深国交有4大House 属英系命名方式，深度研究英国公学之House制度

House制度是英国公学的一个传统特征。它已超越字面上“住所、房屋”的含义和其物理性，成为教育领域中一个重要的文化概念。House制起源于公学教育的寄宿需求。学生们放学以后，住在一个大房子里，由专门人士来负责他们的起居饮食，从而组成了House。

然而，随着公学的变革发展，学术成就不再是教育的唯一目标，性格养成也成为办学的重要目的，学校不仅要培养学者，还要培养有男子气概的绅士。公学的变化和发展赋予了House制更深层次的教育意义，并把它变成英国学校教育不可分割的一部分。

House可以称为是一个学校的子单元，是一个较大社区下划分的较小一级社区。英国公学的学生在入学时被分配到一个House。各个House之间可能在包括体育比赛在内的多个方面、以多种形式相互竞争，同时每个成员都能通过自身的优异表现获得荣誉从而为其所在的House增光添彩。在现代，无论是在日校还是寄宿学校，House一词可能只指一组学生，而不是指一座特定的建筑。[1] 

相较更大的学校社区，House提供了更高的师生比，给予了学生极个性化的关怀，以及人与人之间高频的互动交流。对学生的性格养成、行为矫正、问题解决、能力培养等方面都有重要的积极影响力。能帮助学生身心健康发展, 形成独立、阳光、积极的人格。

House是公学为学生提供Pastoral Care（又译作教牧关怀）的重要阵地，这是House制度主要的目的和特点之一。Pastoral Care是一种古老的情感、社会和精神支持模式。[2] 除了基础的物理性需求，如食宿和安全保障等，学生的情感和社会性需求可以通过Pastoral Care来满足。我们可以将它理解成一种公学通过House的物理性聚集，对其收纳的学生给予的一种高强度、高专业度的人文关怀。

Pastoral Care注重孩子作为独立个体，最大限度发挥他们的价值、身份和能力，让他们在学校茁壮成长，并为他们提供今后长期幸福和成就的最大可能性。[3] Pastoral Care也是英国私立学校督察机构ISI、英国教育标准局Ofsted和高等教育品质监管局QAA检验教育质量的评分项目之一。

切特豪斯Pastoral Care关键词

图源：切特豪斯公学官网

先看看如何获得House成员资格呢？

一般情况是随机分配，主要是为了平衡和促进多样性以及学生间的交流，以达到增加竞争性的效果。有时也会根据学生的社会和情感需求，进行特殊的分配，以提供给学生最适合的同伴指导(peer mentoring). 一般来说，一个学生进入某个House之后，那么他的其他兄弟姐妹（有时候可能是子女）如果入学，将自动进入同一House；但具体情况会因学校而异。来自各个年级组的学生，由于天赋、能力、年龄以及男女同校中的性别的自然分布，聚集在一起，团结在一起，共同追求House的更高荣誉。[4]

当然，在分配过程中会有一些挑战。因为缺少J. K. Rowling笔下魔法学校分类帽的力量，学校的任务是确保在所有的House里都有能力和才能的均衡表现。理想情况下，在任何一所房子里，学生都应该代表整个学校的一个部分。 [4] 同属于一个House, 学生们能感觉到彼此之间以及与整个学校社区的联系更加紧密。House将学生划分为多个社会单位，而不是独立的实体。各自都有自己的特点和主题。不同种族、民族、年龄和学术能力的学生在一起相互影响。

有研究表明，引入House制度的学校的停课率和欺凌率显著下降，学校的学业成绩指标及考试成绩也有所提高。每个学生均有自己的House,以此培养强烈的归属感，使他们时时能为维护本House的名誉而努力。而归属感的核心就是获得团队成员的接受、关注和支持，以及向其他成员提供同样的关注。在亚伯拉罕·马斯洛(Abraham Maslow)的需求层次中，归属感是他激励人类行为的主要社会需求之一。更高的归属感往往与更高的成就联系起来。[5]

哈罗公学House分布图

图源：哈罗公学官网

House为学生在更大的社区中创建了一个小而联系密切的校内社区，在那里他们可以建立更牢固的联系和联系。House丰富了各种活动，并能为学生提供多种帮助。学生校服中包括有一个院舍领带和院舍T恤，在院舍活动期间穿着佩戴。如果院舍在比赛中取胜或获得名次，将赢得奖分。每年学年结束时，各学院的得分将汇总起来，优胜院舍将得到嘉奖。[6]

House制对于学生在学术和个人潜力方面的发展也是必不可少的，而这些方面的发展反过来又为他们的茁壮成长创造了有利环境。House本身以及彼此之间的竞争，给予了学生身份感，归属感，荣誉感，对学生的终身发展有重要意义。

各个House之间的竞争是该制度的显著特征之一。竞争的形式多样，除体育外，还有辩论，音乐，戏剧等。学生由于出色的言行和学术表现所获得的奖励也会加到House总体的得分中去，为各自的House带来荣耀。House内部和House之间会定期举办各种活动和竞赛，学生能充分参与其中，并贡献自己的力量。这些活动能有效提高学生的参与感。研究表明，从长远来看，那些积极投入并能够发挥自身优势的人会感到更快乐。参与还有助于建立身心健康和自尊。[7]

什鲁斯伯里公学的House “丘吉尔大厅”(Churchill’s Hall，以深蓝和浅蓝色为House颜色)活动

图源：什鲁斯伯里公学官网

在House中，低年级学生仰望高年级学长的言行举止，学长则照顾和支持低年级学生。高低年级学生之间的团结和情谊，这种纵向互动的影响是深远的。在减少了包括校园霸凌和一些学生行为问题的同时，不管是高年级对低年级的帮助，还是学生对教师的管理协助，都让学生更多的和同伴沟通，和教师互动，让学生在过程中得到发展领导力的机会。团队精神，兄弟情谊，以及学生领导力，因此形成并得到发展。[1]

Housemaster，中文理解为舍监。它是学校分派的House的管理者，是学生和教育者之间的强联系的主要表现形式，有利于疏导和促进学生进步。

House使密切的个人辅导成为可能。它是学校和学生家庭的重要纽带。通过它，学生家长可与子女的班主任和舍监方便地保持联系。舍监的角色能够给予学生极大的个性化关注和支持，而学生只有在觉得安全和被支持的情况下，他们的各方面表现才会更好，更有可能成长为最好的自己。

就如同House不是普通意义上的宿舍，Housemaster也和普通意义上的宿管不同。从职责上来看，他们的主要职责是领导和管理他们对应分派的House。 舍监有广泛的职责和责任，从对学生的人文关怀(pastoral care)到日常的基本维护和组织任务。他们的首要任务是照顾寄宿学生的身心健康，并作为House的家长或领导，处理寄宿生可能遇到的任何问题。舍监的身份多样，可以是学科教师，也可能是其他专门的教职人员。

从工作生活方式来看，该职位几乎总是住在House。寄宿生自己和领导他们的舍监之间培养了一种社区精神。每栋House都有自己的身份，为舍监培养了一种自豪感。他们要确保自己在House发展良好声誉和形象方面发挥重要作用。[8]

英国公学的House作为一个物理场所，在一定程度上成为了学生性格养成和能力发展的孵化器。它是课堂教育的重要、有效的辅助和补充；与传统宿舍的概念有巨大差异，是寄宿式学校培养方式的重要创新；是发展学生领导力、实践全人教育，助力学生长期健康发展的重要阵地。

通过让学生物理性地聚集，合理规划利用学生的时间，形成小规模社区；通过给予专业化的、高密度的、个性化的关注和辅导；通过制定规则、良性竞争、团队协作等途径，给予学生归属感、参与感、荣誉感等，并发展学生的领导力，团队精神和正向人格。

众多研究都显示，当孩子们真的对学校感到兴奋时，他们会更快乐，也会学到更多。学生精神层面的收获，能优化他们在学术及各个方面的表现。House制度作为英国公学的一个传统特征，对提高学生学术表现、整体素质和能力，创建更健康积极的校园环境方面都有重要的借鉴意义。

[1] “House System.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_system

[2] “Pastoral Care.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastoral_care

[3] “Wellington College International Tianjin.” Wellington College, https://www.wellingtoncollege.org.uk/wellington-family-of-schools/wccti/

[4] Tongue, David. “The House System: A Typically British Educational Institution.” Relocate Global, Relocate Magazine, 21 Sept. 2016, https://www.relocatemagazine.com/articles/education-the-house-system-a-typically-british-educational-institution

[5] Cherry, Kendra. “What Is the Sense of Belonging?” Verywell Mind, Dotdash Publishing Family, 5 Mar. 2021, https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-need-to-belong-2795393

[6] “院舍制 - Harrow International.” Harrow International, https://www.harrowbeijing.cn/about-cn/philosophy/house-system

[7] “Engagement and Positive Psychology.” Student Wellbeing | ReachOut Schools, ReachOut Australia, https://schools.au.reachout.com/articles/engagement-and-positive-psychology

[8] “Housemaster.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housemaster 

The House System is a traditional feature of schools in England. The practice has gone beyond the literal meaning of “residence and building” and its physical feature and has become an important cultural concept in the field of education. The house system originated from the boarding needs of public schools. After school, the students lived in a big house, and specialized personnel were responsible for their daily food and routines, thus forming the house.

However, with the reform and development of public schools, academic achievement is no longer the only goal of education, temperament cultivation had also become an important purpose of running schools. Schools should cultivate not only scholars, but also masculine gentlemen. The change and development of public schools endow the house system with deeper educational significance and turn it into an integral part of British school education.

House can be considered as a sub-unit of a school. It is a smaller community divided within a larger community. Public-school students are assigned to a house upon the time of admission. Houses may compete in many ways with each other, including sports competitions and many other forms. Merit points for behaviour and academic achievement may also be added up for comparison between houses. In modern times, in both day and boarding schools, the word house may refer only to a grouping of pupils, rather than to a particular building.[1]

The smaller within-school structure of the house facilitates this, by promoting personalized care, with more frequent interactions, and lower child-to-adult-care ratios, than within the wider school. It has an important positive influence on students’ character cultivation, behaviour correction, problem solving, ability training and so on. It can help students develop both physically and mentally and form an independent and positive personality.

In boarding schools, a primary purpose of the house system is to provide pastoral care to the students. Pastoral care is an ancient model of emotional, social and spiritual support that can be found in all cultures and traditions.[2] Separated from parents for long periods, children will rely on the school to fulfil their socio-emotional needs, in addition to meeting their basic physical care. The smaller within-school structure of the house facilitates this, by promoting personalized care, with more frequent interactions, and lower child-to-adult-care ratios.

Pastoral care pays great attention to children as independent individuals, give full play to their value, identity, and ability, let them thrive in school, and provide them with the greatest possibility of long-term happiness and achievement in the future.[3] It is also one of the scoring items for the inspection of education quality by ISI, Ofsted and QAA.

Charterhouse’ s pastoral care keyword

Source: Official website of Charterhouse

Let's see how house membership is obtained.

Pupils are usually assigned to houses randomly, perhaps with the aim of balancing the houses to increase competition. Sometimes the assignment is based on the social and emotional needs of the student and to ensure proper peer mentoring is enhanced with the right fit of students within a house. Traditionally, however, once a pupil has been assigned to a house, any younger siblings he or she has may automatically become members of that house when they arrive at the school, but this varies from school to school. (This tradition sometimes extends to the children of former pupils.) Once a pupil has been allocated to a house they usually stay with that house as they move up through the year groups. Students from all grades, with various talents, abilities, ages, and the natural distribution of gender in coeducation, gather and unite to pursue greater honour of the house. [4] 

Indeed, there are a few challenges. Without the power of J. K. Rowling’s magical sorting hat, staff are tasked with ensuring that there is an even representation of abilities and talents throughout the houses. Ideally, pupils should, in any one house, represent a cross-section of the whole school.[4] Creating smaller communities within the larger community where they can make stronger bonds and connections, students can feel closer to each other and to the whole school community. House divides students into multiple social units rather than independent entities. Each house has its own characteristics and themes. Students of different races, nationalities, ages, and academic abilities interact with each other. 

According to research, the house can help reduce bullying and other behavioural problems. The school’s academic performance indicators and examination results have also improved. Each student has his own house, to cultivate a strong sense of belonging, so that they can always work hard to guard the reputation of the house. It is centred on gaining acceptance, attention, and support from members of the group as well as providing the same attention to other members. In Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, belongingness is part of one of his major needs that motivate human behaviour. A higher sense of belonging is often associated with higher achievement. [5]

Harrow School’s Houses

Source: Official website of Harrow School

Such a system develops and maintains a small school atmosphere, within a large school structure. The Houses afford students a smaller, closer community within the school, and broaden the range of activities and support available. Each student’s uniform includes a House tie and House t-shirt, worn during House events. Points are awarded to Houses for winning and placing in competitions. At the end of each academic year, the number of points accumulated by each house is totalled and the ‘winning’ House is recognized. [6]

The house system is also essential for the development of students’ academic and personal potential, which in turn creates a favourable environment for their vigorous growth. House itself and the competition among them give students a sense of identity, belonging and honour, which is of great significance to students’ lifelong development.

A notable feature of house systems is the competition between houses. There are various forms of competition, in addition to sports, there are debates, music, drama and so on. Students’ awards for excellent academic performance and behaviours also be added to the overall score of the house to bring glory to their house. Various activities and competitions will be held regularly within and between houses, and students can fully participate in them and contribute their own strength. Research shows that people who are engaged and able to use their strengths will feel happier over the longer term. Engagement also helps build physical and mental wellbeing and self-esteem. [7]

House - Churchill’s Hall

Source: Official website of Shrewsbury School

In house, junior students look up to the behaviour and actions of senior students, while senior students take care of and support junior ones. The influence of this vertical interaction between high-and low-grade students is far-reaching. While reducing campus bullying and some student behaviour problems, whether it is the help of senior students to junior students or the management assistance of students to teachers, it allows students to communicate more with peers and interact with teachers, so that students can get the chance to develop leadership in the process. Other opportunities to develop leadership skills arise from the patterns established by the house system. Team spirit, brotherhood, and students’ leadership are formed and developed.[1]

The Housemaster’s primary role is leading and running their boarding house. Their top priority is caring for their boarders’ physical and mental well-being, and they do this by getting to know their charges, guiding them daily and offering them support and advice.

House makes close personal coaching and care possible. It is an important link between school and students’ families. Through it, students’ parents can easily keep in touch with their children’s head teachers and housemasters. The role of Housemaster can give students personalized attention and support, and students will perform better in all aspects and are more likely to grow into the best version of themselves only when they feel safe and supported.

Just as a house is not an ordinary dormitory, the housemaster is also different from the dormitory officer. The Housemaster’s primary role is leading and running their boarding house. The Housemaster has a vast range of duties and responsibilities, ranging from the pastoral care of their boarders to everyday basic maintenance, laundry, and organizational tasks. The Housemaster acts as the parent or leader of the house and deals with any problem the boarders may have. The Housemaster additionally may be a teacher, sports coach, cadet forces instructor, or in faith schools a member of the clergy.

The post is almost always residential. Community spirit fosters between the boarders themselves and the Housemaster leading them. Regardless of the name, with each house having an identity, a sense of pride develops for the Housemaster. Many houses are known for certain attributes or characteristics. The Housemaster will have an important part in ensuring the good reputation and image that their house develops.[8]

As a place, the house of public schools has become an incubator for students’ character cultivation and ability development to a certain extent. It is an important and effective supplement to classroom education; It is an important innovation in the training methods of boarding school; It is an important site for developing students’ leadership, practising whole person education philosophy, and realizing students' long-term and healthy development.

By allowing students to physically gather and plan students’ leisure time, a small-scale community is formed; By giving professional, intensive and personalized attention, and guidance; by setting up rules, benign competition and teamwork, public schools can render students a sense of belonging, participation, and honour, and develop students’ leadership, team spirit and positive personality.

According to series research, when kids are really excited about school, they are happier, and they tend to learn more. Mental health and strong mentality of students leads to better academic performance and help students reap rewards in many other aspects. As a traditional feature of public schools in England, It is a great reference for learning how to improve students’ academic performance, overall ability, and create a healthier and positive campus environment.

[1] “House System.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_system.

[2] “Pastoral Care.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastoral_care.

[3] “Wellington College International Tianjin.” Wellington College, https://www.wellingtoncollege.org.uk/wellington-family-of-schools/wccti/.

[4] Tongue, David. “The House System: A Typically British Educational Institution.” Relocate Global, Relocate Magazine, 21 Sept. 2016, https://www.relocatemagazine.com/articles/education-the-house-system-a-typically-british-educational-institution.

[5] Cherry, Kendra. “What Is the Sense of Belonging?” Verywell Mind, Dotdash Publishing Family, 5 Mar. 2021, https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-need-to-belong-2795393.

[6] “院舍制 - Harrow International.” Harrow International, https://www.harrowbeijing.cn/about-cn/philosophy/house-system.

[7] “Engagement and Positive Psychology.” Student Wellbeing | ReachOut Schools, ReachOut Australia, https://schools.au.reachout.com/articles/engagement-and-positive-psychology.

[8] “Housemaster.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housemaster.