House System

Key to life at Chesham Prep is the house system.

Our four school houses, Aylward, Attenborough, Nightingale and Stevenson, are each named after pioneering individuals who possess the strengths, abilities, gifts and talents that inspire future generations of children. Each House fundraises throughout the year to make donations to a selected house charity.

Children are allocated to and remain part of one of the four school Houses from Reception until Year 6. Vertical tutor groups are held for House meetings and House events engendering an “across the years” experience for pupils with senior prep pupils showing the way and encouraging younger house members. We ensure families, including Alumni, are in the same house.

Rivalry between Houses is healthily competitive, and centres around the rewards system for House points. These are awarded for many acts of kindness (such as helping others, politeness) and achievement (times tables rock stars, Inter-House sports competitions). Regular updates and tallies are announced at key school events and at Speech Day the overall winner is announced. The triumphant House Captains have the honour of lifting the House Cup in front of the whole school.

Aylward

Gladys Aylward (1902-1970) was an English missionary in China and Taiwan who worked to end the traditional Chinese practice of binding women’s feet, led a large group of orphans out of occupied China, and set up orphanages in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Gladys was a remarkable woman. She was determined and had remarkable faith. Despite being a poorly educated parlour maid rejected by a missionary society because she failed the exams she became a widely respected heroic missionary in China and transformed so many lives.

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Attenborough

In 2024, listening to the pupil’s voice, a new name was chosen to replace the original House Columbus. After a pupil vote, the runaway winner was Attenborough after Sir David Attenborough.

Sir David Attenborough is a famous English naturalist and broadcaster known for his amazing nature documentaries that show the world’s animals and plants to millions of people. Many children recognize and love his calm, distinctive voice as he shares stories about the natural world. He has been exploring and explaining the natural world for more than 60 years, making him a beloved icon for many generations.

His passion for the natural world encourages children to appreciate and protect the environment which makes him an ideal Chesham Prep House ambassador.

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Nightingale

Florence Nightingale was a famous British nurse who founded modern nursing and proved that cleanliness and fresh air could save lives. She dedicated her life to helping others despite her wealthy upbringing and was determined to improve healthcare for everyone.

She is best known for her work during the Crimean War, where she led a team of nurses into a dirty, crowded military hospital. By making changes like washing hands and cleaning the wards, she drastically reduced the number of soldiers who died from infections, earning her the nickname “The Lady with the Lamp” for her nightly rounds checking on patients. After the war, she used her influence and fame to push for hospital reforms and establish the world’s first professional nursing school.

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Stevenson

Robert Louis Stevenson was a Scottish writer known for classics like Treasure Island and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. He was special for his vivid storytelling, adventurous spirit, and ability to explore deep human themes. Despite poor health, he wrote stories that still captivate readers today.

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Visit Us

We look forward to welcoming you and your family to our wonderful school. At the whole school Open Mornings there will be tours of the school and the opportunity to speak to our class teachers and specialist teachers as you go round. At the end of the tour you will meet me and members of the Senior Management Team and the Registrar, Mandy Chase, will also be available to answer any admissions questions.

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