The House System
In 2012 the House System was revamped and reintroduced to the school after many years of absence. There are 6 Houses, all named for inspirational women who have had a lasting impact in their respective fields.
Charlotte Bronte: Literary role model who wrote Jane Eyre in a time when women authors were ignored or frowned upon.
House Leader: Mrs. E. Almond
Colour: Purple
Marie Curie: The only women to win 2 Nobel Prizes in the different fields of physics and chemistry.
House Leader: Ms. T. Clift
Colour: Dark blue
Audrey Hepburn: Academy Award winning actress, fashion icon and Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF.
House Leader: Mrs. A. Moran
Colour: Turquoise
Helen Keller: The first deaf-blind person to be awarded a BA degree. An outspoken political activist and author.
House Leader: Mrs. A. Woods
Colour: Burgundy
Emmeline Pankhurst: Head of the Suffragette movement who campaigned for women’s rights.
House Leader: Mr. G. Whittle
Colour: Orange
Mary Seacole: A British-Jamaican nurse who set up a hospital behind the lines in the Crimean War.
House Leader: Mrs. H. Clarke
Colour: Yellow
All pupils are assigned to a house when they join the school in year 7 and stay in that House throughout their time in school. Coloured lanyards, button badges and stickers on diaries, all identify which House a pupil is in, as each House has its own colour. All achievement points which pupils earn count towards the total for their own House.
Points may be awarded for:
- Excellent effort and contributions in class
- Following the ‘Greenbank Way’ correctly
- Having the right equipment/uniform
- Attendance & punctuality
- Extra-curricular activities
- Service to school and members of the school community
- Leadership
- Partaking in specialised school events/competitions
House Leaders are supported by girls who volunteer to help. House Captains in Year 11 and Vice-House Captains in all other year groups play a big role in making sure events and activities happen, provide ideas and support, take part in assemblies and act as role models to the rest of the school.
Through the year, there are events held which all pupils have the opportunity to join in and work together as a House and compete to earn extra points.
These include:
- House Talent Show
- Inter- House Sports
- Times Table Rock Stars
- Creative Writing Competition
- Poetry Competition
- Bake Off
- Topical quizzes during PDT
- Wacky Races
Points very quickly accumulate and every half term up until Easter, during regular House assemblies, certificates and prizes are awarded to the pupils who have gained the most points for their House by year group. At the end of the year in July, final prizes are awarded to the overall House Champions and the House Cup is presented to the House with the winning total. Pupils in that House enjoy an afternoon off timetable and treats as reward for all their hard work over the previous months.
A massive part of the House system is raising funds for charity. Each House chooses its own to support. Some stay the same annually, but some of the Houses choose to change on a yearly basis and it is the girls themselves who decide on this.
At present they include:
- Marie Curie Cancer Care with Queenscourt Hospice (Curie)
- UNICEF (Hepburn)
- Guide Dogs for the Blind (Keller)
- Purple for Polio (Pankhurst)
Fund raising can be individual to each House or sometimes a joint venture. All are aware that every penny they raise can make a difference, but over recent years thousands of pounds have been raised and very gratefully received by the nominated charities.
Fund raising activities may include:
- Sales of cakes/pancakes/popcorn/lollies/ice pops etc.
- Sponsored events (skipping, runs, etc.)
- Tombola
- Raffles
- Discos for lower school
- Colour Run
New ideas are always welcome and considered.