House Handbook Upper House 2021/2022
Information to Parents and Guardians
Contents Page 3
Welcome to Upper House
Page 4
Contacts
Page 5
House Staff
Page 5
Prefects
Page 6
House Routines and Rules
Page 7
House Arrangements
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Welcome to Upper House Upper House will be your son’s base at Kingswood. It is where Registration, House Assemblies and other events take place. Upper is well known for its friendly and welcoming atmosphere. It is where boys can store their personal belongings, relax with friends and also do their prep. I hope that your son enjoys his time in the House and considers himself to be part of Upper long after he has left Kingswood.
Aims of the House Handbook
Upper House dates back to 1895 and derives its name from the old dormitory block where the three houses, Lower, Middle and Upper, were to be found. Upper House was based on the top floor where the New Exam Hall is now located. Upper is now located in the main school, at lower ground level, in the space that used to be called the Piazza. The Day House has 100 boys from Year 9 to Upper Sixth and a team of 10 tutors. Upper is paired with the girls’ School House for events and for House Entertainment.
All parents should receive a copy of the Kingswood ‘Pupil and Parent Handbook’ which contains essential information on all aspects of school organisation, rules, dress codes, etc. If you have not received a copy, please contact the School Office.
The aim of this handbook is to clarify the arrangements relevant to your son as a member of Upper House. It is not intended to replace the other school publications which you will receive.
Please get in touch with me if you would like more information or explanation. Mr Roger White
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Contacts Official House address:
Upper House Kingswood School Lansdown Road Bath BA1 5RG
Upper House Mobile:
07914 286251
Upper Office:
01225 734427
Senior Housemaster, Upper House:
Mr Roger White (rwhite@kingswood.bath.sch.uk)
I have been Senior Housemaster since September 2015 and I am responsible for the running of the House. I teach Mathematics, and I assist with Hockey and Tennis activities in addition to other games commitments. Mr Barney Stuttard, Teacher of Geography, is Deputy Housemaster and between us we oversee the House during the day. I am available at any time between 7.00am and 7.00pm and at any time in an emergency. If you are unable to contact me during the day, messages can be given to the School Office or there is a message service on the Upper Office phone. Mr Roger White (Senior Housemaster)
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House Staff
Upper Prefects
Upper Tutor Team
Head of Upper House: Oliver
The Upper Tutor Team is completed by:
1.
The Head of House is the Senior House Prefect. As such, he should set an outstanding example to the other Prefects and to the House in general in his conduct, dress and dedication to the good of the House.
2.
The Head of House is responsible to the Housemaster for the good order of the House, and it is his duty to see that anything untoward is brought to the attention of the Housemaster.
3.
He draws up rotas for the duty Prefects covering the House and allocates jobs when the House is on main school duty, in liaison with the Head of School House.
4.
He attends meetings of the School PR and aims to represent the views of the House.
5.
Chairs School Council on rotation with other Heads of Houses.
6.
He liaises with the Head of School House to arrange events.
7.
He assigns captains of Upper House teams, in liaison with the Housemaster.
8.
He acts as head of his Dixon corridor and affords as much assistance as he can to Dixon Staff.
9.
Decides on the House charity with Housemaster and organises any associated events or assemblies.
Mr Stephen Brown Head of Art (sbrown@kingswood.bath.sch.uk) Mr Dan Darwin Head of History and Politics (ddarwin@kingswood.bath.sch.uk) Mr Oliver East Teacher of Design Technology (oeast@kingswood.bath.sch.uk) Mr Phil Holywell Teacher of Games (pholywell@kingswood.bath.sch.uk) Mr Jamie Matthews Assistant Head (Pastoral) (jmatthews@kingswood.bath.sch.uk) Mr Pete MacDonald Assistant Head (Academic) (pmacdonald@kingswood.bath.sch.uk) Miss Amy Murtagh Teacher of Religion, Philosophy and Ethics (amurtagh@kingswood.bath.sch.uk) Mr Will Musgrove Teacher of Physics (wmusgrove@kingswood.bath.sch.uk)
10. Organises House assemblies for main school when required.
As a tutor team, we supervise the academic progress, extra-curricular involvements and general pastoral needs of all of the boys in the House. In the first place, it is your son’s tutor who deals with matters arising, and I would ask you to contact them directly by email. For issues of routine and registration, such as absences and requests for early departure, please contact me, Roger White. For all other matters I am very happy to be involved alongside, or in addition to, the relevant tutor.
11. Organises House Music with Deputy Head of House. 12. Spends significant time in Upper House getting to know all of the pupils in the House. Deputy Head of Upper House: Alexander The Deputy Head of House supports the work of the Head of House and deputises for him when necessary.
Each Tutor has responsibility for up to 12 boys and they will email parents early in the Autumn Term to introduce themselves and to establish lines of contact.
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Upper Senior Prefects:
Caleb Tom Fergus Jonny
Kingswood Head Boy:
This year, the Head Boy is Upper’s Jamie.
House Routines and Rules House Routine
Upper House Rules
If your son is absent owing to illness or other circumstances, please email registration registration@kingswood.bath.sch.uk with a copy to me rwhite@kingswood.bath.sch.uk Or telephone the main school office on 01225 734200 as soon as possible.
•
Entry to Housemaster’s office is by invitation only.
•
Members of other Houses to be in Upper House Common Room by invitation only.
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No changing in the House.
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All damage to be reported to the Housemaster straight away.
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All forms of anti-social behaviour, severely frowned upon – including excessive noise.
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Mobile phones may not be used at the times given on posters in the House
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Normal School rules apply in the House.
The School is required to keep detailed and accurate registers and documentary evidence is required from parents to cover every period of absence. Registration takes place at 8.25am every morning and your help and co-operation are appreciated in ensuring that your son arrives in Upper by 8.20am. Please inform me in advance of any planned absence such as medical or dental appointments and also send requests for any other type of absence as early as possible. Morning registration will be followed by either tutorial time or assembly depending upon the year group and the day of the week. The earliest time of departure for pupils in Years 9, 10 and 11 is 5.30pm. If for any reason your son has to leave before this time, I need to have written notification from parents. All pupils must sign out in the school office if they need to leave school before 4.20pm. Otherwise, each pupil must sign out personally in the House at 5.30pm, before leaving school. Pupils may stay for supper and/or prep by prior arrangement with Mr Stuttard at morning registration. Upper pupils who stay for supper and prep will do their prep under supervision, in the Library, with pupils from Hall House. If required, temporary boarding can usually be arranged in either Middle or Hall House, depending upon capacity. Please contact me by email in this case.
House Sanctions All of the usual School sanctions apply in the House but, in addition, a number of House sanctions are applied if the House rules are broken. Boys are expected to pay for any damage caused in the House although any such request will involve direct contact between the Housemaster and parents. Boys may be excluded from the House if their behaviour falls below expected standards, the length of this exclusion will depend on the seriousness of the offence.
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House Arrangements The House Fund
House Events
The House facilities include a television, table tennis table, table football and a kitchen for House entertainment. A number of Upper House social events take place during the course of the year. The School provides each House with a small allowance to help towards the cost of these, but I also have to apply a small House levy of £5.00 per term from each boy, which is added to the School account.
Typically, every year sees a number of inter-house competitions and other events involving all yeargroups. Some trips and functions happen in conjunction with our paired house, School House. Photos of events can be found on the house blog http://kingswood-upper-house.blogspot.com Autumn Term • • • •
Valuables Personal money and articles of considerable value pose security problems. Laptops, tablets and mobile phones are allowed in School but borrowing and lending are discouraged and the owner must be entirely responsible for his own property. Please note that the school does not provide insurance for valuable items. Every boy in Years 9 to 11 will have at least one locker for all possessions and valuables. They are strongly encouraged to secure them with their own padlocks and to get into the habit of using them in order to avoid the frustration of having to search for missing kit. I can take care of spare keys in case the main key is lost. Years 12 and 13 keep their possessions in their Study in the Dixon Sixth Form Centre.
Spring Term • • • •
• • •
Medical Centre Health and medical needs are dealt with in the Medical Centre. kingswoodmc@kingswood.bath.sch.uk
Tel:
01225 734483
House Cross-country House Hockey Upper Sixth Curry Evening (with School House) Easter Quiz (with School House)
Summer Term
Please ensure that your son uses a kit bag to bring sports clothes to school and that all of your son’s clothing is clearly labelled so that we can return lost items.
Email:
House Music competition (with School House) House Rugby Ice Skating (with School House) Wide Game (with School House)
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House Swimming Galas Sports Day – House Athletics. End of Year House Entertainment
