Every boy at St John’s must be known and loved

The eight houses in the College and the one in the VIth Form are named after previous headmasters, a bishop, and one of our founding architects.  The names represent some extraordinary men who made their mark on St John’s College.  These men and the present Housemasters provide role models for the boys. One of the strengths of St John’s College is, we believe, our house system. 

One of the most important roles the houses play is to give to each boy a sense of belonging. He is a Johannian, but he is also a proud member of his house.  This means that he belongs to a small family within the bigger family of St John’s.  He identifies with his house through flags, common rooms, war cries, his Housemaster and his Head of House. In inter-house competitions he sings, runs, swims, debates, acts and plays all the sporting codes for his house.  His housemaster disciplines, supports, encourages, and tracks his academic progress, his involvement in sport and cultural activities, and in this way monitors his wellbeing. The leadership programme operated within the houses with mentors, portfolios and community service, also contributes to his growth and development.

Our pupils enjoy inter-house music, inter-house swimming, and inter-house debating.  At the inter-house music competition, as an example to illustrate the range of activities to which the boys are exposed, the boys of each house have to sing a mass item, even if they are not choristers.  The music boys take the lead, and the standard achieved is superb.

The value of the house system lies in its giving to each boy a brotherhood of boys to whom he belongs, and to whom he is accountable.  It is the house system, with five tutors in each house that provides the essential pastoral care.  Every boy is accountable to the 80 – 90 boys in his house for his behaviour.  The Housemaster, Head of House and tutors will hold him accountable.  Each new boy is welcomed by a mentor – a senior boy – into the house. Every boy in this school needs to be known and loved. We all have a responsibility to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our boys, but it is the house structure that gives this meaning within the context of St John’s College.  Our desire is that every boy is proud to belong to his house; is committed to ensure its success and upholds the honour and traditions of the house.  There is no place for any brutality and bullying, but we need to be on our guard against such behaviour.