House System
Prep sports day

House System

Home Wellbeing House System

Building collaboration and belonging

At Prince Alfred College our House system is designed to foster connectedness and belonging along with a sense of pride for all our students.

The College has four houses – Cotton, Taylor, Waterhouse and Watsford – that students and staff from the ELC to Year 12 are a part of. 

The key features of our House program include:

  • Cross-age mentorship and peer tutoring
  • Student leadership and service
  • Teamwork, collaboration and social connections
  • Shared House spirit, history and tradition

Throughout their schooling, our students have the opportunity to participate in events to represent their House. Our ELC and Preparatory students have great fun running in the Cross Country each year and all our students enjoy Sports Day. Our Preparatory and Secondary students also participate in our annual Swimming Carnivals. Both Sports Day and the Swimming Carnival include a mix of competitive events as well as fun activities every student can take part in. Our Secondary boys also participate in House Music performances and the Wesley Cup is our annual house competition in the Secondary School where boys compete throughout the year in a range of different events including sports, music, public speaking and debating, along with a range of academic competitions from which the boys can earn points. House points are also earned throughout the year for demonstrating positive House spirit and behaviours reflective of the College values.

The House system provides an invaluable environment to foster wellbeing. Preparatory staff along with Middle and Senior Heads of House provide our students with a support network where every boy is known. They also provide encouragement and opportunities for student success.

Through the Houses students have numerous opportunities to develop leadership skills and our students learn about collaboration, motivating others and working in various roles towards a shared goal.

PC 08122 1 P4 A5501 1 P4 A5637 1 P4 A5544 PC 08118 1 P4 A5471 2
Houses 0002 Taylor

Taylor

Taylor House is named for William Taylor, a man who was most influential in the founding of the school. A Methodist bishop from the United States, and known as California Taylor from his work in the streets of California, especially on the goldfields where he was a ‘social conscience’ willing to tackle and social issue in any place. Taylor was an inspirational missionary in many countries, from Africa to the Caribbean to South Asia to Europe to Australia. He began many churches and encouraged educational opportunities in these countries. His visit to Australia and Adelaide in 1865 was pivotal in the launching of a Methodist school in Adelaide through his advocacy and his profound influence on Thomas Greaves Waterhouses’s decision to provide substantial gifts and guarantees which made it possible for Prince Alfred College to move from a dream to a reality. Taylor house is represented by a wyvern, a dragon with two legs and an armed tail. It was the symbol used by John Wesley and stands for valour and protection. Taylor House is, therefore a place for those who would be willing to stand up and be counted, and who seek to support other members of their house.

Houses 0000 Watsford

Watsford

Watsford house is named for John Watsford, a founder of the school. Watsford, the son of a horse stealer convict who was pardoned after his conversion to Methodism, was the first Australian born Wesleyan minister. Before being sent to Adelaide in 1862, Watsford spent twenty years as a minister in Fiji and New South Wales. In 1868 he was ‘sent’ to Victoria where he continued significant ministry eventually becoming President o the Australian Wesleyan General Conference in 1878. Watsford served as minister for the two most prestigious churches (Pirie St and Archer St) and as Chairman of the SA district of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Watsford chaired the steering committee and called it together to make the decision to buy the land and eventually establish Prince Alfred College. Watsford House is represented by a stallion, a symbol of one ready to do all that is required for his school and the house. The stallion is also a symbol of one who leads and is willing to put himself on the line for the sake of others.

Houses 0001 Waterhouse

Waterhouse

Waterhouse is named for Thomas Greaves Waterhouse, a founder of the school. More than any other individual donor, Waterhouse’s efforts made possible the existence of Prince Alfred College. The Waterhouse Wing of the main building is named after the man, and he contributed to its construction with a 2 for 1 subsidy. Together with Cotton, Waterhouse was responsible for the development of building plans. In responding to the fervent preaching of William Taylor, Waterhouse made a public profession of his Wesleyan Methodist faith. Taylor had been told that if he came and preached for a week in the unfinished Pirie Street chapel ‘we will get Thomas Waterhouse converted to God and he will help us pay the debt on the church, and he will build us a college..’ Waterhouse made the prayers come true. In ill health, Waterhouse returned to England in 1868 still holding mortgages from his financial support to the school. A portrait of Waterhouse has hung above the fireplace in the Headmasters office since 1878. Waterhouse is represented by an eagle, a symbol of strength, bravery, alertness and judiciousness. Waterhouse is a house where one would expect those qualities to be very much in evidence.

Houses 0003 Cotton

Cotton

Cotton House is named for George Witherage Cotton, One of the founders of the school. A land agent, Cotton was a member of the College Committee and alerted it to the imminent sale of land where PAC now stands. Cotton successfully bid on behalf of the Committee. Cotton was the first secretary of the College Committee and Prince Alfred College. He served form 1865 to 1886. Cotton was involved in the selection of the first headmaster and was jointly involved in the development of building plans. On his retirement from the College Committee an illuminated address was presented to him and it is now in the possession of the school. A portrait of George Cotton hangs in the Main building of the school. Cotton House is represented by a Lion. This symbolises the strength, courage and leadership that the school experienced from GW Cotton, and members of the Cotton House can also be people who provide strength, courage and leadership within the school.

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