The House System

While the excellent exam results testify to the academic calibre of our students, we aim at Nonsuch to provide a rounded education, giving students the opportunity to demonstrate their many wide-ranging talents and skills.

On arrival at the school, students are placed in one of six houses. When the House system was revised four years ago, a competition was held to name the houses. The winning entry was adopted and resulted in the present system; Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Pluto.

The school regularly holds entertainment programmes devised and organised by the students, overseen by the House Co-ordinator. In the Sixth Form, twenty four students are interviewed for and appointed into a variety of roles to aid the running of the House system. They plan many events; recent projects have included talent shows, drama competitions and inter-house sporting activities. This provides them with invaluable organisation and communication skills for the future as they have to co-operate with staff, each other and the student body as a whole. Students work together across year groups and celebrate each others' skills. This promotes cross year friendships and builds each girl's confidence and ability to interact with people of different ages.

In addition to these major events, which last year raised a significant amount of money for charities, the House system enables staff to recognise and reward students in all aspects of school life. When students produce work of an outstanding quality, show great effort or are helpful and kind to others, we reward them with house points, which contribute to a House total. The House with the highest point score at the end of each year is awarded a trophy to reward their efforts during the year.