Each striving
for the
good of all
Community
Our school motto, singulus pro fraternitate laborans – each striving for the good of all – defines the ethos of Davenies as a school. Similar to the life that bees live in this country, we work together to ensure the very best outcome as a team, focusing on how we can help our community in varying ways.
House System
A sense of community is important at Davenies and each boy is allocated to a House: Cook, Drake, Scott or Shackleton.
Named after intrepid explorers, our House system ensures that each and every boy, and member of staff, feel a sense of belonging. The House system incorporates various competitions throughout the year from the House Pancake Race to Sports Days. We also have an House Quiz and singing competition. Each boy’s effort and achievement are rewarded individually and House Points are awarded as a result. There is a termly competition for these where a cup is presented to the winners at the End-of-Term Prize Givings. There is also an additional incentive for the Pre-Prep boys to compete for a weekly House Points Cup. At the end of the School year, the House Cup is awarded to the House that has accumulated the most points throughout the year, taking into consideration all House competitions.
In the Pre-Prep, House allegiance is signified by a coloured trim on the collar of the boys’ polo shirts, whereas in the Prep School, a House Tie is worn. The boys are proud of their House affiliation and it gives them an identity across the School and its age ranges.
Pastoral Care & Wellbeing
Davenies’ vision is to Engage, Inspire, Challenge.
At Davenies, we believe that happy, confident pupils become more caring individuals equipped with a greater sense of perspective and emotional control to grasp all the possibilities that life has to offer. Furthermore, happy pupils really do make better learners.
The School is split along pastoral lines: Pre-Prep (Reception – Year 2), Junior School (Years 3 and 4), Middle School (Years 5 and 6) and Senior School (Years 7 and 8), each with its own Pastoral Head. Each Pastoral Head oversees a team of staff, whose responsibility is to support the boys’ wellbeing on a day-to-day basis. This support is undertaken as follows:
Pre-Prep – by the Class Teachers, who also teach all subjects except French, Music and Sport.
Junior School – by the Class Teachers, who also teach the majority of each class’s academic lessons.
Middle School – by Form Teachers, with all subjects being taught by specialists.
Senior School – by Tutors, who will see the boys through both Years 7 and 8, supporting their academic and personal development as they mature both emotionally and intellectually during these key years.
The Pastoral Team (which includes our School Nurse and SENCO, in addition to the Pastoral Heads) convenes weekly in order that we continue to understand and meet the needs of the pupils. Additionally, our peer mentor scheme affords further support for the boys.
Child Protection & Safeguarding
The Governing Body takes seriously its responsibility under section 157 of the Education Act 2002, and the Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2014, to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and to work together with other agencies to ensure adequate arrangements within our school to identify, assess, and support those children who are suffering harm.
We recognise that all staff and Governors have a full and active part to play in protecting our pupils from harm, and that the child’s welfare is our paramount concern. The School prohibits the use of Corporal Punishment.
At Davenies, the Lead Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Mrs Deborah Battersby (Assistant Head: Pastoral & Safeguarding), and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (DDSLs) are Mr Joe Stephenson (Head of Junior School) and Miss Sophie Bell (Head of Middle School) who are members of the SLT and have undertaken the necessary training to ensure that they can carry out their safeguarding responsibilities effectively. Dr D. Sahota is the Governor responsible for Child Protection at Davenies.
Further information can be found in the School’s Child Protection Policy.
Friends of Davenies
Welcome to Friends of Davenies (FoD)
Whether you have a child here, work or teach here, or are involved in any way with the School, you are all Friends of Davenies and we thank you for your interest and support.
Your 2023/24 FoD committee members are listed below (including our sons’ year groups).
| Ann Tennant | President |
| Liz Smith | Chair (Year 6) |
| Deborah Battersby | Head of Pre-Prep & Headmaster’s Representative |
| Sophie Baber | (Reception) |
| Jennifer Brinkworth | (Reception) |
| Jodi Coe | (Years 1 & 3) |
| Sasha Connell | (Year 7) |
| Rebecca Dickinson | Secretary |
| Nhila Farooq0Bashir | (Year 7) |
| Nicole Forder | (Years 2, 5 & 6) |
| Shona Hooker | (Year 7) |
| Bettina Hussain | (Reception) |
| Monica Lennon | (Year 6) |
| Anna Lindgren | (Year 8) |
| Steven Lunn | (Year 2) |
| Amy Pratsides | (Years 4 & 6) |
| Anna Sheward | Treasury (Years 3 & 6) |
| Jonathan Woodward | Treasury Assistant (Year 1) |
Old Davenians
Davenies is extremely proud of its sense of community, and that the relationships and friendships formed here last a lifetime. Our alumni network of former pupils, known affectionately as Old Davenians (ODs), therefore forms an important and valued part of our community.
Through a range of approaches, we aim to stay in touch with our alumni and to maintain and enhance the relationship between the School and ODs after they leave, ensuring that the bond with Davenies continues. We are keen to hear about the endeavours, successes and achievements of our alumni, as well as provide opportunities to reconnect with the School and former school friends. We welcome news from our alumni that we can share with the OD community, so please send us any news, details of special events – births and marriages – or articles that you have written or produced that would be of interest to all.
Former Davenies parent?
Stay up to date by completing our form here.
Old Davenians – Keeping In Touch Form
All former pupils, regardless of when they left Davenies, are eligible to join our alumni network; all we require is permission to add their details to the Old Davenians’ mailing list. If you are an Old Boy of the School, and would like to join the Old Davenians’ network, please complete the Keeping in Touch Form via the link below. We look forward to hearing from you so that we can keep you updated on forthcoming events and news from the School.
Sense of Service
Throughout the academic year 2021/22, we raised over £23,000 through a programme of activities in conjunction with our Houses, the Friends of Davenies and local charities. Most of our main events are timetabled, but we also retain the flexibility to respond to immediate humanitarian appeals, or local needs. It is not always about raising money either; there are often alternative ways to support others such as through our care home music concerts, grocery collections for One Can Trust, or a warm clothing collection for Wrap Up London.
