What does it mean to be a 'house school'?

[Alex83]

We're currently looking at private primary schools for our DD and some are described as 'house schools', what does this actually mean? Tried google but it didn't seem to know. We're pretty new to all this! Thanks.

I would think that USUALLY besides being split into classes, each class also belongs in a 'house'; it is much more common in secondary schools, but some primary schools, particularly larger ones, can also use the system.

So for some activities or sports it would be the 'house' that gained scores or marks, rather than the class.

That is certainly the TRADITIONAL meaning of the term, but there could be other uses I don't know about.

It means Bassett House School, Prospect House School. and Orchard House School, a chain who calls itself the House Schools Trust

Thank you for the replies. Hmm, it seems there are multiple meanings which was probably what was confusing Google as well then.

My old school had the 'house' system as you describe ferguson so I should have thought of that really...they just seemed to be referring to it in a slightly strange context.

Thanks anothernewt it's not one of the schools you mentioned but I'll have a look into it in case they're linked.

The house school I know have been actual houses at one point. Although so times the original house has been knocked down.

Most prep school have a house system.

Agree with the above - a search here brought up people talking about house schools in the context of schools in former residential buildings, ie houses - may be smaller, may not have much land. Does that fit with the ones you are looking at?

It usually means that the school has adopted the name of the property in which it is now situated. So Prospect House School is situated in Prospect House and Priory House School is situated in what was Priory House and Woodcote House School is in Woodcote House. (They will probably have a separate "house system" )

Oh yes this does seem to be what they mean, it's the smaller ones in former residential buildings. Thank you! So is that all it means? Does it mean anything regarding the running of or ethos of the school particularly?

no, its just a name, to reflect its location.

Thank you!