Houses
When pupils arrive at Lancing, they will join one of ten Houses. This House will become home for their entire time at Lancing. They will make firm friendships and have the strong support network of their Housemaster/Housemistress, Matrons and Tutors.
The Lancing College community is tremendously warm and provides a nurturing family environment. It helps pupils achieve their potential, but in an encouraging and supportive environment, whilst maintaining the balance in pupils’ lives.
PARENT SURVEY, 2017
The school’s embedded house system for day and boarding pupils helps to create a safe, supportive and tolerant environment. Pupils feel valued as individuals and actively celebrate being members of a diverse school community.
ISI REPORT, OCTOBER 2023
Overview of Houses
Approach
The Lancing approach to its day and boarding Houses underpins the unique nature and ethos of the school community. All pupils play a vital part in the life of the Houses, getting involved in all co-curricular activities and the social aspects of House life. Whilst Lancing College has a long tradition of welcoming boarders, it has adapted over the years to meet the changing lives and needs of all our parents and pupils.
Day pupils are well integrated within life at Lancing; there are three Houses assigned just for day pupils whilst other Houses will have a mixture of both boarding and day pupils.
Day pupils and their parents are able to take full advantage of everything that is available at Lancing. Many pupils arrive early in time for breakfast and leave well into the evening; this flexibility is really valuable to enable day pupils to participate in many of the co-curricular activities and at certain times to stay late for additional clinics, events, to work on projects with friends and on any other occasions where extra time at school is valuable. Some pupils choose to spend a regular night at Lancing.
Benefits
Nine of our Houses are single sex; Saints’ House, opened in September 2018, is our first co-educational day House. All Houses span the five year groups in the College. We find that this is an important element of being part of the boarding house family. Girls and boys can spend time with their own age group and at the same time benefit from have older ‘siblings’ to guide them and, as they grow older, take on a role in guiding younger pupils.
The Houses are where firm friendships are forged, lasting throughout school and beyond. It is in Houses that pupils are given leadership roles, learn a keen sense of community and develop skills of caring and sharing. Older pupils mentor younger pupils; Heads of House and House Captains help in the day-to-day running of the House and matrons play a crucial role in the care of pupils.
When we speak to Lancing boarders they talk about enjoying being part of a community, building friendships, learning to be independent and being able to access a wide range of opportunities. Parents are reassured that their sons and daughters are receiving the very best of pastoral care whilst living in a very secure environment with plenty of open space and fresh air.
