Rewards Policy

Achieving at Murray Park School

Mission Statement

At Murray Park School, we recognise and value the worth of all our pupils. We believe that every pupil can learn and grow to become young adults that contribute positively to society. We value and embrace the diverse backgrounds of all our pupils and believe that every one of them can achieve success in their own way. We are committed to providing as many opportunities as possible for our students to learn, develop and grow. Equally we are determined to acknowledge and praise all efforts and successes of our students. Our focus is on developing young people to have a positive and growth mind-set that primes them for achieving success throughout their entire life.

We have a strong set of values which have been created by our students. All positive points are based on these values: Perseverance Respect Independence Dreams Excellence

Aims of the reward system:

The objectives for the rewards policy are:

• To raise aspirations and promote a positive attitude towards school life and beyond
• To promote a positive and happy learning environment for all staff and students
• To increase students’ self-esteem through consistent and positive recognition
• To enable and support pupils in developing the skills and attitudes required to meet the challenges of adult life
• As part of the personal development curriculum student learn about appropriate behaviour and positive relationships
• To promote consistency across the school when rewarding students for their work or behaviour
• To promote a positive ethos of success and achievement that is accessible to all students
• To clearly describe different stages of praise and rewards the school will offer
• To ensure a consistent and desirable pattern of rewards
• To support pupils in adhering to the school’s behaviour expectations
• To drive improved individual outcomes to ensure that all pupils achieve to the best of their ability
• To determine the roles and responsibilities of all within the school in establishing a calm and productive working environment

Implementation

Pupils at Murray Park School are praised in a variety of ways:

• Formally: Charter for success, Learner of the Week, certificates, reward trips, public displays of work, articles in the school newsletter and press, etc.
• Informally: verbally in and out of lesson, positive feedback on work, in assemblies, displaying work, contact with parents/carers, etc.

This policy will bring together all aspects of school life; pastoral, academic, extra-curricular and social. Pupils will be recognised in a points based system, designed to encourage and promote opportunities for all pupils to grow. All pupils will earn GO4SCHOOLS Points that will be assigned using the GO4SCHOOLS program and will be regularly monitored, tracked and reviewed. Good behaviour is vital to students’ progress and achievement in school as well as developing personal responsibility in the community. The school has a stepped approach to sanctions which encourages positive behaviour and works alongside the rewards system. All behaviour and reward points can be viewed by parents on their Go4Schools personalised area.

The GO4SCHOOLS Points earned by pupils will trigger a variety of reward opportunities ranging from:

• Praise texts home
• Letters and postcards home
• Recognition in assemblies/ newsletters/ school website/ displays and tutor notices
• Small prizes such as stationary/ sweets and Chocolates
• Invitation to the half termly Head teachers assemblies
• End of year summer prize draw
• Free trips to the cinema
• Pizza parties and movie afternoons
• Gift vouchers
• Invitation to take part in community competitions
• Invitation to celebration evenings
• Invitation to the annual rewards ceremony
• Invitation to rewards trips

Other reward opportunities may also be offered throughout the year.

Pupils will be regularly updated with their total GO4SCHOOLS points through tutor time in the mornings. Highest achieving pupils will be displayed, celebrated and highlighted on the weekly tutor notices. Pupils who struggle to accumulate points will also be discretely challenged and encouraged to actively participate.

Staff training will be given on how to implement the reward points on GO4SCHOOLS in order to ensure that the rewards system is fair and consistent.

Rewards Trips

These are designed to reward students who have demonstrated excellent attendance and behaviour over the course of a term with an opportunity to participate in a specific trip or activity. The venues are selected and the trips organised by a designated Head of Year. Upon receipt of an invitation pupils are still required to pay for the cost of the activity.

Pupils are invited to participate in the Rewards Trips by letter which requires a signed parental response.

Celebration Evening

This is an annual opportunity to invite pupils to a celebration of their achievements at a formal awards ceremony attended by pupils, parents, staff and members of the governing body. Pupils are invited to attend the ceremony in recognition of their achievements and to be publicly awarded. Nominations are made by subject leaders and Heads of Year which celebrate outstanding achievement in a number of areas. The rewards include public recognition at a formal ceremony, certificates, prizes and trophies.

The Murray Park Charter for Success

At Murray Park we consistently promote the extensive personal development of pupils, giving a wide, rich set of experiences, pupils are also given the opportunity to develop their talents and interests to an exceptionally high quality. We provide rich experiences in a coherently planned way, in the curriculum and through extra-curricular activities. Our pupils’ character is exemplary through the promotion of the Murray Park Charter for Success, PRIDE values, tutor slides and rewards system. The Charter for Success enhances our pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, it also supports pupils to be confident, resilient and independent, and to develop strength of character. This initiative also enhances each pupils’ cultural capital and offers a wide range of opportunities to nurture, develop and stretch pupils’ talents and interests.

In addition to the already robust reward incentives pupils can achieve here at Murray Park, pupils can also achieve awards throughout their time here at Murray Park by completing the different tasks highlighted on the Charter for Success grid, these will be monitored through GO4SCHOOLS and will be marked off when completed. The more experiences students gain on the Charter for Success grid, the higher they will move through the award system.