The House System

Epsom has always been a boarding and day school whose ethos is based strongly on the house system. Currently there are 7 boys' and 5 girls' single sex houses. Each is fully self-contained with its own common room, games room, library and changing rooms. Each is run by a senior member of staff, the Housemaster or Housemistress, who in turn runs a team of tutors each responsible for a small group of pupils.

There are around 60 pupils in each house and on average a dozen to each year. In each house, pupils in their first year share common areas whether for study or sleeping accommodation, thus accelerating a social mix and promoting community living. Thereafter, small study bedrooms and individual workspaces are provided. All Houses have networked computers and each pupil has a private e-mail address.

Academic life has its focus in the classroom, laboratory and library. College sport, music, drama and activities bring pupils into contact with a wide variety of other boys and girls within the College. Life in the house, however, is designed to bring together the immediate and enduring group of friends who are members of that House. Many of the longest lasting friendships are made this way, whether for boys or girls, day or boarding.

Day pupils go home each evening after 6.00 pm (3.00 pm on Saturday). Day Boarders are members of a Boarding House. They stay for supper and prep at school until 9.15pm, returning home thereafter. Weekly Boarders go home after games on a Saturday to return on Sunday evening. Full Boarders generally stay at school throughout the term but may spend time at weekends with the parents of their friends. In all cases there is considerable flexibility to allow for the changing circumstances of families.

Boys' Boarding Houses:

Fayrer, Forest, Granville and Holman

Girls' Boarding Houses:

Crawfurd and Wilson

Boys' Day Houses:

Carr, Propert and Robinson

Girls' Day Houses:

Raven and Rosebery

6th Form Girls' Day and Boarding:

White House