Houses / Tutors
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.
As one of the most influential code breakers of World War II, his cryptology intelligence is believed to have been partly responsible for the Allied victory. His work breaking the German ‘Enigma’ code led to the first early computers and the work he did at that time laid the foundations for modern computing. In 2021 he was chosen to be the person on the back of the new £50 note.
House Leader: Mr Pavitt
Nightingale House
Florence Nightingale was an English social reformer who founded modern nursing. Nightingale came to prominence while serving as a manager and trainer of nurses during the Crimean War in 1853 in which she organised care for wounded soldiers. She gave nursing a favourable reputation and became an icon of Victorian culture, especially in the persona of “The Lady with the Lamp” making rounds of wounded soldiers at night. Nightingale became an admired figure worldwide. People wanted to follow in her footsteps, and nursing grew to be considered an honourable occupation. New hospitals during the COVID pandemic were called ‘Nightingale Hospitals’ in her honour.
House Leader: Miss Knight
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.
After a glittering career as one of Britain’s most successful athletes, Jessica has used her fame to encourage girls and women everywhere to be body confident and to promote the importance of exercise and sport.House Leader: Mr Stevens
stevensc@wes.swecet.org
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.
Her defiance sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Its success launched nationwide efforts to end racial segregation of public facilities in the United States. Her bravery led to worldwide efforts to end racial segregation. Parks was awarded the Martin Luther King Jr Award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal for her civil rights work.House Leader: Mr O’Kill
okillj@wes.swecet.org
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. His TV programmes and books have changed the way we look at the planet, deal with species extinction, habit destruction, global pollution and the effects of climate change.
House Leader: Mrs Cormack