Parent Handbook Stafford Grammar School

Parent Handbook
The House System
All pupils at Stafford Grammar School belong to one of three Houses: Anson, Fitzherbert or
Talbot. Pupils become a member of their House on joining the school and under normal
circumstances will remain a member of that House until they leave. The House is staffed by
a Head of House, a Deputy Head of House and a team of tutors who are responsible for
oversight of all academic and pastoral matters.
The Houses are much more than just administrative entities. They are communities on a
more manageable scale than the whole school and considerable loyalty to the Houses is
generated among pupils over a period of time.
There are a large number of competitions based on the House system, ranging from the
Great Egg Race through Public Speaking and ‘The Challenge’ to the polyathlon, in which the
Houses compete against each other in a wide range of sports.
The allocation of pupils to Houses is based on a range of data. Siblings become members of
the same House, accentuating the family atmosphere, which is an essential element in the
ethos of the school. A pupil’s musical, sporting and dramatic talents are taken into account,
as is their academic ability, in order to achieve, as far as possible, an equitable distribution
of skills across the Houses.
Pupils can gain House points for helpfulness, good behaviour and for good work in certain
competitions. The House is the main vehicle for the recognition of achievement by the
pupils and all feedback from parents is welcomed.
As the pupils generally have the same Head of House throughout their time at school, this
member of staff is ideally suited to write their references for Further Education or
employment.
Activities and Inter-House Competition
We regard involvement in the many clubs, activities and inter-House competitions as an
essential part of school life, giving breadth of experience and opportunity to develop
responsibility and initiative. Interest in a range of activities and evidence of involvement in
school life is highly valued by universities and potential employers and is always commented
upon when the school provides references.
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