SENIOR SCHOOL HOUSE REPORTS

The 2020-21 academic year has seen the launch of our new pastoral House System, with all four Houses - Way, Thorne, Pollard and Ruddle - now becoming co-educational, and Pollard and Ruddle, the two boarding houses, now being home to both day and boarding pupils during the school day. Each House has a new common room in the Quad, creating a family feel where pupils of all ages can mix within their houses.

Although Covid-19 has meant that this hasn’t quite gone according to the original plan (pupils have had to stay within their ‘bubble’ areas and the purchase of furniture and other equipment for the common rooms had to be put on hold temporarily!) - the new system has gone down well with our pupils. During the lockdown in early 2021 we held weekly house challenges, which included photography, baking, upcycling, den building and a ‘House Miles’ Strava Challenge, not forgetting our ‘real life’ competitions, including various sporting challenges, the ‘Bake Off’ competitions, the Inter-House Song and, of course, Sports Day!

At the time of writing, the winning House for 2020-21 had not been announced - but well done to everyone for your teamwork and dedication to your Houses - you’ve all been brilliant and we look forward to a more ‘normal’ year in 2021-22!

POLLARD HOUSE

The 2020-2021 academic year will go down as one of the strangest in living memory. Social distancing, remote learning, Covid testing and “The Lockdown part 3”. In a year where we hoped to unite seamlessly below yellow and black flags as the reinvented Pollard House, we were instead ushered along between yellow and black tape!

For the first time in Pollard House’s history, it is now a coeducation house as well as a boys boarding house. This increased diversity has been exciting to watch and the house is well on its way to developing an identity as a community who are ready to get stuck into whatever school life throws in its direction.

To support our pupils in both boarding and school, Pollard has welcomed a whole new pastoral team into its ranks. In the boarding house, Ms Woods has joined us as Senior Matron and Mr Wilson has joined us as resident boarding tutor and tutor to Form 3. A dedicated team of tutors have mentored and encouraged our pupils throughout the year. Mr Pomroy as tutor to Forms 1 & 2, Mrs Parker as tutor to Form 4, Mr Quance (a Pollardardian in his time as a pupil at the school), as tutor to Form 5, and Mr Drake as tutor to the Sixth Form. I would like to thank them all for the support and care they have given every Pollard pupil across the year. It is their hard work which has made Pollard House the community it is.

Eden was elected the first Head of House in this new era, representing the House on the school Sanctuary team. Eden has done a sterling job of representing what it means to be a true Pollardian; encapsulating the school values of courage, confidence, courtesy, curiosity, compassion and creativity. He has also had the privilege of making it onto the final spot of our original House honours board which details some 90 years of Pollard history. We are very much looking forward to unveiling our next board and watching the next generation of Pollardians make it onto its roll.

Although the activities timetable has been somewhat hindered over the past 12 months, Pollard have still managed to secure some notable successes in house competition. The year got off to a fantastic start with a team victory in September’s mixed sports day and was quickly followed up by triumphs in both middle school and junior hockey. Individual victories in events such as the lockdown photography challenge, won by Emilia, the world book day toilet roll change, won by Susanah, and the junior bake off, won by Isobel. We also secured victories in two of the biggest school events of the year. Our enthusiasm and togetherness took our rendition of Rick Astley’s “Never gonna give you up” to the top spot in the inter-house song competition at Christmas. Outstanding individual performances from Sophie-May (F4), Ringo (F4) and Connor (L6) also helped us on our way to victory in the inter-house sports day although it was our collaborative efforts and whole House participation that stole the day. The range of events that Pollard has found success in is proof of the depth of talent we are privileged to have in our House.

We could not end this year without reflecting on the Covid-19 pandemic. It has provided many challenges. However, any challenge overcome, heeds massive benefits for those involved, and this year has certainly provided this opportunity in spades. As I spoke about in my chapel earlier in the year, despite being undoubtedly testing at times, remote education provided a continuation of learning and the chance to develop some impressive life skills. Communication, digital editing, self motivation, determination and adaptability. This is an impressive array of personal qualities and is by no means an exhaustive list. These are all things which Pollard pupils have earnt the right to sing about in any future applications.

Finally, I would like to thank the rest of our Pollard community for their contributions. All the support staff who look after every waking need of our house members, the parents who support our pupils in all their school challenges and all the pupils who make Pollard House the unique, and inspiring community it is. Enjoy your summer break; you’ve earnt it!

Mr. Deakes Pollard House Master

RUDDLE HOUSE

The academic year of 2020/21 was always going to be an interesting one. We had our first taste of life in a pandemic during the Trinity term of 2020, so when we returned to school in September - now as a co-educational day and boarding house - for the start of the new academic year, we were very aware that we would need to be adaptable and responsive to various challenges that would inevitably be thrown our way.

Over the past academic year we were presented with many hurdles. Some of our residential pupils decided to return home in November due to rising concerns about the global pandemic. Although these pupils did not return for the remainder of the year, I applaud their commitment to online learning.

We also had to go into lockdown as a boarding house on a couple of occasions whilst waiting for Covid-19 test results (thankfully all came back negative!) There is no doubt that spirits remained high (most of the time!) and this was thanks to the outstanding attitude of the boarding team - my sincere gratitude to them all, but in particular to Miss Taylor, Miss Richardson and Miss Earl as the residential Ruddle team.

As a co-ed day and boarding house in its first year, I was delighted with the commitment and enthusiasm of all of our Ruddle pupils. Lead by Head of House Laura, and supported by Head Girl Poppy and Prefects George, Charlie and Jude the house came together even through the year group bubbles that had to operate throughout the school and house. A particular highlight was during the interhouse relay where pupils of all ages came and supported each other!

Competing against the other four houses during the in-school events, I was very happy to finish second in the Saturday sports day, the junior house cricket, middles house hockey, Form 5 bake off, junior crossfit and the junior hockey. I was delighted that we won the middles house rugby and 6th Form bake off. We finished third, behind Pollard and Way in the House Song competition at Christmas, although I thought our routine was very creative - performed brilliantly by everyone in the Quad, showing our character and imagination!

I would like to thank the academic tutor team, Mrs Vassilaki, Miss Richardson, Mr Oxenham, Mrs Shamsolahi and Mrs Aliberti. As non-residential boarding tutors who spend one evening a week in the house, their commitment to the house and the boarding girls has been outstanding. It has been a pleasure to watch the girls’ confidence grow and see them make such progress through the support of such a dedicated team. My thanks also to the housekeeping, catering and maintenance teams for keeping us clean, fed and fully operational.

The world will reflect back on the year 2020/21, but I hope that as a house we will do so without too much bad feeling. There have, of course, been difficult times, but as a house and as a school I firmly believe we have grown stronger and more resilient due to how we have had to adapt. Some of my fondest memories are the communal feeling of serving and eating meals ‘in house’, inventing a game in the common room or garden with the girls to pass yet another evening of lockdown or responding to an online learning request and watching that ‘lightbulb’ moment through a screen during lockdown - regardless of the actual miles between student and teacher.

‘Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient. This is one of my favourite quotes by Dr. Steve Maraboli and I am confident this is the case for pupils in Ruddle House this year.

Mr Sanders Ruddle House Master

THORNE HOUSE

As part of the new House system, Thorne House has remained a coeducational day House including pupils from Form 1 to the Upper Sixth. It has been a somewhat strange start for the new system given the trials and tribulations of the Covid-19 pandemic, but the challenging circumstances that have affected us all over the past year have not prevented the development of a renewed sense of identity and belonging within the Thorne House community. Online and blended learning have become part and parcel of education this academic year, yet the enthusiasm and willingness to take on the challenges presented by these changes by all ‘Thorneites’ has been hugely impressive.

The new House system has meant the establishment of new pastoral teams dedicated to supporting the pupils within these new communities. It has been a privilege to lead the group of experienced and energetic tutors, who have been crucial in supporting not only the Thorne tutees within their care, but also myself! Thorne Sixth Form have been ably supported under the tutelage of Mr. Rogers, our Form 5 pupils have been guided by Mrs Burges, the Form 3 and 4 members of Thorne have been lead by the formidable team of Mr. Banyard and Mrs Davey, whilst our most junior members of the House in Forms 1 and 2 have been welcomed into the new Thorne House by Mr. Parker and Dr. Fox. The help and support of the tutors has been greatly appreciated by all members of Thorne House – a very big thank you to all of you indeed. The new House system has also seen the beginning of a new line of Sanctuary leaders within each House. Thorne House has opened this with Archie at the helm and Archie has been supported in his duties by Fin, Connor and Jess as his deputies. As a prefect team, all have offered support and guidance to their peers, as well as providing some much needed light relief in what has been a challenging year! My thanks go to all members of the prefect team for their efforts this year.

Despite the challenges of this academic year, Thorne House has excelled in creating a collaborative atmosphere and in working together to try and achieve great things as a group. Leading the Inter House Cup competition at the end of the Michaelmas term is testament to the togetherness and hardworking approach that has been exhibited by all ‘Thorneites’ this year. Numerous successes have been achieved throughout the House in activities and events which have showcased the talents of the pupils within Thorne. Notable performances have come from the Form 1 and 2 boys, who were victorious in all things sport related, as well as success in the kitchen for Evelyne, Rowan, Ollie and Will in the ‘bubbled’ House Bake Off competitions!

All in all, this year has proved to be a great one for bringing the members of Thorne House together as a community. I have observed with great pride the way in which all of our members have worked together and supported each other in the toughest of circumstances, from staff to pupils, there is a real sense of belonging developing as part of the new House structure, which I believe sets us up perfectly for sustained success in the future!

Mr. Law Thorne House Master.

WAY HOUSE

Having been a member of Way House since I started at Shebbear College in 2004, I was delighted to take on the reins as Way House Mistress at the launch of the new house system in 2020. Ably assisted by a team of tutors (Mr Clewley, Mr Trask, Mr Barlow, Mrs Body and Mrs Garnett) , in Way we pride ourselves on our inclusive attitude and high standards of behaviour. Having Mr Barlow in the Way House team has meant our common room was well decorated from the start and the installation of some fantastic art work has made it a welcoming meeting space.

At Christmas we said goodbye to Mr Trask as he departed for pastures new, but not before we all joined together to sing S Club 7’s’ Reach for the stars’ in the house song contest, being placed second (although we actually finished last in terms of house points at the end of the Michaelmas Term, a bit of a disappointment!). As lockdown forced us all to stay at home, Way pupils were not daunted and set about entering the house competitions with gusto. Cakes were baked, shelters were built and lego landmarks were created. That, coupled with a great accumulation of house points, saw Way House soar into the lead at the end of the Lent term. We also welcomed Mr Giles into the Way House family at Christmas and his dedicated approach has been much valued by his Form 5 tutees.

I wish to thank the Way House prefects this year. They have been led by Head of House, Bridget who was supported by Deputy, Cameron, Kynan, Bella and Nathan, who have, at all times, been helpful and utterly dependable. They are fantastic role models and have taken assemblies which I am sure have inspired the younger pupils, as well as providing the house with a bit of respite from my voice!

Way House is the only house to have its own motto ‘Vit Via Vi’ which means the way is forged by strength. As we have journeyed through this strangest of years, we have tried to remember this in our everyday life and endeavored to be a little bit better each day. As we move into our preparations for the 2021/22 academic year, I would like to wish our Upper Sixth the very best as they move on to university. We look forward to welcoming a host of new pupils into Way House in September where they will gain a school family who will nurture them and support them in becoming the very best they can be.

Mrs Cardoo Way House Mistress