What are HAPs?

Students can gain House Achievement Points in a number of ways including effort in lessons, sport, charity events, reading competition, full attendance, examination results, various department competitions, etc. 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 the Summer Term.

Students can regularly earn a range of points for their effort in lessons:

Good= 3 points, Very Good = 4 points, Outstanding = 5 points.

A similar scale applies to the quality of class and homework relative to their ability level. Students can earn special points awards for a variety of reasons e.g. Student of the Month (25 points), Commitment to a Club (25 points) or a range of bespoke points awards.

Each term a range of award certificates will be presented

Diamond Award – Top points scorer in the whole school

Platinum Award – Top points scorer in the year group

Gold Award – In the top 5% of points scorers in the year group

Silver Award – In the top 10% of points scorers in the year group

Bronze Award – In the top 15% of points scorers in the year group

Ruby Award – Top points scorer in the Tutor Group

Emerald Award – This is the Improver’s Award and is given to 10% of the year group who have most significantly improved their position but have not gained a bronze award or above. Therefore, this award is only presented in the Spring and Summer Terms.

House System
At Southam College their are four houses, each with the same aim of winning the overall house competition each year. The winning house from each year group gets to go on a trip at the start of each new academic year so the more HAPs you earn the more chance your house has of winning!

House Points (HAPs)
Throughout the year you can earn House Points for the following:
Outstanding attitude to learning, outstanding home learning, 100% attendance, being prepared and fully equipped in tutor and many more!

Courtesy Tickets
If you show kind and courteous behaviour towards another student, staff or visitors then you may be awarded a courtesy ticket these are each worth 10 HAPs and will go towards your house total!

Awards and Certificates
You can gain certificates and rewards for earning a certain amount of HAPs throughout the year:
Gold – Top 5% in the year group
Silver – Top 10% in the year group
Bronze – Top 15% in the year group
Diamond – Top of the whole school
Platinum – Top of the year group
Emerald – Most improved from term to term
Tutor – Top in the tutor
House – Top ten in the House

The house system is an important and exciting part of school life and students thrive in this competitive environment. May the best house win!

There are some things that you will need to bring to College EVERY DAY.

• Planner – you will get this on your first day in September.
• Reading Book – you should always have a book you can read in your bag.
• Equipment – black or blue pen, pencil, eraser, sharpener, calculator, ruler & a small pocket Dictionary

You will have different teachers for each subject so there will be lots of new people to get to know.

You will see your tutor twice a day during registration. You can ask your tutor if there is anything that you are not sure of or are worried about.

Your Head of Year works with your tutors to make sure that you are able to achieve your true potential in every area of college life. You can find them if you have any problems or if there is some- thing you think they’d like to know. Heads of Year love to hear good news!

There are lots of other members of staff in school that may not be your teachers, however they will be happy to help if you need it.

ALL MEMBERS OF STAFF AT THE COLLEGE SHOULD BE TREATED WITH THE SAME RESPECT AND GOOD MANNERS.

You will be set home learning from each subject (Maths, English, Science, Art, Drama, Languages, Geography, History, ICT, Life skills, Music & Technology) but don’t worry they won’t all be on the same day!

• 8.45am Students to be on site
• 8.50am AM Registration
• 9.10am First lesson
• 10.10am Second lesson
• 11.10am Break time
• 11.30am Third lesson
• 12.30pm Lunch time – You can either bring your lunch to school or buy it from the canteen.
• 1.20pm Fourth lesson
• 2.20pm Fifth lesson
• 3.20pm PM Registration
• 3.30pm College finishes

After school activities start.

The bell rings at the beginning & the end of lessons, apart from period 2 & 3 where you will be dismissed by your teacher. There is a warning bell at the start of the day, at the end of lunch & break time, so that you know it’s time to go to lessons or registration.

Once you arrive at school you MUST stay on the site until you leave at 3.30pm. Students are not permitted to leave school during lunchtime, unless you have a signed lunch pass.

Keep all your belongings with you throughout the day – you can get a locker to keep things in if you wish. It is important that all of your belongings are clearly named.

If you are ill you go to the Student Office & tell them. You do not ring home. The school will get in contact with parents if you need to go home.