Michaelmas Term House Report
The House competition began with a return of an event steeped in tradition here, the ‘RGS Run’ around the main School site. Senior pupils and staff competitors raced around the 362m course in September, cheered on by their peers and colleagues. Points were shared amongst Elgar and Whiteladies, with a strong showing in each category for the inaugural event of the academic year. Wylde responded positively with both Junior and Senior Petanque victories, although Whiteladies claimed a win in the Staff event. To the delight of House Leader, Mr Joyner, the red team then marched on to convincing displays in Badminton. Reigning champions Ottley were propping up the standings at Half term, with Elgar and Wylde sharing the lead after a joint first-place finish in a keenly contested Senior Chess tournament that went all the way to the final moments in the last round of matches.
The Otters rounded off a disappointing first Half term with a strong showing once more in Pumpkin Carving over Half term before a win in a close-run House Poetry competition that impressed the English department, especially the talent on show by the Year Seven pupils who joined the House system at this point. Elgar returned to winning ways with victory in Inters and Senior Rugby, although they couldn’t deny Ottley in the Junior competition. Much to Mr Friend’s delight, Elgar would sit proudly at the top of the leaderboard for several weeks this term before Whiteladies took up the lead following wins in Junior Chess and Hockey.
A new Anti-bullying Digital Poster event took place in November, to promote the theme of ‘respect’ for the national awareness campaign, with another victory for Elgar in the Junior category and Wylde taking much-needed maximum points in the Inters competition. As the Christmas break approached there were signs that this would turn out to be one of the closest finishes to a term ever. And so it was, Ottley moving upwards from fourth place by defending their code-breaking win from last year in the ever-competitive Lower School Cipher Challenge and then taking the honours in the much-anticipated Senior Dance event in the last week of term. A packed PAC was lit up with four amazing routines that wowed all those who were in attendance, the Otters just edging out the competition with their 90s inspired dance.
In the final event of 2024, it was Elgar who dominated the charity committee’s Christmas Jumper showdown and meant that it would come down to the top two in the standings being separated by a mere half-point…
Congratulations to Mr Webster and Ottley, who took the Michaelmas trophy. Captains Sophie Gebhardt and Matthew Ferris were ecstatic with the enthusiasm of all of the participants across the events, managing to put them on top of the leaderboard against the odds. It will be intriguing to see how the Houses continue to respond to the challenges coming thick and fast in the Lent Term with another full schedule of events planned and plenty of points on offer. Do continue to watch this space, 2025 is sure to be full of excitement!
1st = Ottley (63.5 points)
2nd = Elgar (63)
3rd = Whiteladies (61.5)
4th = Wylde (60.5)
