Recognition of students' achievement can take many forms- a word of praise on a one to one basis, praise in front of a group, formal praise in an assembly. Other ways of recognising achievement could be displaying work, sending the students with their work to Head of Year/Head of School/Deputy Headteacher/Headteacher.

The following Reward System is in place for Years 7, 8 and 9, to ensure that students can receive instant recognition in the first instance and subsequently, where appropriate, a more substantial reward. The bottom line is that where we make learning an exciting and rewarding experience, we will motivate and encourage our students to achieve greater things.

Positive messages encourage positive responses.

Commendations

For individual pieces of work, contributions to lessons or any other commendable activity (see below), staff may choose to award a commendation. This involves the member of staff signing the students' Commendation List in their Link Books, with the appropriate date, subject and reason for commendation. Staff should award only one commendation per activity.

When a student has achieved 10 commendations, they will be awarded an Achiever's Certificate (see below) by their Head of Year in Assembly. Vouchers are awarded at certain points.

This system succeeds only if it is used properly. Commendations must have status, and must only be awarded for real achievement. Overuse or underuse devalues the process and leads to inequality of opportunity.

Staff may wish to award commendations for such achievements as:

very good homework
very good classwork
major sustained improvement in work/attitude/behaviour
significant contribution to lesson
contribution outside the classroom
oral/practical work
working with others
community work

Achievers' Certificates (awarded for work in one year only):
BRONZE - first 10 commendations
SILVER -- first 25 commendations
GOLD -- first 50 commendations
PLATINUM -- first 100 commendations
HEADTEACHER'S AWARD -- first 150 commendations

Honour certificates

These may be awarded to students in all year groups by the Headteacher & Deputy Headteachers for an exceptional piece of work. The student should be sent, with their work, to the Head or
Deputies to receive the certificate. Each of these certificates is worth 2 commendations.

Monitoring & Evaluation

Every term, Form Tutors, Heads of Year, Heads of School and Academic Departments should monitor and evaluate the use of the commendation system.

Tutors should keep records of the number of commendations awarded to their students and discuss significant achievers and underachievers with their Head of Year.

Heads of Year and Heads of School should discuss the system across each Year Group. Department teams should evaluate their use of the system and adjust as necessary.