of Field house: leading this incredible community of talented tutors and pupils is a privilege. I hope to foster an atmosphere where staff and pupils can learn from each other and look forward to seeing the community grow together.

Naomi McLaughlin

The final two years at school are an incredibly rich and exciting time. In my previous role as Lower Eighth Undermaster I enjoyed supporting our pupils – those from SPS and those joining us at 16+ – as they make the exciting and significant transition into A level study and engage in all the extra and super curricular opportunities that are available. This new role as Head of Upper School allows the opportunity to oversee the combination of challenge and support across the two years from the first days in newly selected subjects to the many ‘lasts’ – last lesson, exam, match, performance… before results days and farewells. It is a real honour to be working alongside Undermasters in the new house system as well as the Careers and Universities team to support Eighth form pupils in their educational journey. I very much hope that it is a happy, fulfilling and successful experience for all pupils.

James Blurton

The new house system provides enhanced pastoral, academic, and co-curricular support, offering our pupils the best care. I am looking forward to overseeing this and guiding pupils throughout their school journey. I am also excited about how our house spirit and culture will develop as the house competition and commitment to the wider community progresses.

Kerilynne Cloete

As a firm supporter of the clubs system, I am so excited to see this being aligned with pastoral care through the new house structure. There are so many things I am looking forward to next year; but I am especially looking forward to getting to know the pupils in my house and work with them throughout their time at SPS as well as working with the Upper Eighth student leaders and tutor team to foster a sense of community in our house!

Caroline Gill

One of the best things about being the Fourth Form Undermaster has been helping new pupils settle into life at St Paul’s, build new friendship circles and feel fully equipped to begin their journey throughout the school. However, one of the downsides with this horizontal system was that, apart from corridor conversations and quick chats when on lunch duty, I would often lose touch with the boys and their parents. Therefore, I am really excited about moving to this new House structure as it will enable me to support pupils and their parents throughout the entire five years and see pupils develop into young men ready to embark on the next exciting chapter in their lives. From their perspective, this will hopefully provide a superb continuity of care and a building of strong and purposeful relationships.

The second part I am excited about is providing greater opportunities for leadership and mentorship for the boys at all levels. All the pupils at St Paul’s are so talented and I know they are proud to be a part of the school. At the end of the day, a Fourth Former who is struggling with friendships or juggling co-curricular commitments is far more likely to listen to the friendly, avuncularstyle advice of an Upper Eighth who has successfully navigated the sometimes tricky adolescent years.

James Gilks

I am very excited about the new house system. The houses will provide the opportunity to develop smaller communities within the larger school community. It will strengthen links between pupils in different year groups and will provide older pupils more opportunities to act as mentors and role models to younger pupils. It’s something that pupils will be able to identify with, get involved in and feel an important part of.

Hugo Nilsson

The new house system brings with it myriad opportunities to enhance the educational and pastoral experience for Paulines. Aside from ensuring pupils in House Nilsson are politically aware and are preparing for their roles as active citizens, I am most looking forward to fomenting a strong sense of community amongst our house members.

Glenn Harrison

I am looking forward to working with the Senior boys to enhance a sense of community – I know they will help the tutors set the right tone and be fully involved in supporting and helping younger pupils enjoy school. The new club competition structure will create opportunities for all pupils to enjoy a wide range of activities and develop some club spirit. I look forward to supporting all pupils in Harrison House by promoting good standards of behaviour in line with the school values – I would like kindness and inclusivity to be at the centre of creating a happy environment.

Hannah Warner

I am really looking forward to getting to know all of the pupils in Warner House over the course of next year and beyond, and I’m confident that the new house structure will significantly enhance the school experience for everyone. As T.S. Eliot observes in ‘Little Gidding’ from the Four Quartets (my favourite poem), ‘We shall not cease from exploration’. And that is what I want for all the Paulines in my House: a continued commitment to exploring who they are as young people and the world around them and their place within it. Exciting times lie ahead…