The house system is a traditional feature of schools in the English-speaking world. A school student audience is divided into teams called ‘houses’ and each student is allocated to one house at the moment of enrolment. Once a student has been allocated to a house they stay with that house as they move up through the year groups. Houses may compete with one another at sports and in many other ways, thus providing a focus for group loyalty.
Houses may be named after saints, famous historical alumni or notable regional topics. Each house will usually also be identified by its own symbol, logo, or colours.
A major feature of house systems is the competition between houses. For example, the traditional school sports day is usually an inter-house competition. Debating competitions and charity drives are also often organised along inter-house lines. Points for behaviour and achievements may also be totalled up for comparison between houses.
There is a year-long programme of inter-house events, in which all houses compete, with points contributing to the award of the House Cup at the end of the year.
One notable feature of the house system is the appointment of captains, who exercise limited authority within the house and assist in the organisation of it.
At Royal School are four competitive house teams.
House points are awarded for sports, competitions, community work, recycling and eco initiatives, along with a host of other activities like running the school library or performing in school assemblies.
The four houses are named after famous British men who were named in the BBC Millennial Poll.
Each house badge carries an image from the coat of arms for Cluj-Napoca. The houses are Brunel, Churchill, Nelson and Shakespeare. House colours are taken from the combined flags of Romania and UK.
Teams are led by student captains elected by their peers, and they run the house along with a teacher.
All children and adults within school are in teams, except for the Headmaster who adds up the points and presents the House Cup to winning teams in Friday Assemblies.
Nelson won the cup in last game.
