2008 saw the dawning of a new era for Shirley House. After much refurbishment, rebuilding and some reshuffling of furniture, in September 2008, the House opened its doors to the new intake of Shirley, as a Boys’ Day House. The paint schemes of pastel blues and greens, with a boyish shade of yellow, imprinted upon its fabric an ambience of calm, and with it, the hope that its serenity might be reflected in its members for the years to come. 

 

Surprisingly, it worked! Of course, this could have been simply due to the absence of the girls, as prior to 2008, Shirley was the only co-educational House in the school. It might equally have been the Assistant Housemistress’ choice of curtains, but whatever the case, Shirley is certainly a calm, friendly and positive environment where boys enjoy every opportunity to socialise, to build lasting friendships and to develop life skills that will help them achieve greater success in their future lives.

The tranquillity that exists in our corridors belies the fact that Shirley is a thriving community of 51 talented and dedicated boys, guided and supported by the tutor team of staff, as well as the Sixth Form House Prefects. There are 5 year groups from year 9 (IVth Form) to UVIth, but the House (like all the other Houses at Worksop College) is not defined by its year groups, but its sense of community as a complete entity. 

 

Through various activities, our team spirit is strengthened and all year groups mix and work together to a common aim; to make Shirley House a positive, respected and friendly place for its residents, where every pupil achieves their own success.

‘Shirley has given me great friendships and I have only been here a few weeks’ (IVth Form pupil, Oct 09)

Housemaster                      Mr. C.J. Hamlet

Assistant Housemaster        Mrs. M. J. Christodoulou

The Tutor Team                   Mr. A. B. B. Kenrick (Head of Art)

                                         Mr. D. Topham (Head of I.C.T, Biology)

Housekeeper                       Mrs. Ann Buffrey

The House is overseen by the Housemaster and the tutors, but the Sixth Form work hard to ensure the House is efficient and effective in everything it does. The House Captain and the Vice Captain work together with their team to provide a breadth of activities that challenge all pupils during ‘House Time’. This normally operates on a Thursday afternoon, but not always; House Song is the grand finale to the Michaelmas Term and provides an evening of entertainment in the closing days before Christmas. 

Pupils compete throughout the year in two Competitions to gain House points. There is a sports competition (The L’Amie Cup) as well as a new trophy based around non sporting events such as House Debating, Cookery, Design and Technology and Chess. Shirley came 3^rd in the L’Amie Cup in 2008, but rose to 2^nd last year, so if the boys can crack the secret to the illusive Dorm Run, 1^st place beckons this year! Who knows how we will fare in the new non sports based competition, but the chefs in the House are taking the tournament very seriously, so fingers crossed!

 

In order to bring the team together, Shirley run a programme of events throughout the year and pupils are encouraged to get involved as much as possible. The House has run many trips such as the Juniors visiting Xscape and the Vth Form trying their hand at the Aerial Assault Course. The Sixth Formers also ventured further afield when they visited the London West End, to watch an evening performance of ‘Avenue Q’.

As well as this, we run ‘in House’ events too. For example, there is the biannual House Dinner; an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our community. 

 

Also, in 2008, the boys participated in a charity 12 hour swimathon to raise money for Prostate Cancer Research. During the 12 hours, almost every boy in the House contributed a length or two to the total distance swam; over three times the English Channel, and in the process raised over a thousand pounds! 2009 witnessed the black tie do to rival any; Shirley Come Dancing! Thanks to our Finnish dance instructor, Miss Hannah Haraala, the boys were taught an evening of dance etiquette, including Ballroom and Salsa.

 

The events organised in Shirley House give the Sixth Form boys a fantastic opportunity to test their leadership and organisational skills and enables them to see a different type of success, not often witnessed in the classroom alone. 

It’s a relatively simple formula. Shirley House provides a network of support for each of its pupils to ensure that everyone achieves and finds success. When pupils do well, they receive praise and a well earned pat on the back. If they are struggling, they get all the help they need to put them back on track. Since the House system is so strong, communication is effective and efficient and it is not long before we know each and every pupil very well indeed.

 

That in essence, is the strength of such a strong House system, around which our community thrives. Each pupil matters and we search to find everyone’s talents and encourage all to take an active and enthusiastic role in school, hopefully meaning they live a happy and fulfilled life during their time here.

 

‘Shirley is one big happy family and offers a fun, but educational experience which is the foundation of our community’ (Captain of School 2009)

 

We look forward to welcoming you into Shirley House.