Webster Boys is mainly comprised of those students living closest to the school, and as a result is one of the largest houses.  The Head of House is the Rev. D.Cook, and Grant Rousseau is House Captain for 2010-11. In many of our activities we work closely with Webster Girls – no surprise, for the same families are often represented in both Houses.

During the Autumn term the two Webster Houses produce jointly a House Play, directed by and with a cast made up of members of the Houses.  Later in the same term we share a joint Christmas party with formal dress, dinner, and disco which has always proved popular.  That same evening, our parents join for a wine and cheese party in the Performing Arts Centre – again a popular event.  In the Easter Term we combine to organize Webster Evening – a night of entertainment and dining for the parents.  All student members of the House are involved in serving food or in singing and other performances, while the House Staff host and man the bar.  This event usually raises a significant sum for the Lenten Appeal Charities.

At the end of the Easter term, all Webster Boys are involved in the Inter-House Singing Competition (aka the `House Shout’), recently with repeated success, though some uncharitably suggest that more effort has occasionally been dedicated to the choreography than to the singing.  Well, they would, wouldn’t they?

A welcome addition to the Summer Term has been the Webster Boys Barbecue, usually well received, whatever the weather, and whether or not we have managed to swim as well as eat.  This is attended by staff and students alike, and is another activity developing and demonstrating a strong bond within the House.  This sense of commitment is evident and a great advantage during inter-House events.  Increasingly we seek to promote a model in which the boys feel ownership in the House in its social and sporting activities, supported by the staff through pastoral and academic guidance.

Webster House assemblies are usually overseen by the Head of House and the House Captain, but each year group in turn is encouraged to make presentations to the House, building confidence and familiarity within the House.  The House Council meets fortnightly, under the chairmanship of the House Captain, with representatives from all years to ensure that attention can be given to the views and ideas of members of the House at all levels.

Webster tutors are a diverse and helpful ranger of very experienced staff and the current team is the Rev. D Cook, Mr Fairey, Mr Gunn, Mr Hamilton and Mr Sorensen  These tutors hope to be encouraging and cooperative, always ready to give advice to any students and to communicate or meet with parents.

House Captain: Grant Rousseau, Deputy House Captain: Phil Baker

Webster Boys continues to be a successful and popular House.  The boys feel safe and secure, and acknowledge they get good individual support from their tutors.  The boys and the staff show a strong House spirit and the easy mixing between years helps to strengthen this House pride.  The House works well with Webster Girls, especially for its social events and may be looking to strengthen this link via joint e-mailed newsletters to parents.  Rev Cook remains the strong role model, with his fine knowledge of the individuals within his house, both pupil and staff, and his care for each individual.  He leads by example rather than by asking for support, and the House succeeds due to this care for the individual and inherent expectation that all will “do their bit”.  The tutors are all strong individuals who know their tutees well and spend time and effort ensuring each one is well supported, both academically and pastorally.  A few matters have arisen which should be discussed and could form part of the next House Improvement Plan.  These include:

• Continue to review House Assembly programme by continued use of pupil-led assemblies, but with more guidance from relevant tutors on how to make the most of the ideas the boys have.  Maybe each assembly should aim to give a message to the House?
• Consider extending the buddy system for those new to the House, especially those boys who join in years other than year 9, to speed their feeling of belonging to the House and to support their first few weeks in school
• Continue to work with other HODs to enlarge the extra-curricular side of school, especially more football
• Work to build team spirit within the team of tutors, via regular meetings and sharing of ideas and good practice.

Jo Taylor
November 2009.