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Our House System
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 Jane Austen College, 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.
When students join Jane Austen College, they are allocated a House; Bronte, Ishiguro, Julian or Shakespeare.
Our Houses
Our Houses are named after great literary figures who have national and local significance. As a English and humanities specialist school, we recognise the importance of having these figures as role models for our students to be inspired by and feel pride for their House. When students join Jane Austen College, they are allocated to one of the following four Houses:
BRONTE
Be Determined
Charlotte Brontë was an English novelist and poet, most known for her novel, Jane Eyre. Brontë wrote her first known poem at the age of 13 in 1829, and would go on to write more than 200 poems in the course of her life.
“Your will shall decide your destiny.”
–Charlotte Brontë
21st April 1816 - 31st March 1855
ISHIGURO
Be Ambitious
Sir Kazuo Ishiguro is a British novelist, screenwriter, musician, and short-story writer. He is one of the most critically-acclaimed and praised contemporary fiction authors writing in English, being awarded the 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature. His first two novels, A Pale View of Hills and An Artist of the Floating World, were noted for their explorations of Japanese identity and their mournful tone.
“If you are under the impression you have already perfected yourself, you will never rise to the heights you are no doubt capable of.”
–Sir Kazuo Ishiguro
8th November 1954 - Present
JULIAN
Be Generous
Julian of Norwich was an English mystic and anchoress of the Middle Ages. Her writings, now known as Revelations of Divine Love, are the earliest surviving English language works by a woman, although it is possible that some anonymous works may have had female authors. They are also the only surviving English language works by an anchoress.
“Cheerful givers do not count the cost of what they give. Their hearts are set on pleasing and cheering the person to whom the gift is given.”
–Julian of Norwich
1343 - After 1416
SHAKESPEARE
Be Courageous
William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. His extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays,154 sonnets, three long narrative poems, and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright
"We know what we are, but know not what we may be.”
–William Shakespeare
23rd April 1564 - 23rd April 1616
Rewards
Students have wide range of opportunities to earn House Points throughout the school day. House Points are awarded for living out our values – Be Kind, Work Hard, and Take Responsibility. This can take place in our classrooms and our corridors, in our lessons and our extracurricular activities, as well as through participating in our House Competitions.
Students can also earn additional House points when they are awarded a postcard celebrating their success in lesson (3x House points). Postcards are awarded in each lesson to a student for embodying our mission when they endeavour to develop their knowledge and character.
Jane Austen College House League Cup
At Jane Austen College, there is a wide array of House competitions including the arts, chess, reading, sports, languages, maths challenges and spelling bees and many more, culminating with the final house event of the year - Sports Day. In each of these competitions, houses are awarded points based on their ranking. These are then aggregated with the non-competition based House Points rewarded to students in classrooms and corridors.
The Jane Austen College House League Cup is then awarded at the end of each year to the House that has accumulated the most points overall from House points, House competitions and Sports Day.
Each member of staff is also placed in a house and staff competitions run alongside student competitions and their points are added to the overall tally. The objective is simple - that Jane Austen College students see their staff working together to compete for House Points whilst modelling our values in front of the entire school community.
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.
Student Council
We strongly believe that our students should have a say on how our school operates, as well as being given opportunities to develop their core skills including communication, teamwork, leadership and problem-solving.
Our Student Council is comprised of Head Students and Deputy Head Students from Year 11, together with Y11 House Captains and Y10 – Y7 Deputy House Captains. Our Student Council gathers and discusses student opinions on wide range of topics such as electives, lessons, uniforms, competitions and much more. Members of Jane Austen College’s Leadership Team regularly attend these council meetings to offer their expertise on specific topics and to ensure that the student voice is head and taken into consideration when school decisions are made.
Each of our Houses has a House Leader and every pupil and staff member is expected to be part of a House.
Attendance
Attendance is further underpinned through our House system. Students can earn House Points for their attendance so if a student is present, they help their House; and conversely, if student is absent, they cannot help their House. Attendance is promoted and celebrated across the school in Form time, classes and House Assemblies.
