At Archbishop Holgate’s School we aim to create a positive and motivated atmosphere, within which students can take pride in what they do. We believe that through formal recognition of achievement, teamwork, positive attitude to learning or community mindedness students will work harder and take more pride in themselves and their community during their ‘Journey’ through school.
In order to promote this aim and to create a positive school community, the whole school rewards and house system policy is in place to achieve the following purpose and principles.
Purpose
| Name | Merits Threshold |
|---|---|
| Bronze | 1000 |
| Silver | 2000 |
| Gold | 3000 |
| Platinum | 4000 |
| Special Commendation | 5000 |
| Ability to apply for the House Tie | 6000 |
How are House Merits issued?
House Merits are issued using an electronic system called Classcharts. Staff, pupils and parents are able to access Classcharts to review House Merits that have been recorded and the reason why. Issuing House Merits on Classcharts allows for a pupils achievements to be tracked and monitored throughout their time here at AHS and also enable the thresholds identified in the table to be automatically activated e.g. when a pupil reaches a certain threshold, a notification is sent to all parties and a letter/certificates sent from the office home. The member of staff responsible for Personal Development within school then records formal achievements to be able to acknowledge/reward pupils in the end of term ACW celebrations.
What else can House Merits be used for?
House Merits are used to calculate overall House totals at the end of the year so the winning house can be awarded accordingly. Pupils are also able to spend their House Merits at the schools own Merit Mart. The Merit Mart is a shop that is run by pupils within school, here pupils are able to purchase various items ranging from stationary to colour changing light bulbs.
The House Tie
When a pupil achieves 6000 house merits for behaviour and effort a letter will be generated and sent, encouraging them to apply for the AHS House Tie. The House Tie is distributed to those that can meet a set criteria as laid out in the application form that pupils must complete and submit.
If a pupil is successful in being awarded their House Tie, they will receive this in the Celebratory ACW at the end of the half term. The tie permits pupils to a range of advantages such as jumping the queue at both break and lunch times.
The Head of Year Award
This is issued weekly to two students from each year group (Years 7-13). This is intended to reward excellent effort, work or strong evidence of living the school values into being. It is not given on academic achievement but effort, commitment and character. Through nominations by teachers, Heads of Year will select two pupils to receive these awards.
Winners of the weekly “Head of Year Award”
Each recipient of the “Head of Year Award” will receive a certificate and a £5 gift voucher. Each pupil will also be praised and celebrated in the celebratory ACW at the end of each half term.
Positive Phone Calls/Messages Home
Each week staff are encouraged to reward pupils by either making positive phone calls or sending positive messages home. The award identifies specific moments during a pupils week where they have surpassed expectations or made significant improvements in areas that were previously needing development. Phone calls and messages home contribute massively to a pupils experience at AHS and enable positive relationships to be triangulated between staff, pupils and parents.
House Competitions
Throughout the year departments are required to run a minimum of one house competition for pupils to take part in. The house competition will be promoted/organised in a number of ways and pupils will earn 5 house merits for taking part. Pupils competing in house competitions will have the opportunity to be awarded either house/individual recognition, depending on how the competition is structured. Pupils taking part in competition will be praised for their efforts during the half termly celebratory ACWs.
Half Termly Rewards
Subject Certificates
The school recognises the need to acknowledge pupils doing well within specific subject areas. Once per half term, departments are asked to identify a minimum number of pupils within each subject area, per band, per year that will receive a subject certificate. Subject certificates are designed to acknowledge the hard work and effort pupils have put within certain subjects and will state a specific reason for the certificate outcome e.g. for continuing to complete excellent standards of homework within Maths, especially fractions.
Headteachers Award
The Headteachers Award was first implemented in September 2023 awarding pupils from each form in each year group each half term. There is a criteria for the award in terms of effort and behaviour within school and a stipulation that each award should be distributed to a member of the form that hasn’t received it before (unless they are not meeting the criteria). During a pupil’s time at school from Y7 to Y13 they will have approximately 35 opportunities to receive the award, unless the pupil is failing to meet the standards required for the award 100% of pupils have the opportunity to achieve.
Termly Awards
Linked to each subject area within school, AHS Accolades are ‘pin’ badges that are awarded to pupils termly and are recognition of the level of effort, progression and hardwork a pupil has contributed within a certain subject area. Staff at AHS jointly contributed to the created of the criteria a pupils should meet to be awarded a subject accolade, this includes:-
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AHS Signature Tie and Citizenship Awards
The AHS Signature Tie is an individual award to the highest standards that any pupil has the opportunity to apply for despite the number of merits that they have been awarded. The AHS Signature Tie exists to recognise pupils that may go unnoticed and may contribute both a great deal outside of school to their communities as well as in school (if time permits). The school recognises that not every pupil is able to stay and volunteer for school events/take part in extracurricular activities. This award opens up the floor to allow them to tell us about themselves. An application form must be completed and be supported by a letter or recommendation from a non related family member outside of school.
CEO Award
An achievement at the very top of the rewards tiered system. This award is given twice a year to one pupil in each year group. This award is created to recognise pupils at the very top levels of effort, behaviour, character and achievement within school. Pupils will be expected to meet and exceed the criteria set within the guidance for the Headteachers Award and be an active member of the school community. Pupils achieving the CEO Award should go above and beyond in all aspects of life at AHS, volunteering at open events, attending extracurricular clubs and undertaking a voluntary role within school. Where being an active member of the school community isn’t possible, this is due to the role the pupil plays within the community or high level commitment/responsibilities the pupil has outside of school.
Recipients of the CEO Award will receive a letter home inviting them to lunch and also receive a personalised invitation during the end of term celebratory ACWs. Pupils will be invited to attend lunch with the CEO of the Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust, receive a certificate, a personalised trophy and reward vouchers.
Themed Celebrations and Termly Events
At the end of each full term, pupils will be invited to attend ‘whole school celebrations’ to reward them for all of their hard work and effort. Key celebrations per term are located at Christmas, Easter and Summer. During this time the member of staff responsible for Personal Development will organise a whole school event that ALL pupils will enjoy. Recently celebrations have included:-
- Whole School Easter Egg Drop
- Wholeschool Enrichment Week in the Summer term
- Wholeschool Masked Singer performance and live final
Rewards Mornings
An opportunity for parents/carers’ to join us for a morning of celebration, watching each and every pupil gaining recognition for completing their stage of the AHS Journey, as well as a number of other awards taking place based on individual/team achievements.
Sports Day
Each year pupils join together to take part in the whole school competition of Sports Day. The school’s teaching timetable is cancelled for the day and staff and pupils come together to take part in a range of activities and events. Pupils are celebrated and awarded for their achievements and their taking part contributes towards their overall house totals. Pupils in past sports days have often worn their house colours and maybe used face paint or glitter to really embrace the occasion.
Enrichment Week
In the final week of the school academic year the whole school will embrace and be rewarded with a range of enrichment opportunities as rewards for their hard work throughout the academic year. During this week each year groups will have a wide range of activities and enrichment to take part in, this includes:-
- Trips abroad and in the UK
- Day trips to theme parks/other tourist attractions
- Sports and external activities from providers such as Speedkix
- Guest Speakers from a range of external areas such as science, English etc
- Day of games and entertainment provided by staff.
