Chivalry Comes To Thame School

A THAME primary school today launched a new school anthem and a House system based on the Knights of the Round Table, to help encourage co-operation and friendly competition amongst its pupils.
The Head teacher of John Hampden Primary School, told ThameNews.Net: “The idea of extending the House system in the school came from the children themselves who asked why they only used the system on sports days. After looking into the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, we realised that, as their great interest in Harry Potter and Narnia shows, children’s imagination can be captured by these great old English stories. When you stop and think about it, the qualities exemplified by the Knights have been those shown by great people of our own age, like Winston Churchill for instance. It is those qualities of perseverance, truthfulness, endeavour and friendship that we all want to encourage in young people.”
Each House, Gawain, Galahad, Bedivere and Lancelot, has its own shield. Three were made in metal by Zeke Moss from the Old Forge in Thame, and the fourth one, of wood, was made by Mr Lilly, one of the pupils’ grandfather.
In a special assembly this morning, the children all showed off friendship bracelets they had made in their House colours, sported coloured shield-shaped badges pinned on their school sweatshirts and sang the new school anthem, with words specially written by teacher, Laura Hockin, to the tune of the old Cubs and Guides’ song, The Quarter Master’s Store.
Two Captains for each House have been chosen and they proudly received each shield’s coat of arms from Mr Haigh.
The House Captains are Evelyn Furness and Jessica Lampit (Gawain), Jade Foulkes and Jordan Coulson(Bedivere), Guy Carter and Emily Condon (Galahad) and Matt Faulkner and Jess Storey (Lancelot).
As well as competing in netball, rounders, spelling competitions etc throughout the year, on Friday afternoons the children will sit with other children from their own House in the dinner hall and, as an extension of the Buddy system, will read together in mixed year groups.
Mr Haigh concluded: “We hope that the new House system will encourage a balance of co-operation and friendly rivalry amongst the pupils and help them to develop all the best qualities to take with them from John Hampden school into the rest of their lives.”