House System
We are mindful of the need for additional opportunities to enhance students’ experiences beyond what they encounter in the normal school day. Our house system provides these opportunities. These are occasions where students can enjoy themselves and thrive in a competitive manner and by doing so develop into happy, resilient young people ready to face the world and able to participate, both within a team context and through leading others.
We are proud of our house system which gives students the chance to earn points and compete for their house and, by doing so, enjoy a sense of belonging. Students can earn house points in a variety of ways:
- Through personal performance. Meeting academic targets, attending well and making positive contributions to school life will all earn house points
- Through taking part in our programme of house activities held throughout the year. These include sporting contests of various kinds as well as events such as bake sales and our international day
- Each year ends with the Chobham Sports Day in which all students are involved. This is a great annual occasion and a real celebration to end the academic year. Points earned on Sports Day are added to those gathered throughout the year in order to identify and crown our annual house champions.
Built into the house system is our need to ensure students understand and value charity. The idea that they are able to offer time and raise money for those less fortunate than themselves. Throughout the school year we ensure a range of charities are supported and each house has its own nominated charity.
Our houses are named in honour of people who we as a school community (both staff and students) are inspired by. We have six houses each led by a Head of House.
The Head of House leads one of Chobham’s six houses. They are responsible for maintaining and developing the house identity and ethos. They will do this through house assemblies, tutor time and their own profile around the school. The Head of House will work with students to organise and deliver events in our house activities programme. Many of these will raise funds for the house charity. The Head of House will generate support for events and maximise participation. They will make sure that the house charity is well known to students and that they understand about the charity’s background and work.
Let us welcome you to the Chobham Houses:
Adichie House
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian novelist. She has written a series of short stories and non-fiction pieces including “Purple Hibiscus” and “That thing around your neck”. Chimamanda has also delivered TED talks, the most famous and viewed of which include of “The Danger of a Single Story” in 2009 and “We Should all be Feminists” in 2012.
“Racism should never have happened and so you don’t get a cookie for reducing it” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Bannister House
Sir Roger Bannister was the first athlete to run a mile in under 4 minutes. His passion was to become a doctor and he later became a distinguished neurologist and became a Master at Pembroke College, Oxford before retiring in 1993.
“However ordinary each of us may seem, we are all in some way special, and can do things that are extraordinary, perhaps until then… even thought impossible” Sir Roger Bannister
Franklin House
Rosalind Franklin was an English chemist who made key contributions to the understanding of molecular DNA. She only lived to the age of 37. Many talk about the fact that she should have achieved a Nobel Prize in her lifetime for the work she had carried out.
“In my view, all that is necessary for faith is the belief that by doing our best, we shall succeed in our aims: the improvement of mankind” Rosalind Franklin
Himid House
Lubaina Himid CBE is a contemporary artist and curator. She is a professor and her art focuses on themes of cultural history and reclaiming identities.
“I have more things to say – this art gives me the chance” Lubaina Himid
Mandela House
Nelson Rohlilahla Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary political leader and philanthropist who served as president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country’s first black head of state and first elected in a fully representative democratic election.
“I never lose. I either win or learn” Nelson Mandela
Ramanujan House
Srinivasa Ramanujan was an Indian Mathematician who lived in India under British Rule. Without any formal training, he had made substantial contributions to mathematical analysis, number theory and infinite series alongside finding numerous solutions to mathematical problems that were previously considered unsolvable.
“We are merely explorers of infinity in the pursuit of absolute perfection” Srinivasa Ramanujan
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Ms Haigh our house team leader.
- 4020 Bannister House
- 3907 Himid House
- 4443 Franklin House
- 4391 Ramanujan House
- 4087 Mandela House
- 3734 Adichie House