Houses
The school houses have evolved since the school was founded. Originally, there were three houses named after local landowners and historic ‘lords of the manor’. They were Bruyn, Rokell and Warren. A few years after the school opened, a 4th house was added with the introduction of Whitmore House. The Whitmore’s were another influential landowning family who lived in Orsett Hall until the mid-20th Century. In 2021, the decision was taken to introduce a fifth house because the size of the school had grown significantly and this would give house teams additional capacity to support pupils. At the same time, it was felt that the names of the houses needed updating and that pupils wanted house names that they felt a connection to. Consequently, the school community chose Attenborough, Turing, Ennis-Hill, Nightingale & Parks.
Turing House
Alan Turing was a British mathematician who has since been acknowledged as one the most innovative and powerful thinkers of the 20th Century.
Nightingale House
Florence Nightingale was an English social reformer who founded modern nursing. New hospitals during the COVID pandemic were called ‘Nightingale Hospitals’ in her honour.
Ennis-Hill House
Dame Jessica-Ennis-Hill, inspired millions in the summer of 2012 when she won gold in the Heptathlon at the London Olympics. Ennis-Hill is a strong role-model and her grit, strength and determination, inspired a nation to get active.
Parks House
Rosa Parks was an American civil rights activist who refused to surrender her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus in Alabama in 1955.
Attenborough House
Sir David Attenborough has inspired millions by bringing the natural world into our homes. He has transformed the way we look at natural history and, in the process, has alerted millions across the globe to the beauty and fragility of the planet on which they live.