St Edmund’s Prep House system supports the wellbeing of every pupil and is integral to the St Ed’s experience.
One of the first experiences when joining St Edmund’s Prep is discovering which House you will be a part of:
- Campion
- Mayne
- Southworth
Our House system supports healthy competition and includes a merit system which encourages children to aspire to high standards in their personal work and behaviour.
Friendly inter-house competitions regularly take place in sport, the performing arts and in academic subjects. Our annual inter-house pancake race is a firm favourite!
Each House is ably led by a Captain and Vice-Captain, supported by Prefects. They support their younger peers at break times and act as excellent role models within the school. They also lead the promotion of the House’s chosen charity and organise fundraising events.
Our House Saints
All three houses are dedicated to a Saint from the English Martyrs – men, women and children put to death for refusing to give up their faith (1535 – 1681).
Campion House
St Edmund Campion was a clever young man, educated at Oxford University where he made a great speech in front of Queen Elizabeth I, which she thought was wonderful. He became a Catholic and joined an order called the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in Rome. He returned to England and used many disguises to help the Catholics; later he was arrested and was put to death on 1 December 1581.
Mayne House
St Cuthbert Mayne was born in Devon, UK. He was a Clergyman in the Church of England, before becoming a Catholic and studied at The English College in Douai (in France) for the priesthood. After he became a priest he returned to West England, working for a year in Cornwall before being arrested for being a priest.
Mayne was put to death in Launceston on 29 November 1577. He is important because he was the first priest from Douai College to be a Martyr. The College eventually relocated to Old Hall Green, Hertfordshire, which today is the site of St Edmund’s College and Prep.
Southworth
St John Southworth was born in Lancashire, UK in 1592. He attended the English College in Douai, France and became a priest. He worked for a long time in London, helping people in poverty. He was arrested and put to death aged of 62, in London on 28 June 1654.
However, Southworth’s story doesn’t end there. Friends returned his body to the English College in Douai where it was buried in the Chapel. When the College was closed during the French Revolution, Southworth’s body was secretly re-buried in the grounds.
Nearly a hundred years later, the people of Douai built a road on the old College land. This led to the discovery of Southworth’s body. His remains were returned to England in 1930, first to St Edmund’s College and Prep and then to a final resting place in Westminster Cathedral.