House system at Heckmondwike Grammar School

LEES CUP

INTER-HOUSE COMPETITION

All members of the school, both staff and students, are allocated to one of the four Houses:

At the conclusion of a series of inter-house events throughout the year, the 'Lees Cup' is awarded to the overall Champion House.

Reigning Champions (2009/2010)     Brontë House

The first challenge for all new entrants to the school (admittedly a more demanding task for the members of some Houses than others!) is to discover the origin of the name of their House.

Thereafter, they have the opportunity to engage in the extra-curricular life of the school at a level which is accessible to virtually all students through a wide range of sporting events or through competitions in Music, Debating, Drama or Chess. A recent expansion in the range of competitions has seen the inclusion of some curriculum-based events.

In addition, the organisation of events is delegated to students at all levels, allowing them also to develop leadership skills and to take on increasing levels of responsibility, as they progress through the school. A typical hierarchy would be as follows:

→ House staff: each House operates under the overview of 2 members of staff:

→ Senior House captains / vice-captains with strategic responsibilities

→ House Captains / vice-captains with specific responsibilities: eg for Sport, Music, Drama, Debating or Chess

    House Secretary

→ Year group captains (years 7 - 11) with strategic responsibilities

 → Form captains with specific responsibilities: eg for Sport, Music, Drama, Debating or Chess

The vertical structure also brings many social benefits, allowing students the opportunity to engage in activities with others from outside their own year group. The role model set by senior members of the House is therefore vital in helping to perpetuate the ethos of the school - a contribution which is quite rightly acknowledged on many a UCAS form!

All students are actively encouraged to play their part.

Calendar of events

This is a provisional overview of the pattern of events. The precise schedule is at the discretion of House Staff. Dates will be published on the 'upcoming events' section of the home page of the school's website; in addition they will be publicised in House Assemblies which take place on Tuesday each week.