House Captains in 6th form

[Isthiscorrect]

What do house captains do? How much of a time commitment is it? Is it worthwhile? Thanks

[longingforsomesleep]

Not sure about the time commitment - at our school they have a different prefect team and house captain each day. I imagine whatever the time commitment it's got to be worth doing - as is anything which can be added to a uni/job application to show that he/she was sufficiently well regarded at school to be given that level of responsibility.

[BlackMogul]

I think it is more about University application, but personal fulfilment also. There is a great deal of kudos in some schools to be given a leadership role and House Captain is fairly near the top of the tree. DD1 did not find it overly time consuming but she boarded so meetings with Housemistress, other girls, organising events, teams etc took place outside lesson and prep time. The House Captain, for one year, took the major role in bringing ideas and views of the girls in the house to the attention of the Housemistress as well as helping to organise the rehearsals, and take an active part in, House Music, House Drama, House Chapel, House Dinner, House Outing and Sports competitions (House Cheerleading Competition!!) etc . She enjoyed the role immensely and it does make DC's understand the concept of team work and leadership together with honing persuasion skills to get other people motivated to join in and organisational skills are sharpened too. I think it contributes to a well rounded person who has not just been an exam machine. DD1 took it seriously but some schools would not expect House Captains to do as much as DD did, but she really had a great year and exams did not suffer either because she learnt to do all her work effectively and be a committed House Captain as well. Not sure of the value of a weekly House Captain - this may be more ceremonial and not require much time.

[Isthiscorrect]

I suspect it's quite a full on commitment. The school have any number of events both day and evening. I get the kudos for uni applications but I don't want his grades to suffer. And to be honest it seems that in past years certainly head boy/girl have dropped a grade or two!

[marcopront]

Surely this varies incredibly from school to school.

[SlowlorisIncognito]

In general, university admissions are more focused on passion for the course and accademic ability. It's unlikely that being house captain would swing things in one way or another. However, it may help with job applications in the future. If it's such a large time commitment that it's likely to impact on study time, then it's definately not worthwhile. Hopefully this is not the case, and the school will be understanding wrt duties at any points when he has lots of coursework to do.

It is absolutely not worth doing in terms of university applications if you think it will cause him to drop a grade. The time would be better spent doing extra-curicular activities directly related to his course, or reading books about his chosen subject.

[Lethologica]

My advice would be to do it if he really wants to but not to do it 'just' for his University applications.

[Isthiscorrect]

Thanks. He dic apply for head boy and he got thru to the last 3. Dh was pleased, in a good way, that he didn't get it, dh felt it would impact too much on his studies.

Turns out the boy who was supposed to be HC didn't make the grades so will be repeating the year, otherwise this situation wouldn't have arisen. Ds doesn't know yet they are going to ask him, they are waiting until school starts. I just wanted to get a heads up in case there was anything I was missing about the role. Not sure how I'm going to work the need for no need for an instantaneous reply, as I really would like him to think carefully and yes not take the role unnecessarily just for uni applications.

[rachyconks]

I was a house captain in school and tbh it didn't take up too much time. I was responsible for collating house points at the end of each term, providing some elements of pastoral care for younger house members, supporting sporting events, driving & motivating the house. We won the house cup so I must have done an ok job and it took up around 1hr a week if even that. The benefits (UCAS app, university place) definitely outweighed the work I put in.

Hope that helps. I would advise him to go for it!

[ISingSoprano]

Ds was house captain in year 11. He was amazed to be selected and it gave him a huge confidence boost when he really needed it. The time commitment was greatest in the autumn term when he had to go to parent meetings at the feeder primary schools. I think every school will be different in how they use their prefects and house captains.

[Anthracite]

House captains should organise house events, eg sorting out the teams for the netball tournament, and organising rehearsals for the talent show. They probably will need to be nudged by their housemistress/master and would not be expected to come up with their own initiatives.