School Houses

• House colour: Blue
• House mascot: Falcon – The peregrine falcon, native to Britain, is the world’s fastest animal. It is an intelligent bird of prey, famously kept by Kings and Queens of England for their hunting ability.

Baggaley House is named after the school’s longest serving Headteacher, Charles Baggaley (1888-1926).

During Mr Baggaley’s 38 years as Headteacher the school grew from just 13 boys to 175 pupils. Taking in girls for the first time in 1899. Mr Baggaley was an accomplished French linguist and founder member of the Association of Head Masters. When he was appointed, Mr Baggaley was paid a salary of £100 a year and could live in a nearby house free of charge. He was a passionate gardener and was known as “Boss Baggs”.

Baggaley House is one of the school’s original three Houses.

• House colour: White
• House mascot: Unicorn – A mythical horse-like creature with magical powers and a single horn. The lion and unicorn are mascots on the coats of arms of our current King Charles III.

Buxton House is named after Mrs Gladys Buxton whose name was used for a school opened in 1960 to serve children in the Holmesdale area of Dronfield.

In 1960 Mrs Gladys Buxton was the Chair of Derbyshire Education Committee.

Gladys Buxton school later merged with Fanshawe and Gosforth in 1990 to become The Dronfield School.

• House colour: Black
• House mascot: Dragon – A mythical creature associated with ancient Britain (King Arthur and St. George). Dragons had a reputation for being intelligent and magical creatures, often feared for their fire-breathing abilities.

Gosforth House is named after the Gosforth School which was opened in 1953 to serve children on both sides of the Drone Valley.

Gosforth School later merged in 1990 with Fanshawe and Gladys Buxton Schools to create The Dronfield School.

The Gosforth School buildings were used to accommodate students in Years 7 to 9 until the split site school moved all students onto the Fanshawe site in 2004.

The Gosforth School buildings were finally demolished and the land sold for private housing and a community sports facility.

• House colour: Yellow
• House mascot: Lion – The lion has been the English royal mascot since the Norman King Richard. Henry Fanshawe was the Chancellor of the Exchequer for Queen Elizabeth I which is why the three English lions and “ER” (Elizabeth Regina) can be seen in the school badge today.

Millican House is named after Norman S. Millican, Head Teacher for 27 years between 1926 and 1953.

Mr Millican and his family lived in the house currently used as Student Services. It was then known as “New Hall”.

Mr Millican placed great emphasis on service beyond self achievement. He built up an impressive cadet corps.

Millican House was added to the original three Houses in the 1960s.

• House colour: Green
• House mascot: Bear – A once native wild animal of Britain but extinct from the British Isles now for many years although many bears were kept as performing creatures up until the late Victorian era. Bears, like humans are versatile omnivores with a reputation for being gentle giants until threatened when they can be very fierce. Bears are a common mascot in many crests and badges across Britain.

Spaven House is named after Miss Lillian Spaven, Art Mistress (1906-1925).

Miss Spaven designed and made the memorial window in the original 1867 Fanshawe building previously an assembly hall, now used as the E-Learning Centre.

The window shows St. George with the words “In honour of the old boys of this school who gave their lives in the Great War”.

Spaven House is one of the school’s original three Houses.