LVS Ascot Houses
When new students join LVS Ascot, they are assigned a house at the moment of enrolment. Our house system encourages students to foster a sense of community and belonging whilst also participating in group activities and engaging in healthy competition. For example, the house system is used during the school sports days as well as other activities throughout the academic year. Houses compete against one another and there are members from each house in all year groups.
At LVS Ascot, we have three school houses; Kennington Hart, Melbourne Brake and Buchanan Coburg. These were originally split into six houses (Kennington, Hart, Melbourne, Brake, Buchanan and Coburg) but in recent years they’ve been combined.
As with many aspects of our school, there is historical context to the names of each of the school houses. Read below to find out more.
Kennington Hart
The first Licensed Victualler’s School was set up in 1803 on Kennington Lane, Lambeth in London (see image).
Charles Hart was the former Head of LVS Ascot. He joined in this role in 1949 and retired in 1972. During his time here, his wife was the Matron and in charge of all domestic arrangements at the school.
Melbourne Brake
Viscount Melbourne (see image), a former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, laid the foundation stone for the LVS school when it moved to Slough in 1836 on behalf of William IV.
The school was located in Slough before moving to Ascot after Slough underwent commercial development.
William Brake was an ex-pupil from the school in Slough. After studying at LVS, he became a successful sportsman and businessman and was a Co-Founder, with his two brothers, of Brake Brothers Frozen Food, now known as Brakes. William donated £500,000 towards the building of what is now our Learning Resource Centre at LVS Ascot and although he has now passed away, his trust continues to fund £15,000 a year towards our school.
Buchanan Coburg
The school had to move from Kennington Lane to Slough (see image) in 1836 due to the necessity for a ‘caring and challenging education in a wholesome and airy environment’. The original school in Kennington was put up for sale for £38,000 but there was difficulty selling so Lord Woolavington, formerly Sir James Buchanan, a British businessman and philanthropist, gifted the school £15,000 to help the move happen.
The Licensed Victuallers National Homes were set up in 1827 to provide shelter for distressed or aged persons, with preference for those who had worked in the licensed trade industry. Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg became the homes’ Royal Patron in 1843.