The House system feels like the glue that holds Pate's together. It is front and centre in school life, an identity, an extended family and a constant presence as each student moves through the school. It is a feature of life from the moment a student accepts their school place and is allocated their form group, assigning them to one of the five houses - Beaufort, Gloucester, Pembroke, Richmond or York. Students in Years 11 and 13 are appointed as mentors for pupils lower down the school, providing new and younger pupils with an invaluable support network as they settle in. Each form group takes it in turns to organise and present a weekly house assembly and students of all ages are encouraged to take on a leadership role and assist in the running of their house, either as a Form Rep, Year 11 Mentor or Year 13 House Official.

Twelve new Year 13 House Officials have just been chosen for each house - two Heads, two Deputy Heads, Media rep, two Year 7 links and one link for each of the Years 8-12. The position of House Official is one of the most significant and challenging leadership positions for students at Pate's today and there is a rigorous application process to follow. There is much for these officials  to be involved in and we wish them luck and lots of fun for the year ahead! There are lots of activities in which students can represent their house, some more fiercely contested than others but all within an atmosphere of friendly competition. The biggest cheers are perhaps reserved for House Music and Drama, events which neatly bookend the Pate's year. There is something for everyone in the list of house events for 2021-2022:

House Music
House Art
House Bake Off
Senior House Public Speaking 
Year 7 House Chess
House Dance
House Swimming Gala
House Chess Years 8-13
Senior House University Challenge (12&13) 
Middle School House Public Speaking (10&11) 
Lower School House Public Speaking (8&9) 
Sports day
House Drama