Admissions Procedure: Allocation of places in Senior Houses

Wycombe Abbey operates a House system. House systems vary considerably between schools so an explanation of Wycombe's approach, from both a philosophical and practical point of view, may be helpful.

Every girl entering Wycombe is assigned to one of nine Senior Houses. Whilst UIII girls go into Junior House for their first year, they are still allocated a Senior House before they arrive, enabling them gradually to get to know some of the girls in their House during their first year and easing transition. Girls move from their Senior House into Clarence at the end of the Lower Sixth.

Geographically the Houses are split into three areas:

Abbey Houses: Pitt and Rubens;

Outhouses: Airlie, Barry, Butler and Campbell;

Daws Hill: Cloister, Shelburne and Wendover.

There are some architectural differences between the Houses (although the pairs of Outhouses are identical in design) and inevitably some differences in character and ‘feel', although this is a subjective and indeed changing matter. It is worth noting two points in this connection: firstly, girls (and sometimes House staff) enter and leave the School, thus, whilst there is continuity as far as possible, no House is ever completely the same from year to year; secondly, Wycombe, unlike some schools, does not have a policy of allocating girls with particular interests or skills (e.g. high musical ability) to one House. On the contrary, we endeavour to ensure that, where possible, there is a good cross-section of girls with different interests and strengths, and girls from different preparatory schools, in each House.

House Allocation

The allocation of a place in a Senior House is made by the Headmistress, Director of Admissions and Senior Housemistress, who try to ensure a good balance in each House. It should be noted that for both pastoral and logistical reasons, it is generally not possible to accommodate preference. Sisters of current pupils and daughters of Seniors may confirm their wish to be in the family House, otherwise they will be allocated a House on the same basis as everyone else. It is our normal experience that just about all girls, having met the girls and House staff in their House, are quickly convinced that their particular House is the best, irrespective of which one it is. Girls and parents will be invited to visit their Senior House at the end of the Summer term, before they join the School, to meet the Housemistress and girls.