The Thomas Aveling House System

Great care and consideration is taken to welcome new students and to ensure that they have an identifiable and secure place within the school community. It is our aim that we give pupils the opportunity to make happy relationships and be secure, in order that they make the best progress in their learning. To support this aim the school has put in place a vertical house system which has three core values: Raising aspirations, healthy competition and developing community values.

Each student is placed in a House of around 270 boys and girls of all ages with siblings being put in the same House. The Houses names, chosen by the students, represent and embody the ethos of the Houses. They are Achilles, Cavalier, Resolute and Victory.

Aspirational Pastoral Care

Within each House pupils are placed into smaller groups of about 21 pupils of mixed ages. Tutor groups are led by tutors who deal with mentoring and supporting academic progress, and daily matters that allow them to get to know your child very well. The tutor's most important task is to build positive, personal relationships with, and between, pupils and with their parents in a way that creates a "family" atmosphere. Tutor groups meet every day for 20 minutes and during this time student get prepared for the day, discuss topical issues, have debates and some take on mentoring and leadership roles. They also have the opportunity to learn from older students about options choices, and the study and organisational habits needed for GCSEs and A Levels. We also believe that it is important for younger students to have high aspirations for themselves and we are proud that our system supports this. From very early on, pupils are encouraged to show responsibility and leadership and to express their views confidently. Student Voice is very important to us and we listen to ideas that pupils have that might help us to improve the running of the school.

Healthy Competition

The House system promotes and celebrates success. When a student makes a excellent progress in their development, shows excellent habits of behaviour or learning, or makes a positive contribution to the school and its wider community, they will be rewarded with House Points. Miss J Voice is the House Coordinator who leads all of the activities that Houses become involved in. She is supported by the four Heads of Houses, whose role it is to lead House activities, charity work and enrichments. Miss Voice is always happy to hear new and creative ideas from students, parents and staff for activities that Houses can become involved in. She can be contacted on jvoice@thomasaveling.co.uk See the front page for the current House Point totals.

Community Values

The Houses also concentrate on developing an ethos of care for people outside of the community. This presents itself in the form of volunteering work, charity work and active citizenship within their House. Each House has their own charity that they work hard to support throughout the year and raise significant amount of money. The Heads of House help to actively promote the House charity and give a lot of their own time for fundraising and community work.

Each House is lead by a Director of Learning and a Link Assistant Headteacher. The Houses also have two non-teaching House Assistants that support the care and well being of pupils in each House and are a readily available contact for parents during the day. Student enrichment is led by the Heads of Houses.