House System
The House system is central to life at Ruskin. Not only does it encourage a healthy sense of competition through events such as Sports Day, subject competitions and House fundraising initiatives, it also provides students with a pastoral base from both an academic and personal perspective via their Form Tutor, Head of House and Pastoral Manager. Our Year Tutor groups and House assemblies encourage students to engage in regular debate and develop an appreciation of the differences that exist across cultures and society; it is an environment in which we see close bonds forged across year groups and where students learn first-hand the value of team work. The House system ensures younger siblings naturally follow in to the same House as older siblings – providing a sense of tradition, pride and belonging across families.
Our five Houses are:
Hepworth House: Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975) was one of the most important figures in the development of abstract art in Britain. As a sculptor she was famous for creating beautiful impressions of objects rather than simple portraits of the objects themselves.
Head of Year 11: Mr P Murphy
House Lead: Mr Le-Good
Pastoral Manager: Mrs T Smith
YELLOW HOUSE
Knight House: Dame Laura Knight (1877-1970) achieved worldwide acclaim as an artist at a time when women were still fighting to vote. Renowned for the speed of her drawings she was the commissioned artist for the Nuremberg Trials (1946) and for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II (1952).
Head of Year 9: Mrs M Jallow
House Lead: Mr H Gibbons
Pastoral Manager: Mrs R Burrow and Mrs S Smith
BLUE HOUSE
Mackintosh House: Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868-1928) was an outstanding exponent of the Art Nouveau style and is now recognised as one of the most influential designers of his time.
Head of Year 8: Mrs Garfield
House Lead: Mr Pearson
Pastoral Manager: Mrs W Taylor
RED HOUSE
Morris House: William Morris (1834-1896) who did “...not want art for a few, any more than education for the few...” but always for the many. His fabric designs are still used widely, and he was a major influence in the Arts and Crafts movement. He embraced every opportunity to excel in his chosen areas, he was never afraid to speak his mind and to push the boundaries in his quest for success.
Head of Year 10: Miss M Ramm
House Lead: Miss Drinkwater
Pastoral Manager: Miss E Church
GREEN HOUSE
Hockney House: David Hockney (born 1937) is an English painter, draftsman, printmaker, stage designer and photographer. He is an important contributor to the pop art movement of the 1960s, he is considered one of the most influential British artists of the 20th century.
Head of Year 7: Mr N Moses
House Lead: Mr Charles
Pastoral Manager: Mrs S Watts and Miss Fearnley
PURPLE HOUSE