House System

The House System

At Joyce Frankland Academy, Newport the house system plays an important role in under-pinning our Co-Curricular provision. The house system provides a connection, for all members of our community, with the past. It provides students with opportunities to develop their teamwork and leadership opportunities, supports with the promotion of positive behaviour and is something that is a fun and enjoyable part of their time here. From this year our Heads of House are senior students in the Sixth Form.

We have 7 houses, all named after a significant link to our foundress and our history.

Banstead
This is the name of a village in Surrey which was owned by Dame Joyce Frankland at the time of her death. The rent being paid by the villagers, in part, provided the investment to set up and run the school.

Caius
This is named after the Cambridge college, Gonville and Caius. Dame Joyce Frankland had close links with the college and a portrait of her still hangs in their dining rooms. In establishing the school she requested oversight by the college and this link remains today with a place on our governing body reserved for a member of Gonville and Caius.

Morden
The first master of the school, appointed in 1588, was John Morden. He was recently graduated from Gonville and Caius in Cambridge and then took up the post of master. He went on to run the school for 26 years and built very strong foundations and fostered a culture for learning which continues to this day.

Saxie
Henry Saxie was Joyce Frankland’s first husband. After he died she went on to remarry a merchant called William Frankland. Her first marriage produced a son, William Saxie. It was his death from falling off a horse which promoted the advice to set up a school to continue his memory.

Thompson
Fred Thompson was a History teacher and Deputy Headteacher at the school from 1937-1975. Over the course of 38 years he ran the school squadron of air training corps, holding the rank of Squadron Leader. He wrote the history of Newport Free Grammar School in 1987 and this book provides us with the knowledge to link to the past. Fred Thompson died in December 2016 at the age of 103.

Trappes
Trappes is Joyce Frankland’s family name. Her father, Robert Trappes, was a wealthy and talented goldsmith who was one of King Henry VIII’s jewellers. There are records of him producing a jewel encrusted gold bowl which was a gift from the King to Anne Boleyn, his second wife.

Frankland
Named after our foundress Dame Joyce Frankland. She founded the school in 1588 for the ‘love I bear to learning’ and was passionate about having a school to educate local students. Originally in a single building the school has now grown to over 1000 students.