The Houses and HouseTeams

The Houses and House Teams

There are six Houses for pupils in Downside School, two for girls, three for senior boys and one for junior boys. Each House is run by a resident Housemaster or Housemistress (HsM), together with an Assistant Housemasterr or Housemistress and, in some Houses, an additional resident HouseTutor. Boarders and Day Pupils are fully integrated into the same Houses, each forming part of aTutor Group, under the care of one of the HouseTutors who also spends at least one evening a week in the House. Each House has a Housemother, whose role is to support the pupils day to day needs.

Girls Houses

Caverel House Housemistress Mrs Anna McGarry Assistant HsM Hannah Alcantara

Caverel House is home to girls aged 13 to 18. Younger girls share four-bed rooms or two-bed rooms, Fifth and Sixth Form girls (Years 11, 12 and 13) have their own study bedrooms. Caverel House is named after Abbot Philip de Caverel. Born in 1555, he became Abbot of St Vedast’ s at Arras in Normandy and later provided the monastic community with its first home at Douai.

Anna McGarry – Housemistress of Caverel House Isabella House Housemistress Mrs Karen Westlake Assistant HsM Miss Amanda Ball

Isabella House is home to girls aged 11 to 18. Isabella House is named after Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain and Portugal who gave permission for the establishment of the English Benedictine community of St Gregory ’ s, Douai, in 1606, and promised it protection.

KarenWestlake – Housemistress of Isabella House

Junior Boys House

Powell House Housemaster Mr Andrew Hamilton Assistant Mr David Pollard

Boys join Powell House for the junior years (Forms 1, 2 and 3). The accommodation – two dormitories subdivided into private living areas, a large, comfortable day room, and a well-equipped games room and kitchen – providing a warm home from home feel.The boys form lasting friendships outside their destined Senior House, living as a civilised and well-ordered community. Powell House takes its name from Blessed Philip Powell, a monk of St Gregory ’ s at Douai, who was martyred at Tyburn in 1646.

Andy Hamilton – Housemaster of Powell House

Senior Boys Houses

Barlow House Housemaster Mr Simon Potter Assistant Mr Julian McNamara

Fourth Form boys (Year 10) share a comfortable dormitory, Fifth and Sixth Form boys (Years 11, 12 and 13) have their own study bedrooms. Barlow House is named after St Ambrose Barlow, a monk of the community of St Gregory the Great, who was martyred in 1641.

Simon Potter – Housemaster of Barlow House

Roberts House Housemaster Joshua Freeman Assistant Dr Jesus Tapia Amador

Fourth Form boys (Year 10) share a modern and comfortable dormitory, Fifth and Sixth Form boys (Years 11, 12 and 13) have their own study bedrooms. Roberts House is named after St John Roberts, a member of the community now at Downside, who was martyred in 1610.

Joshua Freeman – Housemaster of Roberts House Smythe House Housemaster Mr John Storey Assistant Mr Rory Worsman

Smythe has large distinct rooms, a variety of dayrooms, and Hogwartian spiral stairs. Fourth Form boys (Year 10) share a modern and comfortable dormitory, Fifth and Sixth Form boys (Years 11, 12 and 13) have their own study bedrooms. Sir Edward Smythe, a Catholic and former student of St Gregory ’ s, offered the community shelter at his own house, Acton Burnell Hall, in Shropshire, after they were forced to flee from Douai in 1795.

John Storey – Housemaster of Smythe House