House Competitions
Welcome to Our House System
At Braunton Academy, we believe in fostering a sense of community, teamwork, and healthy competition among our students. Our House System is a cornerstone of this philosophy, designed to enhance the educational experience and personal development of every student.
Our Houses
We have four vibrant houses, each named after beautiful local beaches, reflecting our connection to the stunning North Devon coastline:
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Woolacombe (blue)
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Saunton (red)
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Croyde (yellow)
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Putsborough (green)
Why We Have a House System
The House System at Braunton Academy serves several important purposes:
Building Community: By dividing the school into smaller communities, students can form closer bonds with their peers and adults. This sense of belonging helps create a supportive and inclusive environment.
Encouraging Participation: The house system encourages students to participate in a wide range of activities, from sports and arts to academic competitions. This involvement helps students discover and develop their talents and interests.
Promoting Healthy Competition: Friendly competition between houses motivates students to strive for excellence in all areas of school life. It teaches them the value of hard work, perseverance, and teamwork.
Fostering Leadership: Each house is led by Student Leaders who are responsible for organising events and activities. This provides valuable leadership opportunities and helps students develop important skills such as organisation, communication, and responsibility.
Benefits of the House System
The House System offers numerous benefits to our students:
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Enhanced Social Skills: By interacting with students from different year groups, students develop strong social skills and learn to work collaboratively.
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Increased School Spirit: House events and competitions foster a sense of pride and loyalty towards one’s house, contributing to a positive school culture.
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Personal Growth: Participation in house activities helps students build confidence, resilience, and a sense of achievement.
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Academic and Extracurricular Balance: The House System encourages a balanced approach to school life, promoting both academic excellence and extracurricular involvement.
Join the Fun!
Whether you’re competing in a sports day, participating in a quiz, or showcasing your talents in a house performance, there’s always something exciting happening in the House System at Braunton Academy. We invite all students to get involved, support their house, and make the most of their time at our school.
Kind Regards
Jamie Frickleton
Assistant Vice Principal - Inclusion
What a fantastic Sports Day 2026! The day was filled with incredible performances, outstanding participation, and a brilliant atmosphere from start to finish. It was wonderful to see so many students giving their all, whether competing on the track, in the field events, or cheering on their teammates.
A huge thank you goes to all the parents, families and supporters who came along to encourage our students throughout the day. Your support helped make the event such a success. We would also like to give a special mention to those parents who bravely laced up their trainers and took part in the parents' race – your enthusiasm and competitive spirit were greatly appreciated!
House Results
After a closely contested competition, the final standings were:
🥇 Croyde 🟡
🥈 Putsborough 🟢
🥉 Woolacombe 🔵
4️⃣ Saunton 🔴
Congratulations to Croyde House for securing this year's Sports Day title!
Record-Breaking Performances
Several school records fell during this year's event, highlighting the exceptional talent and dedication of our students.
Year 8
Kush – 1500m: 4m 45s
Year 9
Sonny – High Jump: 1.71m
Emilia – Shot Put: 9.15m
Year 10
Quentin – 100m: 11.2s
Quentin – 200m: 22.4s
Ashton – 800m: 2m 07s
Dylan – High Jump: 1.80m
Amelie – 100m: 12.35s
These achievements are a testament to the hard work, determination and commitment shown by our students throughout the year.
A Day to Remember
Sports Day is always one of the highlights of the school calendar, bringing together students, staff, families and the wider school community. Whether achieving personal bests, breaking records, earning points for their house or simply taking part, every student contributed to making the day a memorable celebration of sport, teamwork and perseverance.
Well done to everyone who took part, and we look forward to seeing what records and achievements await us at Sports Day 2027!
On Friday 19th June, students took part in our much-anticipated House Welly Wanging Competition — and what a fantastic event it was!
For those unfamiliar with the sport, welly wanging involves throwing a wellington boot as far as possible, combining technique, strength, and a good sense of humour. It proved to be a brilliant way for students to come together and enjoy some light-hearted competition.
There were some impressive performances across all year groups, with students giving it their all and cheering each other on throughout the event.
A special congratulations goes to our winners:
Boys’ Champion: Zack (Year 10, Woolacombe House), with an outstanding throw of 28 metres
Girls’ Champion: Cara (Year 10, Putsborough House), with a fantastic throw of 16 metres
Both competitors demonstrated excellent skill and determination — a huge well done to them!
Congratulations also go to Woolacombe House and Putsborough House, who secured valuable house points with these victories.
Above all, the event was full of laughter, enthusiasm, and great sportsmanship. Well done to everyone who took part and helped make the event such a success!
On Wednesday 3rd June, the excitement was building as our much-anticipated Pumpkin Growing House Competition officially began! The middle playground was buzzing with energy as each tutor group selected two students to represent them and collect their very own pumpkin seeds.
With seeds in hand, the challenge has now been set. Over the coming months, students will nurture and care for their pumpkins, learning the importance of patience, dedication, and a little bit of green-fingered magic along the way.
This year’s competition promises to be bigger and better than ever, with judging taking place in October across three exciting categories:
Biggest Pumpkin (by width)
Heaviest Pumpkin
Best Decorated/Carved Pumpkin
Whether students are aiming for size, weight, or creativity, we can’t wait to see how their pumpkins develop over the coming weeks. It’s sure to be a fantastic showcase of effort, teamwork, and imagination.
We wish all participants the very best of luck—let the growing begin! 🌱🎃
This year’s Christmas Cake Competition was an absolute triumph, bringing together an incredible display of creativity, skill, and festive spirit. From traditional fruit cakes to imaginative winter‑themed designs, every entry showcased the talent and enthusiasm within our community.
With so many stunning cakes on display, choosing just three winners was no easy task. After much deliberation, our judges selected the following bakers for their outstanding creations:
🥇 1st Place – Blythe of Putsborough House
Blythe’s cake wowed the judges with its exceptional craftsmanship, festive flair, and delicious flavour. A truly deserving winner.
🥈 Runner‑Up – Peonie of Croyde House
Peonie impressed with a beautifully presented cake that combined creativity and technical skill.
🥈 Runner‑Up – Hetty of Putsborough House
Hetty’s entry stood out for its originality and attention to detail, earning her a well‑deserved runner‑up spot.
A huge well done to everybody who entered. The standard was incredibly high, and every cake brought something unique to the table. Thank you for helping make this year’s competition such a joyful and memorable event.
We’re already looking forward to seeing what you all bake next year!
In December, our students embraced the festive season with enthusiasm as they took part in our annual Christmas Card Competition. The event invited pupils to design their own Christmas cards, with the added incentive of earning valuable house points for their creativity and effort.
The standard of entries this year was exceptional, making the judging both enjoyable and incredibly difficult. Every participant contributed to the festive spirit and demonstrated impressive artistic talent.
🏆 Competition Results
After much deliberation, the winning entries were announced:
1st Prize – 100 House Points: Clodagh of Saunton House
2nd Prize – 75 House Points: Egan of Croyde House
3rd Prize – 50 House Points: Hetty of Putsborough House
4th Prize – 25 House Points: Millie of Woolacombe House
Each of these students produced outstanding designs that captured the joy and creativity of the season.
🎉 A Big Well Done to Everyone
Congratulations to our prize winners, and a heartfelt well done to all who took part. Your imagination and festive spirit made this year’s competition a wonderful success. We look forward to seeing even more brilliant entries next year.
1st Prize - Clodagh of Saunton House 
2nd Prize - Egan of Croyde House 
3rd Prize - Hetty of Putsborough House 
4th Prize - Millie of Woolacombe House 
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