Here at Sandown, we believe that being part of a team is vitally important for a child’s development. It provides a sense of belonging within our school community. It also offers a chance to learn about:
- their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, and
- to become thoughtful, caring and active citizens in school and in wider society
Every child and teaching staff in the school joins a house when they join Sandown.
In reception, pupils leave fate to the ‘sorting hat’ just as Harry Potter did in Hogwarts, to learn which of the four houses they are honoured with.
Houses are a way of grouping activities in the classroom and competitions throughout the school. Each term every class competes in a house competition to try to earn crystals for their house. The competitions include the wide curriculum and not just sport.
Children can earn crystals for their house in various ways:
- Skills Champions
- Reading Bug
- Gold Award winner (5 /10/15…. log book mentions)
- PE Star of the Week winner
- Oscar winner
- Golden Pencil winner
- Log Book
- Intra-house competitions
- Whole school events
At the end of the term, we see which house has the most crystals in their pots.
We crown the winners in Funky Friday assembly on the last day of term. The winner also earns an afternoon reward, ranging from popcorn and a film, to sports activities on the field.
The houses are:
Castle: Arundel
Colour: Yellow
Animal: Dragon
Motto: Have faith and you can achieve.
SMSC: Spiritual
Castle: Bodiam
Colour: blue
Animal: Manta ray
Motto: Unity in diversity
SMSC: Cultural
Castle: Lewes
Colour: Red
Animal: Eagle
Motto: Do what is right, not what is easy.
SMSC: Moral
Castle: Pevensey
Colour: Green
Animal: Bear
Motto: Friendship, honour and acceptance
SMSC: Social