Springfield School 

Rewards Policy

RATIONALE
Springfield School believes that the efforts and achievements of all pupils, both in school or beyond, should be recognised and celebrated. We promote a positive environment whereby Springfield pupils feel comfortable both striving for success and acknowledging the success of others.

This policy forms part of the school’s contribution to the Every Child Matters initiative, in particular to the strands of “Making a positive contribution” and “Enjoy and Achieve”.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

• To enhance pupil motivation through positive reinforcement.
• To recognise, encourage and value pupils’ contributions to the life of the school and community.
• To recognise pupils’ achievements and efforts within separate subject areas.
• To provide a means to publicly celebrate pupils’ achievements.
• To recognise where pupils challenge and extend their potential through involvement in both       internally and externally organised activities.
• To offer a system whereby pupils value their own, and others’, achievements.
• To provide pupils with the opportunities to take on positions of responsibility within the school and community.

MERIT SYSTEM - IMPLEMENTATION AT KEY STAGE 3

Each subject area has an established set of criteria by which they award merits/certificates to pupils throughout Key Stage 3 which meets their needs as a department. These criteria are published in teaching areas and pupils are made aware of how they can gain merits/certificates through their achievements and efforts in that particular subject.

Criteria also exist for the awarding of ‘pastoral’ merits as well as for service to the school and community. When a subject or pastoral merit or certificate is awarded the subject teacher or tutor records and the pupil is informed. Service and pastoral merits are recorded in the pupils’ study planner.

When a pupil has met the department criteria for awarding a certificate, a request for a certificate is passed to the Head of Department.  A certificate is then passed to the tutor for issuing and a record is kept.

At the end of the academic year each year group at Key Stage 3 has an ‘Awards Assembly’. In this assembly pupils are formally recognised for their efforts and achievements throughout the year. Two school year governors are invited to present awards. A Bronze, Silver or Gold certificate is awarded to pupils who have gained subject certificates in 5, 7 or 10 different subjects respectively. For each year group, subject cups, a Year Office Award and a Headteacher Award are presented to nominated pupils.  These pupils also receive an engraved CAM designed acrylic shield and ‘limited edition’ Springfield prize to keep.

The ‘limited edition’ prizes vary for each year group:

Year 7 Springfield Pen
Year 8 Springfield Mug
Year 9 Springfield Key ring

In the Awards Assembly the pupil with the most certificates in the year is awarded the Governors’ Shield, with a shield also presented to the top tutor group per year group.

COMMENDATION SYSTEM – IMPLEMENTATION AT KEY STAGE 4

Each subject area has a supply of small stickers, which are colour coded and contain the name of the subject with the school emblem. At specified weeks throughout the academic year (at least six), pupils are awarded commendation stickers by subject teachers in recognition of their effort and/or achievement in that subject.

The names of those pupils receiving commendations are collated and recorded. Formal letters are then posted home to the parents of any pupil who receives 5 or more commendations in different subjects during any of the specified weeks.

Year 10 also has a formal end of year assembly similar to that of Key Stage 3 year groups where a ‘limited edition’ Springfield Clock is awarded as a prize.

In Year 11 at the final assembly before Study Leave, subject winners are presented with a larger engraved acrylic CAM designed shield.  These winners are identified by the Head of Department for their contribution to that subject during Year 11.

During these award assemblies the 100% attendance for the year certificates are also presented.

100% attendance certificates for the term are also presented to pupils through tutors.

The number of certificates/commendations gained by each pupil is reported in the annual Record of Achievement received by parents.

The issuing of merits/commendations is the responsibility of the individual teacher or tutor. Heads of Department and Heads of Year oversee the system. Tutors keep a record of all merits issued at Key Stage 3.  The Rewards and Achievements Co-ordinator monitors the whole system.

Each year Heads of Department review their own subject criteria, while the Pastoral Group reviews the service and pastoral criterion.

OTHER METHODS OF RECOGNISING AND CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENTS AT SPRINGFIELD SCHOOL

The Annual Awards Evening for excellent achievements in GCSE and at Key Stage 3. Many local/national companies are now involved in sponsoring awards for this formal evening.

Headteacher’s referral – pupils are directly referred to the Headteacher for personal praise for efforts and achievements.

Head of Year/Tutors/Subject Areas regular meetings with pupils and the use of the Springfield ‘Well Done’ postcard or ‘Well Done’ stickers.

Pupils in Year 11 create a portfolio (Springfield Passport) recording all their achievements and involvement in Focus Days for use in post school interviews.

Pupil responsibilities

Senior Prefects

School Prefects Year 10 – 11 (normally around 90 per year group)
Tutor Group Assistants Year 10 (normally around 60 per year group)

Training is offered and pupils are encouraged to develop their leadership potential.

School Council Year 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11

Pupil representatives for Governor’s sub-committees.

Pupil working groups i.e. review group for Rewards/Study planners

Anti-bullying counsellors and book zone helpers in Year 10/11
Tutor Group Sports Rep Year 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11

Saturday Club mentors

Pupil Voice – representatives for COPS – city forum

Librarian assistants

Changemakers – Year 10 group organising and running workshop for Year 7 on a Focus Day on self-esteem

Upper school pupil and past pupil mentors for under-achieving lower school groups.

Year 11 Leavers’ book group responsible for designing and compiling publication.

Junior Sports Leaders and sports team captains

Sports tutor representatives

Drama production technicians

Springfield News, School Web site, Assemblies, School Noticeboards and Local Media are all used to publicise pupil achievements. 

System will be under review when new IT systems are in place to try and electronically record pupil merits and commendations.

Review Date:  Summer 2012