Why Camborne students now answer to Trevithick and Crofty

A witch’s hat doesn’t usually turn up at a school assembly, let alone end up on a teacher’s head. But that’s exactly what happened this week at Camborne Science and International Academy, where staff took their turn under the Sorting Hat right alongside the students they teach.

📷Tutor groups discover which of CSIA's four new houses they will call home during a special Sorting Hat ceremony

A Sorting Hat with no magic, but plenty of theatre

Tutor groups filed into the school hall to a screen reading “WHICH HOUSE ARE YOU IN?” and, one by one, found out where they now belong. The hat itself had no magic powers, but it did the job: sorting every tutor group into one of four brand new houses, Trevithick, Holman, Crofty and Basset.

The names replace the school’s previous house system, Abenaki, Māori, Maasai and Aztec, with identities pulled from much closer to home.

📷Tutors get their turn under the Sorting Hat as they discover their new house

Four names lifted from Camborne’s own story

Trevithick is named after Richard Trevithick, one of Camborne’s best known historical figures. His pioneering work with high pressure steam included the “Puffing Devil”, which famously travelled up Camborne Hill in 1801.

Holman takes its name from Holman Brothers, the Camborne engineering company that became internationally known for its mining machinery and rock drills, and was once one of the town’s biggest employers.

Crofty reflects South Crofty, one of Cornwall’s most significant historic tin mines and a key part of Camborne’s mining story.

Basset is named after the Basset family, whose fortunes were tied to the local tin and copper mining industries and who helped support and develop buildings and institutions across the town.

Why the school made the switch

The change is meant to give students a stronger connection to the area around them, helping them understand more about the people and industries that shaped their community. Both students and staff had a say in choosing the new names before the switch was made.

📷The Sorting Hat reveals which of CSIA's four new houses each tutor group will join

What comes next for the new houses

The houses will bring competitions, leadership roles and community projects for students to get involved in. House captains, house form representatives and sixth form house prefects will help organise activities, represent student views and encourage wider participation.

Students get another chance to shape the new system too, with competitions to design house crests and ties due to start shortly.

Emma Haase, Principal of Camborne Science and International Academy, said the school wanted its house system to “feel much more connected to the community around us”, and that it was important students and staff had a say in shaping it.

“The new names give us a great opportunity to talk about the people, industries and stories that have helped make Camborne what it is today, while giving our students the chance to shape what these houses become in the future,” she said.

📷CSIA students take their turn with the Sorting Hat