Houses

Head of Houses

Mr Elkerton, Head of Webb Ellis

Ms Brereton, Head of Shakespeare

Mrs Turton and Mrs Morten, Joint Head of Whittle

Ms Cunningham, Head of Godiva

All students are placed into one of four houses: Godiva (Blue), Webb Ellis (Yellow) Shakespeare (Purple) or Whittle (Red).

The aim of the house system is to create the best possible ethos for students’ personal and social development and for the achievement of their potential in all aspects of college life. This is achieved through encouraging all students to take part in house activities and to give a sense of belonging and participation, whilst at the same time helping others less fortunate than themselves. Older students are encouraged to play a nurturing role to create a family atmosphere and to provide role models to younger students. All student leaders are expected to model our values of kindness, confidence and resilience at all times and to inspire other students to follow their example.

Students also have the opportunity to represent their house and tutor group by taking part in the College Council which is chaired by the Head Students.

Rewards

The four houses compete with each other to win the annual house competition, the winning house being the one with the most points at the end of the Summer Term. Students in the winning house have the opportunity of going on the House Trip in the next academic year. Students can gain House Achievement Points (HAPs) in a number of ways including effort in lessons, showing excellent REACH learning, sporting events, charity events, reading competitions, full attendance, examination results, various department competitions and displaying our values of kindness, confidence and resilience. Students can also gain house points if their uniform is consistently worn correctly. The efforts of individual students and groups of students in each house are recognised in an awards ceremony at the end of each term.

Students can use their HAPs in our online rewards shop to order from a wide range of rewards which vary in their cost from a pen (at just 2 HAPS) to the most expensive item of a £10 Amazon voucher. Students can also order a variety of stationary items, such as revision flashcards, highlighters and notebooks. Sporting equipment such as footballs, netballs and table tennis bats are also available for students to order. Students can choose to order from the shop throughout the year and collect their reward the next day.

The rewards shop is accessible via ClassCharts - our student app.

Student Leadership Programme

Each House is represented by House Captains from every year group. One of their main roles is to promote student voice throughout the school. The Student Leadership Programme facilitates opportunities for pupils to share suggestions, feedback, general thoughts and opinions on day-to-day school life.

Tutor groups are visited and made aware of suggestion drop-boxes in their tutor rooms, as well as how to contact House Captains and HOH.

House Captains bring all feedback to House Meetings where the feedback is shared and discussed, working out the priorities to carry forward.

A College Council is then held, where House Captains collaborate and share their agreed priorities with the Head Students, who then take this student-lead critique to SLT to discuss and form an action plan to respond to the suggestions.

This is a valuable experience for students; having a chance to make sure their voice is heard, whilst being part of a process to improve all students' daily experience.

Godiva

Godiva is one of the four houses here at Southam College and we wear our house colour great pride.

I have had the pleasure of taking over the role of Head of Godiva and have absolutely loved being part of the Godiva Team! I have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and effort that Godiva students have shown so far. We always have an outstanding number of entries to every House Competition meaning we are regularly securing the top spots.

It is not just about entering competitions though, we must be well-rounded students who try their best in all aspects of school life. It is important that we are kind, resilient and confident at all times to ensure we are securing as many HAPs as we possibly can.

Well done to everyone for working towards another fantastic year as Team Godiva. Keep up your incredible work and contributions, gaining classroom HAPS and entering competitions right through to winning competitions. Every little helps, counting towards even more success!

If we all work together as a team then I am certain we can achieve great things. Make sure you keep your eyes peeled on Social Media and Class Charts for current House Competitions, the more entries we have the more HAPS we will receive!

Please feel free to pop up to Lab 6 to see me at any point if you have any suggestions or questions, it is great to hear from you!

Miss Cunningham, Head of Godiva

Shakespeare

Shakespeare is the purple house named after our region’s most famous playwright, poet and actor in the world – William Shakespeare

I am so excited to represent Shakespeare as your head of house this year. I know that I have a big responsibility as your house leader and hope to maintain your passion and winning drive.

The house system is here to recognise your achievements, reward you for demonstrating the School values and to promote your success as a Southam College student.

As part of Shakespeare, you will experience a wealth of competition, opportunity, and togetherness. I am a strong believer in working as a team to bring about success and am whole heartedly committed to providing support and encouragement to the house and everyone in it to achieve our goals.

I want Shakespeare students to be proud of the house they represent, to contribute to competitions and to feel like part of a community that achieves together. It is a known fact that winning isn't easy and that is why a strong, supportive house that comes together is the best strategy.

Throughout the year Shakespeare students can participate in a wide range of house competitions tailored to meet the needs and challenges of each individual student. Make sure you check Satchel and the school website for all competitions and contact me if you have any ideas for a competition. We are always looking for feedback from students and want you all to shape the House system.

Good luck this year Shakespeare, let's make it a huge success!! We can do it!

Ms Brereton, Head of Shakespeare

Webb Ellis

Webb Ellis is the yellow house of the Southam College house system, named after four famous local figures.

William Webb Ellis is the fabled inventor of the game of Rugby union. What is more likely is that he did play the game at Rugby school. This sport encourages teammates of different strengths and weaknesses to work together towards a common goal. Our students do and will continue to endeavour to do the same.

Webb Ellis students are passionate, committed and determined students and for the majority of this academic year, our house has sat top of the house points. This is down to the quantity and quality of entries into competitions and students' presentation of the Southam values around school and within the classroom. The ethos that the students bring to the house system is extraordinary. We were narrowly beaten to the post last year.

Students within Webb Ellis can maintain this excellence by monitoring Class charts for competition updates, participating constructively during lessons and being a role model within the school community. The house team is committed to always improving the system and encourage staff, students and parents to offer ideas and suggestions should they have them.

Should students ever have concerns or worries around school, as part of the house community structure, I am more than willing to listen, offer support and advice should students require it. It is my duty to ensure all Webb Ellis students are getting the most out of their Southam College experience.

Mr Elkerton, Head of House - Webb Ellis

Whittle

Whittle is one of the four houses within Southam College, named after Sir Frank Whittle, inventor of the jet engine.

The heads of house all have a clear vision to promote our school values of kindness, confidence and resilience in line with the spirit of Southam College and to reward your progress in demonstrating these values.

Whittle students are renowned for their excellent participation. We are so proud of all the students who partake in the wide range of house activities that Southam College has to offer and it is always so fantastic to see the enthusiasm that Whittle students have when it comes to completing them.

Throughout the year Whittle students can participate in a wide range of activities to earn house achievement points, as well as in lessons. Look out for house competitions throughout the year on Class Charts, the website and in assemblies for the wide range of competitions launched throughout the year.

We are committed to helping improve our house alongside the system as a whole and as such if you have any ideas or suggestions on how to do this, then please let us know.

Remember participation is key and we cannot win overall, without working together.

Mrs Turton and Mrs Morten, Joint Head of Whittle