We have had another amazing year here at Croydon High, filled with the vibrant energy and friendly rivalry that defines our House system. From the high-stakes drama of the sports field to the quiet focus of the art studios, our pupils have thrown themselves into every challenge with passion and poise.
A Year in Review: The Highlights
Our House calendar was packed with opportunities for every student to shine. Here are just a few of the moments that defined our year:
- The Brainpower Battles: The House Quizzes and MUN Speeches saw our sharpest minds go head-to-head, debating global issues and testing their general knowledge under pressure.
- Creative Excellence: Arts Week and the National Poetry Day competitions turned the school into a gallery of imagination, while the Talent Show proved once again that our students are stars in the making.
- Culinary and Cultural Flair: The MFL Bakeoff brought a delicious international twist to the kitchen, blending linguistic skills with impressive patisserie.
- The Field of Glory: The interhouse PE competitions kept spirits high all year, culminating in a spectacular Sports Day, which was proudly won by Garrett! A huge congratulations to everyone in Garrett for their teamwork and tenacity.
- Croydon High has Talent: We also had amazing acts for our talent show this year from singing, dancing and gymnastics! All the houses worked incredibly hard in the months leading up to the talent show and Evans won the overall day with a very impressive group act!
Beyond the Scoreboard: Values in Action
While the trophies are fantastic, the true heart of our House system lies in our core values: Kind, Empowering, Proud, and Aspirational. Points weren’t just earned through winning goals or correct answers. We are incredibly proud of the pupils who gained points by stepping out of their comfort zones to deliver whole-school assemblies, showing dedication by attending co-curricular clubs, and sharing their gifts by playing us beautifully in assembly each week. These contributions weave the fabric of our community and show that every voice and every talent matters.
“The House system is more than a competition; it is a community where every girl is empowered to lead, inspired to dream, and encouraged to support those around her.”
Thank you to all the House Captains, staff, and students who made this year so memorable. Whether you were cheering from the sidelines or leading a debate, you have represented your House with incredible spirit.
Mrs Smith
Assistant Head (Co-curricular)
Garrett House Captain: Amalie 
I just wanted to take a moment to say a huge thank you to all of Garrett. Your support, energy and commitment this year have meant so much – not just to the house, but to me. Being your House Captain has genuinely changed me for the better. It pushed me to be more confident and determined, and I’m incredibly grateful for that.
One of the best parts of this role has been getting to know so many of you. From the younger years right through to the seniors, every single person in this house has played a massive role in making Garrett what it is today. Whether it’s through playing in assembly, house competitions, charity contributions or events, you’ve all played your part.
And of course, we can’t forget about Sports Day! Such a highlight for us. Our teamwork and house spirit really proved to me what Garrett is capable of when we all come together. As I hand over my role as House Captain, I just wanted to say, don’t stop here. Keep pushing, keep getting involved and definitely let’s keep beating all the other houses. I have no doubt that Garrett will continue to grow even stronger and achieve even greater things.
Finally, I want to say a big thank you to Mr Flower and my Deputy House Captain, Sahana, for their continuous support this year. Your encouragement, enthusiasm and guidance have and will forever be so valuable. Additionally, I’ve loved working alongside the other House Captains. They’ve been such an incredible team, and I couldn’t have asked for better people to share this experience with. I couldn’t be prouder to represent Garrett and work alongside friends I have grown so close to. Thank you all for making this year unforgettable.
Seacole House Captain: Akshata
I will always be incredibly grateful to have been Seacole House Captain and part of the Senior Prefect team. Being part of such a hardworking and supportive group of girls has made the experience truly special, particularly as we worked together to achieve both our individual and collective goals.
Although Seacole did not win overall, I am so proud of every Seacole Dragon for the enthusiasm and effort they brought to each challenge. I am especially proud that we achieved our charity fundraising goal and raised money for the Royal Osteoporosis Society, which gave a real sense of purpose to everything we did as a house.
This experience has taught me so much about leadership, particularly the importance of teamwork, communication, and supporting those around you. I am so grateful to have worked alongside Hollie, Tilly, and Amalie, and I truly could not have asked for better people to share this experience with.
My advice to the next House Captain would be to make the most of every opportunity and not be afraid to ask for help when needed. From someone who balanced this role alongside international university applications, A Levels, university exams, and extracurriculars, it was not always easy, but it showed me how important it is to rely on others. It can feel challenging at times, but it is also incredibly worthwhile, so make sure you enjoy every moment and focus on bringing people together.
Good luck to Seacole in the coming years, and I hope the next House Captain continues to carry forward the spirit and confidence of the house. (I better see them dressing up as a minion as well for sports day!)
Evans House Captain: Hollie 
I have genuinely loved every minute of being Evans House Captain for the past year, and I am incredibly grateful for Mrs Leppala, Jiya and everyone in Evans for all of their support and efforts, which meant we could be crowned House Cup Champions before Easter!
Everyone has been nothing short of incredible all year, and so much hard work goes on behind the scenes from Mrs Smith, the amazing Head of Houses and the House Captains, so I would encourage you to fully immerse yourself in everything that the house system has to offer during your time at Croydon High. I think our winning house act at the talent show epitomises the togetherness, competitiveness and enjoyment that have been ever-present in our house over the last year, and it shows that when everyone gets stuck in and has fun, the result can be pretty special!
It has been amazing working alongside Akshata, Tilly and Amalie this year, and we have truly stuck together and supported each other through it all. I am so grateful for all of the memories we’ve shared, all the lessons that we have learned together and the many, many hours we’ve spent working hard to make this House year as memorable as possible.
I’m also very proud of our fundraising efforts, and I know everyone in our house is grateful to be supporting our amazing charity, MND Association (West Kent Branch), with the life-changing support that they offer to people in our local community.
My advice to the next House Captains would be to embrace every challenge, take every opportunity to get to know everyone in your house because they’re all amazing, and to enjoy every single moment because the year flies by! To everyone in our school community, I’d like to say: be competitive, be strong and care about what you do. Other people not caring as much about something doesn’t mean you should care any less, so just do what you love, stay true to yourself and lift others up around you along the way.
Curie House Captain: Matilda 
Being House Captain for Curie and working alongside the Senior Prefect Team during the course of upper sixth, has been such a rewarding experience, and I have loved seeing our house come together and support one another across so many different events, particularly when working together to collectively raise money for Action Aid.
It’s been incredibly fulfilling to help plan events that not only have created so many fun opportunities within school life but also have given a real sense of unity and purpose as we work towards shared house goals, particularly when they have been in support of our charity initiatives. Some of my favourite challenges have been helping to organise and motivate everyone for competitions like Sports Day and the Talent Show, where the sense of teamwork and house spirit was incredibly strong.
Over the past year, I have learned so much about leadership, especially the importance of encouraging others and leading by example. Throughout this journey, I have really valued being able to both support and be supported by the other House Captains, and despite our friendly competition, I couldn’t have asked for a better group of girls to have by my side, and I am so glad to have formed so many meaningful friendships.
My advice to the next House Captains would be to make the most of every opportunity, be confident in your ideas, and always focus on bringing people together, because that is what truly makes the House system so special.
