Built on a vertical and horizontal framework of pastoral care, the Houses offer students much more than groups formed purely for competition—friendships can blossom alongside study and barriers between year levels are broken down, as older students help their younger Grammar sisters to discover and settle in to Grammar life. Heads of House and House Group teachers know and support each girl individually and students identify strongly with their Houses’ unique culture and traditions.
The House system was introduced in 1964, originally established as 10 Houses (five named after Chairs of the Board of Trustees and five named after former Headmistresses). In 1966, the 10 houses were amalgamated to five—England, Griffith, Lilley, Gibson and Woolcock. From 1974 to 1979 the School reverted back to the inter-form system of competition. In 1980, Girls Grammar once again returned to the House system, introducing Hirschfeld House, followed by O’Connor in 1990, Beanland in 1994 and Mackay in 1998.
Today, the nine Houses enjoy healthy competition through Interhouse Swimming, Athletics, Cross Country and Choir competitions. Other events and activities, such as House Parties, the annual BGGS Open Day, and fundraising for House charities, create a sense of House pride, teamwork and shared purpose among the girls. At the beginning of 2020, students in each House voted to choose an element to signify their House in the ‘Wall of Thanks’ in the new Science Learning Centre, which takes the form of the Periodic Table. Families and alumnae can contribute a gift of any size and nominate their chosen House to support.
With family connections taken into consideration when Houses are allocated, new students are traditionally placed in the same House as their mother or grandmother if they are alumnae, honouring this important connection. It is always wonderful to see that even today, when past students gather for reunions, they continue to identify strongly with their House—its colour, mascot and the special sense of belonging to their House community.
For more House history see below:
