House System
Every student and member of staff at Waterhead Academy is a member of a House. There are three Houses – Dovestone, Hartshead and Strinesdale. The House names were selected to reflect the significance of these important landmarks within the local community. Mr Wilson oversees the House system and subsequent competitions. Each respective house is led by appointed student House Captains from within each year group.
The role of House Captain is a much sought after and widely respected student leadership position within the Academy. House captains are required to play an integral role in the organisation and officiating of competitions, they must demonstrate leadership qualities through recruiting students from their respective houses to participate in events, address fellow house members during half termly house assemblies as well as being a role model to their fellow peers through modelling the Academies core values at all times.
A variety of house competitions take place throughout the duration of the academic year; all competitions provide students with the opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities and to secure points for their allocated house. The house that has accumulated the most points at the end of the academic year is awarded the coveted House Trophy. The triumphant house captains are presented with the winning trophy during the annual awards assembly. The trophy remains on display within the display cabinet throughout the next academic year adorned with ribbons to display the triumphant house colours.
Dovestone
Dovestone Reservoir lies at the convergence of the valleys of the Greenfield and Chew Brooks above the village of Greenfield, on Saddleworth Moor. The reservoir is on the edge of the Peak District National Park in the South Pennines. It supplies drinking water to the surrounding area and is a tourist attraction, offering several walks amongst picturesque landscapes.
Motto: Don’t wish for it, work for it
Hartshead
Hartshead Pike serves as a focal point in the Oldham landscape, visible from miles around with unbroken views across four counties. The name Hartshead Pike is derived from the monument on its summit. Hartshead Pike Tower has been a Grade II Listed building since 1967. Historians highlight links to the past with references to the Druids occupation during the Iron age, the significance of the area during the Roman occupation of Oldham where Hartshead Pike was seen as a major transport link and also the importance placed on the area by the Anglo Saxons whom it is believed used the landmark to appoint leaders and create law.
Motto: If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together.
Strinesdale
Strinesdale is a reservoir situated between Oldham and Delph. Strinesdale is an area of water and woodland covering approximately 40 acres. In 1991, the reservoirs were drained and replaced by two smaller lakes with the old reservoir sites being planted with trees and grassland. Strinesdale derives its name from the Old English “Strine” meaning boundary in reference to the old Lancashire and Yorkshire boundary that ran through the middle of the site.
Motto: Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow. Determination, Respect, Ambition