House Captains

Bexley Grammar School’s House System comprises six Houses: Collins (red), Johnson (blue), Kirkman (yellow), Mabbs (purple), Prothero (green) and Wellman (orange). All Houses are named after prominent teachers from the School’s history. All members of staff are assigned a House.

The House Year runs from the start of the academic Summer Term until the end of the following Spring Term. The House Cup is presented at the Annual House Showcase in the last week of Spring Term. Each House has a member of staff who acts as ‘Head of House’ with two appointed Senior House Captains and a team of House Captains and Assistant House Captains to organise events throughout the House Year.

The Houses compete in a variety of House competitions; sporting events, cookery to name a few with the biggest being House Drama & Dance and House Music. These two events are a clear demonstration of the level of commitment and effort the House Captains and students put in each year.

House Assemblies are held bi-weekly with House Form time in the alternate weeks. During this time mini competitions, House Captains lead discussions and debates, fun activities and the Jack Petchey Award system. Both Assembly and House Form time are an opportunity for the School Council to communicate and present ideas with new links closely formed between the two.

The House system promotes inclusion and community throughout the school and allows students to gain experience in leadership and healthy competition.

The House Captains are the face of each House and to that end they are the students that the younger pupils will look up to. The role of House Captain is extremely rewarding although hard work at times. It will help develop many useful skills and give invaluable experience for later in life. Any successful House will only be as good as their captains. 

The following are some of the expectations for the role:

• Captains should always behave in the manner befitting a student of BGS.

• Students should be aware that academic deadlines must be met whilst fulfilling the role of House Captain.

• Captains will have to spend time visiting their House forms to pick teams and organise rehearsals, etc… Team sheets must be shared with the House Leader before the start of an event.

• Captains must be aware of all rules, breakdown of the mark allocation and guidelines for all House events

• Captains should always wear the correct uniform in accordance with the BGS rules but also appropriate PE kit when helping with sport events.

• Captains have to meet their Head of House regularly and hence need to be aware of the importance of their own time management.

• Captains have to check their emails regularly for correspondence from staff.

• Captains will need to meet with PE Staff in advance of House Sport competitions, usually once per half term.

• Captains will have to organise and run rehearsals and practices. These can only be carried out with the permission of the Head of House. A register must be kept for all rehearsals, shared with Reception and the relevant Head of House. No rehearsals can go ahead without the permission of the Head of House. Pupils may only miss school run clubs/ensembles to attend official House rehearsals 2 weeks prior to the House event so careful scheduling is required.

•  During some events House Captains will have to help their Head of House collect valuables and re-distribute them back to the pupils after the event.

• Sports based events involve a lot of pupils and House Captains should be aware that they are needed at these events to help the PE department with managing teams, keeping their House quiet, explaining the rules, and refereeing/umpiring. Please ensure the correct kit is worn by House Captains and competitors.