Page 4 Role of Housestaff
Page 5 Housestaff
Page 5 House Prefects
Page 6 Fire Instructions
Page 6 House Plan
Page 7 House Routines
Page 8 House Rules
Page 9 Sanctions
Page 10 House Events
Page 10 Additional Information
The House system at Kingswood was set up in 1895. School House was so called because it was over what was the “Senior Schoolroom” until the Ferens was built in 1926. School House becomes a day house this year, having been a girls’ boarding house since September 1992 when the Kingswood house structure changed into three senior boys’ and three senior girls’ houses.
The House aims to be a place where the pupils can grow with a sense of responsibility for themselves and others; learn to co-operate and support one another as members of a community; and develop intellectually and socially in a Christian environment.
• From September 2022
School House will be a Day house for girls in Years 9 to U6
• September 1992 to June 2000
Boarding and Day girls for Years 9 to U6
• September 2000 to June 2003
Entirely Day girls
• September 2003 to present
Boarding for Sixth Form Day girls for Years 9 to U6
House symbols dating way back are a Bullfrog called ‘Bulf’ and a Tulip.
Official House address: School House Kingswood School Lansdown Road Bath BA1 5RG
School House Flat: 01225 734416
School House Office: 01225 734415
Twitter: @KWS_SchoolHouse
Senior Houseparent Sarah Musgrove (smusgrove@kingswood.bath.sch.uk)
Your child will be allocated a tutor from the eleven tutors for the coming academic year. In practice this means the supervision of academic progress, extra-curricular involvement and general pastoral needs. There are organised group tutorials once a week, from 8.30am to 9.00am. Tutors will also liaise regularly on a one-to-one tutorial with their tutee. In the first place it is your child’s tutor who deals with academic or extra-curricular matters arising and you may wish to contact your child’s tutor directly on these matters by leaving a message with the School Secretary (01225 734200) or by letter, or email (email addresses given on page 3).
Otherwise, please regard me as the first point of contact on all matters regarding your child’s life in school and I shall take up any issues arising with the appropriate member of staff as necessary. My telephone numbers are as listed, and I am happy to speak to you any time between 7.30am and 9.00pm. During the day I will be teaching and if you are unable to reach me, please leave a message with the School Secretary (01225 734200) who will pass the message on to me that day if it is before 4.30pm. You may also e-mail me if you do not require an immediate response.
Our Year 13 boarders will be under the supervision of the Summerhill staff when boarding; this will be during evenings and weekends. This supervision will be provided by the Senior Houseparent and Assistant House staff. A member of staff is available to the girls 24 hours a day in case of emergency. A member of the House staff is available in the House with the girls from the end of prep until bedtime on a weekday. At weekends there is daytime as well as evening contact with House staff.
Senior Houseparent: Mrs Sarah Musgrove Mrs Musgrove teaches Geography (smusgrove@kingswood.bath.sch.uk)
Assistant Houseparent: Miss Rosie Bond Miss Bond teaches Modern Languages (rbond@kingswood.bath.sch.uk)
Mrs Sarah Herlinger
Mrs Herlinger is the Co-Head of Middle School and teaches History. sherlinger@kingswood.bath.sch.uk
Mrs Sophie Andell
Mrs Andell teaches Modern Languages. sandell@kingswood.bath.sch.uk
Ms Jo Brayton
Ms Brayton is the Head of Drama. jbrayton@kingswood.bath.sch.uk
Mrs Emma Prowse
Mrs Prowse is in the Learning Support department. eprowse@kingswood.bath.sch.uk
Miss Sam Page
Miss Page teaches English. spage@kingswood.bath.sch.uk
Dr Jenny Wood
Dr Wood teaches Chemistry and is Head of Science. jwood@kingswood.bath.sch.uk
Mrs Sarah Dakin
Mrs Dakin teaches Latin and Greek and is Head of Classics. sdakin@kingswood.bath.sch.uk
Miss Charlotte Evans
Miss Evans is Head of German. cevans@kingswood.bath.sch.uk
Ms Najat Taibi
Ms Taibi is Head of French ntaibi@kingswood.bath.sch.uk
There are a range of services at Kingswood designed to offer pupils support. Their tutor and houseparent are the initial points of support, but a pupil can communicate with any member of staff they feel comfortable talking to. This could include speaking with the Deputy Head Pastoral/Designated Safeguard Lead or any of the other Deputy Safeguard Leads. The additional support systems in place include the School Counsellor, the Medical Centre and independent listeners such as Off the Record, Childline, Frank, the Riverside Clinic and the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. The contact details for all these services are displayed in the school and on the House notice board.
We have a team of House Prefects in the Upper Sixth who are elected each year. They help the House staff run the House and play an active role in the pastoral care of others. They assist in organising House teams, competitions and social events as well as initiating charity work.
The House Prefect team is managed by the Head of House and assisted by her Deputy:
Head of House: Georgie T
Deputy Head of House: Olivia M
Head of Boarding: Christine L
Senior Prefects: Tilly B
Anouk C
Jess I
Zenzele O-O
Joni U
Deputy Head of School: Lily S
Diversity Inclusion: Nisha L W
Year 12 Prefect Liaison: Grace C
Upper Sixth pupils will be invited to be House Prefects in September.
All pupils new to the house are allocated a buddy who is responsible for looking out for them and ensuring they find their way around the school in the first couple of weeks. In addition to this a ‘Big Sister’ system operates in School House with an U6 pupil allocated to a Year 10 pupil and a L6 pupil allocated to a Year 9 pupil in order to help and support them throughout their first year in the Senior House.
Main School fire and assembly instructions are posted throughout the school and house notice board. The following instructions refer to times when you are based in the house.
Please read the following carefully and know where your nearest FIRE EXIT is. Assembly point is at the ON THE LOWER ASTRO.
On hearing the Fire Alarm:
a) You must leave the house by the most convenient exit.
b) Proceed quietly and efficiently to the assembly point - do not stop to collect personal items from your rooms.
c) Assemble on the Lower Astro
d) Answer your name when it is called out by a member of Housestaff.
e) Do not re-enter the building unless told to do so by a member of Housestaff.
S Musgrove, August 2022
The House daily routine follows the school routine and includes the following:
a) 8.25am morning registration takes place in the library for all year groups.
b) Day pupils in Years 9 to 11 leaving at the end of prep should sign out with the member of staff on duty. Sixth form day pupils may leave the school premises after lessons finish at 4.20pm.
Every pupil in Years 9 to 11 will receive a large double locker requiring 2 padlocks. In Years 9 and 10 the lockers will be in a House area. In Year 11 they will share an area specifically for Year 11 girls. The lockers will be large enough to store their Games Kit Bag, hockey stick, and books. The lockers can be securely locked and it is important that the pupils use only their locker to store their belongings effectively. Pupils are asked to supply their own padlocks. Spare keys can be given to Mrs Musgrove in an envelope that is clearly labelled. Alternatively, a combination lock can be used. To help locate missing Games Kit is vital that all clothes and equipment is clearly labelled.
If your child is due to be absent or late (i.e., arrive after the 8.25am registration) due to illness, an appointment or another eventuality, please telephone the Senior Houseparent (01225 734415) or the School Secretary (01225 734200) before 8.25am if possible. If it is a planned absence, it is most helpful to receive a letter or e-mail before the absence occurs.
Kingswood School is required by law to keep detailed and accurate registers and documentary evidence is required from parents to cover every period of absence.
Your help and co-operation especially in ensuring your child arrives in time for the 8.25am registration is much appreciated.
If you would like your child to stay for supper and prep, please email the Senior Houseparent. If this is to be a regular event you will be sent a form to complete which will advise the Finance Office. For day pupils not staying for prep, the earliest departure time for pupils in Years 9, 10 and 11 is 5.30pm. If for any reason, your child has to leave before this time on a certain day, notification from parents/guardians is required in the form of an email.
Often day pupils need to stay for prep, drama and music rehearsals etc. A letter of notification is helpful on these occasions, but it is quite acceptable for your child to inform the Senior Houseparent at the 8.25am registration so that an extra meal can be ordered, and the required charge made for Supper and Prep.
All pupils are expected to attend lunch.
If pupils want to stay for supper and/or prep, they should sign in with their house staff during morning registration. The House kitchen is for sixth form use only.
Any pupil bringing medication into school should hand it into the Medical Centre
All clothing worn at School should be clearly named.
A Guest is someone who is not a member of School House.
i. Pupils from other Houses
The guidelines are one guest per person. The Host signs in the Guest on the Guest Sheet and is responsible for their Guest’s behaviour.
ii. Boys are welcome but the above rules apply. If a boy visits, the host should introduce him to the House staff on arrival.
In addition to the School Community Code, the following rules are specific to School House to help with the smooth running of the House in a harmonious manner.
1. Pupils are expected to behave with good sense, good manners and good will at all times.
2. Friendliness, helpfulness and sensitivity to others is expected of all pupils.
3. All pupils are expected to co-operate with staff and prefects in their duties.
4. Pupils are expected to support School House events and competitions.
5. The House Common Room is a Phone Free Zone.
6. All pupils are expected to attend lunch
7. Mealtimes are to be strictly adhered to.
8. During prep, pupils are expected to work silently. The use of headphones is only permitted in consultation with House staff.
9. Visitors from other houses are welcome as long as they follow the guidelines set out in the Guest Signing-In Book. The host is responsible for their good behaviour.
10. Pupils are responsible for any damage to soft furnishings due to negligent behaviour and will be expected to pay for any damage.
11. Any damage should be reported to House staff immediately.
12. Everyone should ensure that rubbish is put in bins.
13. No pupil should be in the House during lessons without specific permission from a member of the House staff.
14. 18 certificate films are not to be shown in the House. Other videos/DVDs may be played with the House staff’s permission.
• If any of the above rules are broken a warning will be given.
• Following 2 warnings a day pupil will be given a house gating.
*Rules on alcohol, smoking and drugs are clearly explained in the Pupil and Parent Handbook. Pupils are expected to know and follow these rules. Strict observation should be made of these rules and if broken they will be dealt with swiftly with the involvement of the SMT.
There is a House Sanctions book where misdemeanours are recorded, with any action that is taken.
House colours are awarded to any pupil in School House who has gone ‘above and beyond’ the normal expectation of behaviour and involvement in school and house activities.
A badge with the House emblem is presented to the recipient of the award and may be worn on their school blazer/jacket.
Any areas outside of the school campus are considered to be out of bounds. Pupils should seek permission from a member of the house staff to access these areas and should sign out with the School Office. Any pupil accessing out of bounds areas without permission will be punished as stated in the Parent/Pupil Handbook.
The School's dress regulations are intended to ensure that pupils are dressed tidily and in a business-like fashion during the working day. Full details of current dress regulations are in the Pupil Parent Handbook.
Typically every year sees a number of Inter-House Competitions involving all year groups.
Autumn Term House Music Competition
House Debating Competition
House Hockey
Spring Term House Cross-Country
House Netball
Summer Term House Swimming Gala
Sports Day – House Athletics
House Tennis
House trips and functions also happen in conjunction with our paired house, Upper House, at least once a term. These have included: Bowling, Ice-Skating, Shopping, Paintballing, Curry nights, Quiz nights and Theatre Trips. There is also a joint house event at the end of each term. This takes the form of Wide games in the Autumn term, a Quiz night in the Spring term and a BBQ and farewell to Leavers in the Summer term.
A charge of £10 per term for Boarders and £5 for day pupils is added to the School Bill. This levy helps to finance House Trips and Parties throughout the year
If there is space available within the Boarding Houses, then your child is welcome to casually board. A letter or email with proposed dates should be sent to the Senior Houseparent. If space is available, you will be asked to complete a Casual Boarding Form, which will be e-mailed.
Further information regarding Personal Matters, School Policies and School Rules can be obtained from the Pupil and Parent Handbook.
