Students at Thetford Academy join one of four houses: Angles, Danes, Iceni or Normans. These houses are named after groups of people who moved to the Thetford region over many centuries. Every year, students at our school have the opportunity to win points for their house through good work in lessons, participation in house competitions and attending school well. 

The Houses

Angles

The Angles were a group that moved from Germany to the Thetford region in the fifth century. They spoke Old English and gave Thetford its name. By the sixth century, the Angles had created a kingdom that covered the whole region called “East Anglia”.

Danes

The Danes came from Scandinavia and are sometimes called Vikings. Danes settled in East Anglia in the ninth and tenth centuries. The Danes brought the Old Norse language to the region and introduced words such as “husband” and “skill” to the English language.

Iceni

The Iceni were a group who lived in the Thetford region at the time of the Roman conquest of Britain. They spoke a language related to what we now call Welsh. A famous Iceni queen was Boudicca who rebelled against the Romans.

Normans 

The Normans came from the north of France and conquered England after 1066. The Normans brought the French language with them and this merged with Old English and Old Norse to create the modern English language we have today. The Normans were famous for their castles and church buildings, such as Thetford Priory.

Gaining House Points

Rewards 

All students at Thetford Academy can earn points for their House over the course of the year. Individual awards and prizes are given to students for outstanding achievement or behaviour.  

House points are awarded for effort, attitude, quality of work, and demonstrating our school values of kindness, integrity and self-respect. A golden ticket is awarded for going above and beyond or doing something that really stands out, and each one is worth five house points. 

Competitions 

All Thetford Academy students are given the opportunity to participate in a selection of house events throughout the year. There is a wide range of competitions including the art, music, sport, reading, spelling bees, and many more, culminating with sports day at the end of the year. Each member of staff is also placed in a house and staff competitions run alongside pupil competitions with their points are added to the overall tally.  

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. 

Attendance 

Attendance is further underpinned through the House system. Pupils are rewarded for their attendance which adds to the House points. If a pupil is absent, they cannot help their House, and the importance of attendance is promoted through weekly Year group assemblies and daily assemblies.