The debating club meets weekly, and pupils regularly participate in regional and national debating and public speaking contests. Year classification system The school uses its own class nomenclature. In the main section of the school (ages 11–18), the classification runs as follows: Houses Upon reaching the 'Lower Remove', pupils are assigned to one of the following houses (listed with their respective colours): Castle, Choir, Hostel and School Houses, all former boarding houses, are named for the buildings which originally housed them. As boarding diminished during the 1990s, these houses either converted to day houses (School and Choir), or were discontinued (Castle and Hostel). The remaining houses, which originated as day-boys' houses, are named for former school headmasters (Saint Oswald and Saint Wulstan, both Bishops of Worcester, being regarded as "headmasters" of the former monastic school). Old Vigornians All former pupils are considered to be Old Vigornians, and can use the post-nominal letters OV. Predecessor institutions are not considered: only those who attended King's from its refoundation in 1541 onwards are listed below. See also List of English and Welsh endowed schools (19th century) References Secondary sources External links The King's School, Worcester official website Independent Schools Council: The King's School, Worcester Guide to Independent Schools: The King's School, Worcester The Old Vigornians website 1541 establishments in England Choir schools in England Educational institutions established in the 1540s Private schools in Worcestershire Schools in Worcester, England Member schools of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference Schools with a royal charter