"house point" = "extra credit"?

[pelham456]

what does the british(?) expression "house point" mean? from context it sounds like "extra credit".

i could imagine a meaning in US english like "one point for the house" in poker, blackjack, etc., but that doesn't seem to match here. the sentence was something like "Great answer, Mr. Phibbs -- House point!"

does it, indeed, mean "extra credit"? is THAT expression not common in the UK?

i've tried googling at this from various angles, but just can't seem to pin it down.

[alexora]

I live in London, yet I only know of House Points in the Harry Potter context and in education in general.

[pelham456]

ok, it wasn't harry potter, but that is clearly the reference.

there weren't any real points involved; teacher was just using it as an expression. i guess "gold star!" would be the closest equivalent.

not entirely sure, but i think it was the "episodes" pilot. dusty old english schoolmaster.



ED: on second thought, given that it was a boarding school, maybe he DID mean it literally?

btw, condolences on the events of the day. hope u weren't directly affected.

[alexora]

Originally Posted by pelham456

ok, it wasn't harry potter, but that is clearly the reference.

there weren't any real points involved; teacher was just using it as an expression. i guess "gold star!" would be the closest equivalent.

not entirely sure, but i think it was the "episodes" pilot. dusty old english schoolmaster.



ED: on second thought, given that it was a boarding school, maybe he DID mean it literally?

btw, condolences on the events of the day. hope u weren't directly affected.

If it was a boarding school, then it definitively was House Points since public schools are divided in houses, each with its own Housemaster, traditions etc.

There are usually big rivalries between houses, and earning points for the house will make a pupil popular with his peers.

Re the London attack: Thanks for your concern. Even though I live close to Westminster Bridge (and was there yesterday at the same time the attacks took place today), I wasn't there today and most of my friends have marked themselves as 'safe' on Facebook.