The “House Points” project at EISB: Learning and growing together

The House Points project was established at the European International School of Barcelona during the 2019-2020 academic year. This educational initiative is based on gamification and constructive competition. Inspired by British tradition, the system assigns every student to one of four Houses (Phoenix, Centaur, Pegasus, or Triton).

The teams compete throughout the academic year to accumulate the maximum number of points and win the coveted Year Cup. The competition goes beyond academics, encompassing sporting, artistic, social, and behavioural categories. This breadth allows us to recognise the comprehensive talent and diverse skills of every participant within our educational environment.

The main objective is to cultivate a deep sense of belonging and intergroup cohesion. Students learn to collaborate effectively and work in teams with classmates across all educational levels. This methodology fosters the development of crucial personal and interpersonal skills, such as active communication, collaborative problem-solving, decision-making, and efficient time management. The system also promotes self-awareness and self-esteem, as students see their direct contribution to collective success, regardless of their age or specific ability.

The assessment is based exclusively on the achievement of collective success, which reinforces cooperation across all year groups and eliminates individual comparison. In this way, students practise coordinating their efforts towards a common goal and significantly improve their social skills. Finally, this approach provides them with a solid foundation to face future challenges, both in personal development and in the professional sphere.