Wilson

House Colour: Yellow

Who’s Who?

Head of House – Mr A Bravo

Wilson Tutors 2025-26

Year 7 - Mr T Gorst

Year 8 - Mr G Evans

Year 9 - Mrs A Copeland 

Year 10 - Mrs D Jackson & Mrs L Budgen

Year 11 - Miss M Cahill

Year 12 - Mrs H Ockwell

Year 13 - Ms F Langstone

Wilson House was one of the first four Houses in the early days of the school. Wilson House is named after Bishop Roger Wilson who was Bishop of Chichester from 1958 to 1974. He was a brilliant classicist, a modest and unassuming man with an abiding interest in people.

What is Wilson House like?

We are a caring house with a real sense of family and friendship. There are rarely fallings out as we stick together and support each other.  Wilson means family and that means no one gets left behind. ‘Aureus est gentis’, latin for ‘family is golden’ is our House colour. Our House emblem is a sunflower and each year our Year 11’s present each other with sunflowers at their leavers’ assembly with a note attached as a leaving present.

The House charity that Wilson supports is the ‘Mombasa Children’. We have sent medical supplies, sponsored children to be able to attend school and bought equipment. The House has Skyped with the children in our House assembly. Our link is through the charity based in Rustington. We hope in the future to send Wilson House pupils to visit the school.

A REVIEW OF Wilson House 2024-2025

It has been an absolute pleasure to have been Head of Wilson House over the last academic year. Wilson House is packed full of talent, and it has been a joy to see all students flourish in different ways. I am very proud of each and every one of them, and grateful for all their contributions. Not only have they had great academic and sporting success, but along the way, we have raised over £940 for our House Charity- Friends of Mombasa Children. 

As I looked back over the year, it was great to reflect on the successes of all our students. They should be really proud of all they have accomplished. 

It was great to welcome 7 Wilson to Bishop Luffa this year. I still remember their smiling faces on transition day, full of anticipation for the year ahead. Mr Evans has taken great care of 7 Wilson this year, and even managed to put on a movie night on the Year 7 residential for all students to enjoy. Speaking of which, the Isle of Wight was a brilliant trip, with students learning how to survive in the "wild", and light a fire using sticks, cotton wool, and Vaseline... yes... I know! That's what I thought! We managed to pack in bowling, swimming, a musical theater workshop, and a lot of tasty food along the way. 7 Wilson were a credit to the House, with the team at the YMCA letting us know that they were some of the best children they had ever had stay. They then shared their experiences in a wonderful House assembly that they put on- I was fearful I was out of a job, as they were so good! I had the privilege of teaching 7 Wilson too, and I can honestly say their imagination and creativity is fantastic, and I know they are destined for great things. I have no doubt 7 Wilson will continue to thrive, as they enter Year 8.

Mr Evans adds: “7WI have had an incredible start to their Luffa journey and virtually all have taken up a number of opportunities through clubs, competitions and initiatives. We won the Inter-House Dance Competition and had a student place 3rd in the Autumn Photography Competition. Nearly half our students eagerly applied to be House Buddies to help the upcoming Year 6’s settle into our school and we are all now looking forward to the challenges and opportunities of Year 8”.

Year 8 have been busy this year. Many students were involved in the House drama production of "The Tiger Who Came to Tea", and it's safe to say their talent was inspiring. I watched the final performance in awe of the confidence and bravery of all involved, delivering their lines with passion and enthusiasm. Separately, I got to see Year 8's competitive side come out as we went on a tutor bowling trip, along with their lovely tutor, Mrs Copeland. We enjoyed a couple of games of bowling and some dinner too. It was a lovely afternoon, and it's safe to say that 8 Wilson have better bowling skills than I do! Year 8 rounded off the year with a sports day win in the Year 8 category. I have to say, being in the Year 7 and 8 pen, I could see their determination first- hand, and I was delighted to see them collect their trophy. 

Mrs Copeland adds: "Year 8 started the year by leading a Wilson House Assembly about Kindness which involved everyone and was done very well indeed: we have all grown in kindness over the year. We enjoyed our tutor group bowling trip during the Autumn term and we rounded off the year with an afternoon walk over to Chichester Cathedral including a tour of the inside. We have been building on our efforts from last year with the Word of the Week activities we are all now pretty good at spelling.  Our tutor group was well represented in the whole school drama Bugsy Malone production and also in the Wilson House drama production (The Tiger Who Came to Tea)."  

Year 9 have had another fantastic year at Bishop Luffa, under the leadership of Mr Kettle and Mrs Budgen. They have been busy enjoying some taster lessons, and choosing their GCSE options. I was particularly impressed at how well behaved 9 Wilson were throughout this process, and they all approached the options process with a great level of maturity. I know they are keen to get started on their GCSE subjects in September, and I have no doubt they will be fantastic! Mr Kettle put on a brilliant tutor bowling trip for 9 Wilson, and I know those who went along really enjoyed this, with many asking when the next one was! 9 Wilson also put on a brilliant House assembly for us in the drama studio. All students had a part to play, with everyone contributing. It really was a fantastic demonstration of team work, and togetherness. Year 9 students also helped out at the Wilson Christmas fair, organising a snow man game to raise money for our House charity. It was a popular stall! 

Miss Cahill has had another great year with 10 Wilson. They put on an excellent House Assembly, getting all other year groups involved. Furthermore, quite a few students helped out at the Wilson Christmas fair, with Lukas and Freddie designing a game to raise money for Friends of Mombasa Children. They were busy all evening, and what was lovely was to see them donate the leftover sweets to some Year 12 students who were raising money for the Tanzania trip. There were lots of other student helpers from 10 Wilson too, and I know Miss Cahill valued their help and support. I had the privilege of sitting with Year 10 for enterprise day. What talent they have! Several of the winning business ideas came from students of 10 Wilson, with some winning individual trophies for their general contribution and enthusiasm. I can see many of them appearing on an episode of the Apprentice, soon. I must also add a "well done" to all Wilson pupils in Year 10, who took part in the dance production in Brighton- they represented the House and the school brilliantly- well done. 

Miss Cahill adds: "10 Wilson have been brilliant this year at always coming into form time with enthusiasm and politeness. They take part regularly in their weekly quiz every Thursday. There are three different teams made up on each of the three tables in the classroom, there have been winners throughout the year at the end of each term with a prize for the winning team. Students have been fantastic at organising themselves on sports day as well!" 

Finally, we move on to Year 11, who had their prom in June. They arrived in style, from Aston Martins, to a limousine, and even a tractor! Their behavior on the evening was commendable, as was the dancing and singing. Shortly before prom, we had a super leavers' House assembly, wonderfully headed up by Mrs Jackson. I don't think there was a dry eye in the room, but fear not... as it was tears of laughter. Ember put together a super slideshow with pictures from days gone by, and the lovely Mr Allman made a guest appearance to add to the goodbyes. It really was a lovely assembly, and the students did themselves proud. I got to witness first- hand the resilience of this year group, studying, then completing their GCSE exams. They should be really proud of themselves, as they have worked incredibly hard, and I wish them every success for the future.

Year 12 and 13 have been super too, preparing and completing mocks and final A Level exams, headed up by the super Mrs Langstone and Mrs Ockwell. A special mention goes to Joel Blamire and Hugo Eade, our House Captains. I was very grateful for all their help this year, particularly with House drama, and the Christmas fair. They were tremendous role models for our young people, and I thank them for that. I want to say thanks to Catie Robertson and Lily Turner too, for their help with House drama- particularly the dance, as my skills failed me on that!

I couldn't end without mentioning Wilson's sports day success. A big "well done" to all of the Wilson students who participated, enabling us to finish joint first. What an achievement!

On a personal note, the brilliant Mr Bravo will be taking over as Head of  Wilson House, and I know the House is in very safe hands with sir at the helm. May I finish by adding a special thanks to you, the parents and carers of Wilson House pupils. Thank you for all the ways you have supported and championed your children. Thanks too, for all your kind words of encouragement to the Wilson staff team- they have been greatly appreciated.

It has been an absolute pleasure to have oversight over all the students in Wilson House, and I know they are destined for great things, and wish them all the very best for the next academic year.

Claire Duke, Head of Wilson House 2024-25