Rewarding Excellence

Weaverham High School uses rewards to encourage, motivate and celebrate the success of students. We recognise our pupils are individuals, with unique skills, talents and abilities. We understand that each pupil has a story, and their personal circumstances vary greatly. We understand that success looks different for every individual and that rewarding success is essential. Reward motivates learners to strive to be the best they can be. Reward enhances self-esteem and encourages those who may be struggling to persevere. Reward recognizes the most deserving. Rewards at Weaverham High School are equitable for ALL. Our offer is consistent. We operate short term, focused rewards. Our aim is to motivate and inspire ALL pupils by offering a wide variety of rewards.

Through effective use of praise and reward, we aim to:

• Raise levels of self-esteem and confidence in ALL Weaverham students and allow them to thrive.
• Motivate ALL Weaverham Students to aim higher and aspire to inspire.
• Break barriers for ALL students and encourage ALL students to exceed their potential.
• Provide a high level of challenge for ALL students.
• Create a safe, orderly and working environment for ALL members of our school community.
• Ensure ALL students are ready to learn and thus allow effective teaching and learning to take place.
• Encourage respect for the community by developing ALL students’ sense of appropriate and inappropriate social behaviour.

Intent:

• We aim to reward ALL students as a means of acknowledging their effort, achievements and conduct.
• We will recognise and reward excellence and engagement with learning in EVERY lesson.
• We will recognise and reward excellence and engagement with learning in EVERY weekly assembly.
• We will recognise and reward excellence and engagement with learning EVERY Term.
• We will recognise and reward excellence and engagement with learning across the WHOLE academic year.

Rewards are currently given for the following:

• Learner of the week (BFL Grades)
• Form of the week (BFL Grades)
• Ethic of Excellence Award
• Wider participation and enrichment (In It To Win It Tickets)
• Contributions to the school and wider community
• EVERY pupil has the very best chance to be recognised and celebrated. We calculate our weekly rewards across a 5 day measure. Each week is a fresh start and a new opportunity to succeed.

Implementation:

We will use a range of strategies to ensure ALL pupils are valued and recognised for their effort and achievements.

Strategies include the following:

• Ethic of Excellence Award – students that have particularly impressed within a lesson are awarded the Ethic of Excellence Award. Awards are added via Class Charts and the student’s name is written on the plaque on the front of the classroom door. Positive behaviours are placed in the spotlight.
• Learner of the week – Behaviour for Learning Grades are added by class teachers after each lesson. The greater a pupil’s engagement in learning, the higher the points. The pupil with the highest points in each year group receives this award.
• Form of the week – Behaviour for Learning Grades are added by class teachers after each lesson. The greater a form’s engagement in learning, the higher the points. The form with the highest points in each year group receives this award.
• In It To Win It – students receive raffle tickets when they participate in extra-curricular activities. They place their tickets in the designated box. At the end of the half term, one winner is drawn.
• Celebration via our “The Best Version of You” boards – Excellent pieces of work are selected and showcased for other students to see. Boards are in every classroom. Student work is placed in the spotlight and used as models of excellence.
• Positive phone call home – Staff call home to express how impressed they are with students.
• Letter home – staff write home to express how impressed they are with students.
• Email home – staff email home to express how impressed they are with students.
• Celebration on social media – visuals and success stories are shared via the school Facebook site. Positive behaviour is celebrated.
• Celebration in the Newsletter – success stories, visuals and excellent work are shared with families and local primary schools. Positive behaviour is celebrated.
• Verbal praise (Relentless kindness.) Students are always encouraged. Their contributions are celebrated.
• Written comments (Kind, specific and helpful.) Written feedback celebrates effort and achievement.
• Headteacher’s breakfast – pupils who have impressed with consistently high BFL grades are invited to a special breakfast with Ms Morgan.
• Awarding of Colours – Year 11 pupils’ commitment to extra-curricular activities during their time at Weaverham is celebrated in this special assembly.
• Annual Celebration evening – Staff consider the endeavours and achievement of students over the full academic year and nominate students for both subject and pastoral awards. The school community celebrate these successes together with parents and governors.

Impact:

• Students understand they ALL have an equitable opportunity for reward.
• Students are motivated to achieve.
• Students feel valued.
• Students feel recognised for their efforts.
• Positive relationships grow between staff, students and parents.
• There is an increase in effort and positive peer pressure amongst students.
• Students develop healthy habits and learn to self-regulate.

Click on the link to download The Weaverham High School Rewarding Excellence Strategy