House System
The Houses are named for the great traditional Christian Orders:
- Augustinians – named after St Augustine
- Benedictines – named after St Benedict
- Carmelites – named after Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- Dominicans – named after St Dominic
- Franciscans – named after St Francis
- Servites – The Seven Holy Founders
Whilst Servites may be the least well known, Servite sisters worked at St John Payne from the school’s opening until the 1990s. The House is named in honour of their service.
Heads of House:
- Augustinians – Mr R Lyus
- Benedictines – Mr J Lingard
- Carmelites – Mr J Newman
- Dominicans – Mrs L Machin
- Franciscans – Mrs R Cameron-McIntosh
- Servites – Mrs J Green
Our vibrant House system fosters a caring Christian community where all students can feel secure, valued and happy. The Houses are named for religious communities who worked together to develop their own personal growth through devotion to Christ.
There is a healthy competitive element within the House system, with each working hard to win one of the four trophies for Academic Achievement, Service to the Community, Success in Sport and for House Champions.
Inter-House sports competitions and Sports Day gain points for the Sports trophy. Throughout the year there are many rounds of the House Quiz.
House Assemblies encourage reflection and identification with the individual House community to which each student belongs, embraced by the overarching community that encompasses us all as members of St John Payne.
During the school year and in particular Advent and Lent, each House raises money for charity, with fund raising activities ranging from coffee mornings and non-uniform days to sponsored events. Each year the money raised is shared between the Catholic Brentwood Children's Society and the charities nominated by the Houses. The summer term sees Charity Day: a non-uniform day when teachers and students work together to raise money for those less fortunate than us.
Students joining St John Payne wear a tie with the name of their House woven into it. Membership of a House aids transition and quickly sees students become a member of the wider St John Payne community.
See the SJP in the Community/Charities section for more information of fundraising conducted under our House System.
