The development of a strong culture is a vital part of our schools. We believe that pupils need to be provided with opportunities to develop as young people, to gain a sense of community, and to experience and share success with others. One way in which we provide such opportunities is through our House System. 

Here at Thetford Academy, we are extremely proud of the House System we have created and the values that are attached. It embodies all that we stand for and is the vehicle in which our culture is lived through each day. It encourages pupil development through access to a wide range of experiences and motivates students to work together to share ideas, allowing them to learn from each other. 

Each of our Houses has a House Leader and every pupil and staff member is expected to be part of a House. 

All students at Thetford Academy are part of one of four Houses, and have the opportunity to earn points for their House over the course of the year, with awards and prizes available throughout the year. Our Houses are named after groups of people who settled in the Thetford region over the centuries.

• Angles:

The Angles were a group that moved from Germany to the Thetford region in the fifth century. They spoke Old English and gave Thetford its name. By the sixth century, the Angles had created a kingdom that covered the whole region called “East Anglia”.

• Danes:

The Danes came from Scandinavia and are sometimes called Vikings. Danes settled in East Anglia in the ninth and tenth centuries. The Danes brought the Old Norse language to the region and introduced words such as “husband” and “skill” to the English language.

• Iceni:

The Iceni were a group who lived in the Thetford region at the time of the Roman conquest of Britain. They spoke a language related to what we now call Welsh. A famous Iceni queen was Boudicca who rebelled against the Romans.

• Normans: 

The Normans came from the north of France and conquered England after 1066. The Normans brought the French language with them and this merged with Old English and Old Norse to create the modern English language we have today. The Normans were famous for their castles and church buildings, such as Thetford Priory.

Rewards 

All students at Thetford Academy can earn points for their House over the course of the year. Individual awards and prizes are given to students for outstanding achievement or behaviour.  

Merits are awarded for effort, attitude, quality of work, and displaying our school values (kindness, integrity and self-respect). A golden ticket is awarded for going above and beyond or doing something that really stands out - these count for 5 House points. Our rewards are separate to our behaviour points to encourage students to try their best and try and make a change for the better. 

• 1 merit = x 1 House point   
• 1 golden ticket = x 5 House points.   

Our annual awards evening is an opportunity to acknowledge excellence in our students from every Year group. Categories range from academics, behaviour, sports and personal achievements, with nominations from peers, teachers, and the Principal. 

Our Competitions 

All Thetford Academy students are given the opportunity to participate in a selection of house events throughout the year. There is a wide range of competitions including the art, music, sport, reading, spelling bees, and many more, culminating with sports day at the end of the year. Each member of staff is also placed in a house and staff competitions run alongside pupil competitions with their points are added to the overall tally.  

Each school within the Inspiration Trust has a House System and as part of the wider trust, we are delighted to be able to offer our students the opportunity to participate in numerous exciting inter-trust events and competitions, all of which promote and inspire teamwork, while creating a unique sense of belonging to something bigger than one's self. 

Attendance 

Attendance is further underpinned through the House system. Pupils are rewarded for their attendance which adds to the House points. If a pupil is absent, they cannot help their House, and the importance of attendance is promoted through weekly Year group assemblies and daily assemblies. 

Assemblies 

Assemblies take place in a Year group every week. During Year group assemblies, Heads of Year and Senior Leaders will talk to the students about future House competitions and activities and celebrate the achievements in those that have taken place. Students also hear about how each House is performing in comparison to other Houses. 

You can view the House points achieved so far this academic year below: