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The children at most schools are also organized into houses. This reflects the organization of the public schools. The term varies. At some schools they are called clubs, but houses are the more common term. These houses are a particularly important aspect of boarding school life, but most day schools also have houses. Most schools mix the boarders and day boys in the various houses. Some have, however, separate day and noarder houses. At some schools the children wear badges to mark their house. Prep school houses are different than public school houses in that they are not residential. Some schools do have a residential dormitry for the older children, but this is not their house. Houses are used at some larger schools and here they can help build a family atmoshere that can be lacking at a large school.
The purpose of the house system is to ensure thar each boy receives the individual attention which is so essential at this age. The organisation is extremely simple. For boys over the age of 11, there are five houses, two for boarders, two for day-boys and a mixed house which is a comparatively recent development. The same pattern is repaeated in the four houses of the school catering for boys between the ages of 8 1/2 1nd 11. Duties are shared in each house by a housemaster and a house tutor, each of whom a boy quickly learns to regard as a friend and adviser to whom he can always turn if life proves difficult. Any impersonality or lack of contact betwwn pupil and teacher, which could exist to some extent at a big school, is redressed by the intimate atmosphere of these smaller units. The school-parent relationship is also considerably enhanced by this system and social functions are regularly arranged to allow parents to take part in the life of the house,
Clifton College Preparatory School Prospectus
There are separate Boarding Houses for boys and girls. Each has a resident Hosemaster or Housemistress and Matron. The House is the centreof the children's lives; there they sleep, play, pursue their hibbies and develop their friendships. The two Day Houses have their own recreation rooms and changing accomodations, Each of the Housemasters has his own room there too, where he can be available to see the childrenand look after the social life of the House. Day children are encouraged to participate as fully as Boaders in the life of the school, to join expeditions and other out-of-school activitoes. They are also expected to attend the Junior School Chapel Service on Sunday mornings.
Dean Close Junior School Prospectus
