HASU's House System

Our House System

The House System is at the heart of academy life, building community, inclusivity and healthy competition across all year groups. Every student and staff member belongs to one of our four Houses, each named after a scientist who embodies our values of Innovation, Integrity and Discovery. Tutor groups are aligned with Houses, meaning students experience their House identity daily.

The objectives of our House System are simple but powerful:

To strengthen our sense of community and belonging.
To provide opportunities for leadership, competition and collaboration.
To motivate students to achieve their best — in the classroom and beyond.

House Logos

Our Houses

Hawking House – Named after Stephen Hawking, the English theoretical physicist whose work on black holes reshaped our understanding of the universe.
Al-Khalili House – Named after Jim Al-Khalili, theoretical physicist, author and broadcaster, and Professor of Physics at the University of Surrey.
Seager House – Named after Professor Sara Seager, astrophysicist and planetary scientist pioneering the search for Earth-like exoplanets.
Urey House – Named after Nobel Prize–winning chemist and physicist Harold Urey, whose discoveries advanced multiple scientific fields.

Heads of House:

Hawking: MissLakeland
Al-Khalili: Miss Smith
Seager: Mr Brain
Urey: Ms Taitz

House Points and Rewards

Throughout the year, students earn House Points for academic effort, participation in events and wider contributions to the academy. The totals are shared in assemblies, building excitement as each House competes for the prestigious House Cup.

Merits: Teacher-awarded merits for the 5Ps, early homework and positive behaviour are converted into House Points each week.
Attendance: Tutor groups with the best weekly attendance win extra House Points, encouraging reliability and commitment.
House Heroes: Each week, a “House Hero” is nominated for outstanding contribution, kindness or achievement.

House Events and Competitions

The House calendar is full of opportunities to showcase talents, step out of comfort zones and build teamwork. Highlights include:

House Weeks – Assemblies, fundraising activities, House Tokens and points awarded for participation and charity funds raised.
Nominated Charities – Each House supports a local or global cause:
- Hawking – Sutton Refugee and Migrant Network
- Al-Khalili – Sutton Night Watch
- Seager – St Raphael’s Hospice
- Urey – Save the Children
Subject Weeks – Subjects run a themed week, where activities earn points and broaden learning beyond the curriculum.
Sports Day – Known as “the best day of the year,” Sports Day is a celebration of teamwork, competition and athletic talent. It is the single biggest contributor to the House Cup, with a separate Sports Day Trophy awarded to the winners.

Leadership and Representation

The House System provides rich opportunities for student leadership:

House Captains – Two KS3/4 and two Sixth Form Captains per House lead events, motivate peers and grow in confidence.
House Representatives – Each tutor group elects a representative to support their House Captains and Heads of House, helping to drive participation and school spirit.
House Assemblies – Held once per term, where Heads of House and Captains present on chosen themes, celebrating achievements and inspiring their peers.

Why Our House System Matters

At HASU, the House System is more than competition. It builds friendships across year groups, strengthens resilience, encourages responsibility and connects students to their community. It is one of the defining features of life at our academy — uniting staff and students alike in a shared sense of pride and belonging.