Reward Scheme: Lockerbie Academy

SCOTTISH EDUCATION AWARDS

PROMOTING IMPROVED BEHAVIOUR AWARD

PRAISE STAMP SCHEME

Lockerbie Academy has introduced an effective and sustainable way of promoting improved behaviour in S1 to S3 by the use of praise stamps which can be gained from staff in a number of different ways. The scheme was devised by a working group of staff and pupils. Each department has a clear set of criteria for the award of stamps and there are whole school criteria as well. Examples include:

Stamps for good pieces of work
Stamps for improved or sustained good behaviour
Stamps for homework
Stamps for good acts of citizenship e.g.) handing in lost property, helping others
Stamps for acts of community service e.g. tidying up pupil social areas
Stamps for endeavour
Stamps for participation in Clubs and extra curricular activities.
Stamps for ‘good’ daily timetables for behaviour support pupils

Each pupil has a praise stamp card, which they carry with them in school; stamps are added by staff who initial to show authenticity. All pupils start on a level 1 card and once completed, progress to the next level of card. To achieve level 1 requires 16 stamps, level 2 requires 24 stamps, level 3 requires 24 stamps, levels 4 and 5 require 32 stamps on each card. To date, some pupils have achieved level 5 in one session, we await our first level 6! Regular audits of numbers of stamps issued by teachers are carried out to ensure consistency of approach within, and across, departments.

At the end of the year (May), certificates of achievement (personally signed by the Headteacher) are presented to the pupils at specially convened assemblies. All pupils gain some level of award and are encouraged to improve on their performance next year. The levels of achievement in S1 to S3 are included in the programme produced for the ‘Celebration of Achievement’ ceremony, which was introduced for S4 to S6 two years ago.

CELEBRATION OF ACHIEVEMENT CEREMONY (JUNE)

A working group of staff and pupils examined ways to continue to recognise and reward good behaviour and achievement and carry through to the Senior school a rewards system building upon the aforementioned praise stamp scheme. It was decided to reintroduce an awards ceremony after a lapse in any form of ‘prize giving’ for over twenty years. Again, clear criteria were established for the various types of awards. Community involvement was crucial if this event was to be a success and sponsorship was sought from all local businesses and organisations. (The event costs approximately £2000 a year to stage.)

There are two types of award:

a) Academic achievement based upon Standard Grade and 16+ prelim results - the top grade gaining the departmental trophy. All prize winners receive book tokens.

b) Endeavour awards based on the following criteria:-

good attendance
punctuality
consistently tries hard
participates in class
always completes homework
does not get punishments etc

A school Dux and Proxime Accessit was also introduced.

The evening, to which parents are invited, is a celebration of all the school’s achievements over the session and is very ICT-orientated in its method of presentation.