the school maintained a croquet lawn for the use of the headmaster and the prefects. The school also operated an exchange programme with Eton College for a number of years. Three-tier system In the 1970s the education system in Merton was altered to use a three-tier structure (primary, middle and high school) in place of the former two-tier structure and Rutlish lost the first three of its years. The school still retained the old year names; however, so that pupils starting at the school began as "fourth" years. The following years were named "remove", "fifth", "transitus" and "sixth" (actually a pupil's fifth year at the school if he remained that long). Transitus and sixth-form pupils had their own common room on the first floor of the main block. School Motto The school motto is: Modeste Strenue Sancte; meaning: "Be modest, be thorough and find righteousness". School Houses For most of the school's history, the pupils of the school have been assigned to houses. Although discontinued for some years, the system was reinstated in January 2010 with eight houses: Argonauts Carthaginians (formerly Crusaders), Kelts (a deliberate misspelling of Celts to differentiate the initial from Carthaginians) Parthians Romans Trojans Spartans Vikings Various inter-house competitions, often of a sporting nature, are held. Old Rutlishians' Association Since 1906 the Old Rutlishians' Association ("Old Ruts"), with a large ground and clubhouse in Poplar Road, Merton Park, has existed as an Old Boys sports and social club linked to the school which former pupils of the school are eligible to join. With the loss of the sixth forms the number of former pupils joining the association fell and membership has been opened to all-comers. Notable alumni Tariq Ahmad, Baron Ahmad of Wimbledon, member of the House of Lords from 2010 James Boiling, cricketer Tom Braddock, Labour MP from 1945 to 1950 of Mitcham (1898–1903) Raymond Briggs, illustrator, best known for The Snowman (1945–52) Derek Cons, judge of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong Gerry Cottle, former owner Gerry Cottle's Circus, Moscow State Circus, Chinese State Circus; owner Wookey Hole Caves (1956–61; ran away to join the circus) Jason Cundy, Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Tottenham football player. John Dennis, (1942–49), Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich from 1986 to 1996 and father of Hugh Dennis Sir Frank Edward Figgures, first secretary general from 1960 to 1965 of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), and director general from