Since 1935 the school uses the House System which consists of dividing the pupils throughout the whole school in four clans or houses. The house names had their origin in the boarding school system in the United Kingdom where boarders lived in houses under the charge of their House Master. Every student at the beginning of his school life is assigned or chooses a house. If his parents are Old Boys they continue with the same house for the whole family. Each House carries a surname which has some association with the school, for example MacKay owes its name to the Founder of the school, John A Mackay. This was originally set up, as in most schools of British origin to stimulate sporting competition internally, and has been used even for academic competition.One historical detail is that the original colour which House Mackay had was not yellow but purple.