Every Westminster Under School pupil belongs to one of four Houses during their time at the School. The House system adds another layer of friendship and support, crossing year groups and developing a sense of care and camaraderie between boys and girls at different points of their education. It also adds a competitive element with pupils taking part in a variety of House events throughout the year, ranging from athletics, swimming and chess to public speaking and Scrabble, for House points.
The House System
Pastoral Care
The vertical House system enables staff to follow pupils’ development both in and beyond the classroom, providing consistent support throughout their time at the School. Each House is led by a dedicated Housemaster who, in addition to overseeing the community and day‑to‑day life of the House, also serves as an additional source of guidance and pastoral care for every pupil.
Pupil Leadership
Houses offer meaningful opportunities for pupil leadership. Each Housemaster is supported by an assistant, and every term a new House Captain and other officials are appointed from Year 8, encouraging responsibility, teamwork and a strong sense of belonging.
House Events
Popular House events include Cross Country and Sports Day, both of which take place on Vincent Square and draw the whole community together in support. Other highlights include Eurovision, where pupils perform songs in different languages for friends and families, and the House Music Competition, a two‑day event held in nearby Smith Square Hall, showcasing musicians from every year group. House points can also be earned by producing excellent work or, more importantly, demonstrating a positive attitude or good behaviour. Pupils might earn points by volunteering for initiatives such as Enterprise or taking part in the Lunchtime Litter Pick, reinforcing the values of responsibility and contribution across the School.
The Houses
The four Houses, each named after one of the quarters of the Westminster coat of arms, are Fleuries, Lions, Martlets and Tudors.
Fleuries
House colour: Green
Housemaster: Mr Paul Isaac
Fleuries is a vibrant and spirited House in which camaraderie and competition are at the heart of everything we do. Led by our Captain and Vice-Captain, the pupils approach all aspects of School life with enthusiasm and pride.
A strong sense of tradition underpins Fleuries. We are proud of the legacy left by previous outstanding Housemasters, and we aim to build on the high standards that they established. Our Year 8 leaders play a key role in this, setting an excellent example for younger pupils to follow.
We pride ourselves on commitment, effort, and full participation. Whether in sport, chess, WUS Eurovision, or any other house events, every pupil is encouraged to get involved and give of their best. Our success in achieving Dig Cup victories reflects the determination and teamwork that define Fleuries.
Beyond competition, Fleuries is a supportive and inclusive community. Our assemblies are engaging and pupil-led, and we place great emphasis on encouraging one another and celebrating success together. Win or lose, the pupils of Fleuries enjoy a rewarding and memorable experience as a House each year.
Lions
House colour: Blue
Housemaster: Mr Andrew Busk
‘A pride of lions’. This is a phrase that is regularly used in Lions House assemblies because it seems to embody the core ethos of how the house endeavours to live out each aspect of school life. Indeed, Lions has a considerable amount to take huge pride in. The house has been the most consistent winner in music competitions, sports tournaments, and in academic fields over the past two decades, winning the House Challenge Cup more times than any other House. This legacy is in part a tribute to Mr Simon James, a legendary Lions Housemaster who set very high standards and established a positively competitive culture, a philosophy that has continued since his retirement in 2023.
Lions has also increasingly become a House which strives to exemplify the rich variety of the School’s values. It is growing into a group of pupils who are learning to take as much pride in the kindness and integrity they exhibit as in how many competitions they win. The selection of the House Captain and Vice-Captain each term is crucial to maintaining the principles that Lions takes pride in. Younger pupils look up to these captains and their fellow Year 8 Lions and take their lead from the examples that are set by the most senior members of the House. Individual achievements by members of the House of whatever age are celebrated, usually during a House assembly, thereby fostering a fully supportive and encouraging environment and building a strong esprit de corps.
Martlets
House colour: Yellow
Housemaster: Mr Edward Matthews
Our House motto is ‘Grit, grace, growth. Essentially, Martlets work hard, are kind and say “yes” to opportunities’.
There are two distinguishing features about Martlets:
- This mythical bird has no feet (it has feathers for legs) and so cannot land, hence remaining in perpetual flight. To overcome obstacles, exhaustion and fierce headwinds, the Martlet must exhibit grit and grace. Therefore, this remarkable mascot has come to symbolise diligence and commitment (grit), along with the grace of sportsmanship and camaraderie. The latter makes Martlets “humble in victory and gracious in defeat”.
- The bird historically depicts the fourth son. The first son inherited the estate, the second and third traditionally went into the Church, but the fourth had no well-defined place. He therefore had the daunting privilege of leaving home and carving his own path in the world. Therefore, other characteristics associated with the Martlet are resourcefulness, independent growth and a nomadic lifestyle which features a relentless quest for knowledge,learningand adventure. Martlets do not learn for school, but for life (non scholæ sed vitæ).
William Shakespeare
What many men desire–that ‘many’ may be meant
By the fool multitude that choose by show,
Not learning more than the fond eye doth teach,
Which pries not to th’ interior, but like the martlet
Builds in the weather on the outward wall,
Even in the force and road of casualty.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“The heights by great martlets reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night”
Tudors
House colour: Red
Housemaster: Mr Gwenael Gougay
The Tudors House family at Westminster Under School plays an important role in building a strong sense of community and esprit de corps among pupils. By bringing together boys and girls from different Year groups, it creates opportunities for friendships to form beyond the classroom and encourages pupils to support and learn from one another. This structure helps younger pupils feel welcomed and valued, while giving older pupils the chance to take on leadership roles and set positive examples.
The House system promotes enterprise, emulation and healthy competition through a wide range of academic, sporting and cultural activities held throughout the school year. Whether competing in quizzes, sports matches or creative events, pupils are encouraged to work together, develop their talents and strive to do their best for their House.
Within the Tudors family, older pupils often guide and mentor younger members, helping them settle into school life and offering encouragement when challenges arise. This creates a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone’s contribution matters. Through shared experiences and friendly competition, pupils develop teamwork, pride and loyalty to their House.
Overall, the Tudors House family helps pupils grow in confidence, build lasting friendships and develop a strong sense of belonging within the wider Westminster Under School community.
