Alongside celebrating Loughborough High School’s 175th birthday in 2025, we are also celebrating another remarkable milestone – 100 years of Houses.
Originally created in 1925, under the headship of Miss Bristol (Headmistress 1920-40), they were strongly connected to sport and fostering competitiveness, as well as instilling moral qualities such as honour, loyalty and resourcefulness. The original names – Burton, Hastings, Storer and Fearon – reflected notable male figures in Loughborough’s history.
In their 100th year, however, the whole school body voted to change the House names to women who have had key roles in LHS history. This change further recognises our commitment to inspiring the next generation of future female leaders.
Led by the Head Girl for the 2024-25 academic year and her deputies, the proposal was first pitched to the School’s Senior Leadership Team before being opened more widely to staff and pupils. The idea was extremely well received by the whole school body and suggestions for the new names came flooding in.
Potential names were collected and drawn at random in the term’s final assembly by our four House Captains. This year, we are pleased to share our new House Names:
Andrews (formerly Hastings) – Miss Andrews was a former headmistress and oversaw LHS throughout the Second World War.
Bristol (formerly Burton) – Miss Bristol was the headmistress who shaped many of the traditions that we have today, like the creation of the Houses and the Tableaux.
Charnock (formerly Fearon) – Miss Charnock was the first headmistress of the School and later the First Lady governor. She was strong-willed and determined to ensure the School continued past its 10th anniversary.
Hartley (formerly Storer) – Dorothy Hartley was an old girl who became a renowned historian and academic. Her work on the social history of England is still highly regarded.
This Friday our new Year 7s found out the House that they will be joining at our annual House Sorting event where a Sorting Hat is used to decide each girl’s House for the duration of their time at LHS.
The House system is a cherished part of many pupils’ experiences at LHS due to its roots in pastoral care and wellbeing. They create further communities within the School and encourage girls to mix across year groups, making a variety of friends. This year, we hope the refreshed identities of our four Houses will continue to foster in our pupils a sense of camaraderie, team spirit and belonging.
