Rewards, Recognition and Celebrations

Rewards, Recognition and Celebrations at Wayland Academy

Every opportunity is taken to praise students for hard work, kindness, and independence. Everybody feels motivated by encouragement and praise. This also helps students build professional and caring relationships with staff.

The Department for Education (2022) states: Acknowledging good behaviour encourages repetition and communicates the school community’s expectations and values to all [pupils]. Using positive recognition and rewards provides an opportunity for all staff to reinforce the school’s culture and ethos. Positive reinforcements and rewards should be applied clearly and fairly to reinforce the routines, expectations, and norms of the school’s behaviour culture.

Verbal praise should be given to students at every available opportunity. In addition, teachers will give House Points in every lesson.

House Points

House Points are awarded both in and out of lessons for displaying our 3 core values. There is no limit on House Points given but they should be earned, and not given to meet basic expectations.

Students with the highest number each week, are recognised and celebrated in assemblies and will receive certificates. When a student achieves 250 House Points they will receive a bronze badge, when they reach 500 House Points they will receive a silver badge and a gold badge when they reach 750 House Points.

Additional Opportunities for Recognition

Category

Reason
Food Fest Various food related rewards such as Free Food Friday, Cookies, Ice Lollies, 'Jump the Queue' all awarded at different points throughout the year for streaks of strong attendance, community support and participation and more.
Games Room During the wetter and colder months challenging targets for attendance, behaviour, homework or House Points are set for student groups to achieve (such as as a form group or year group). Whichever group achieves the target they are permitted access for a week to the Wayland Games Room. This is housed at the back of the Assembly Hall and includes a bowling alley, pool tables and table football among other things.

Golden Ticket

A brilliant achievement or consistently going above and beyond. One issued per lesson.

Students can choose whether they place their Golden Ticket in the Prize Draw boxes outside the Dining Hall. Tickets are drawn randomly from the box each half term. The prizes change each half term and are often linked to local businesses in some way.

Star of the Week

Students that have gone above and beyond for the week.
Trips and Events Throughout the year we also run trips and events that students are invited to attend in recognition of high attendance and positive engagement in school. These activities might include: Christmas trip to Norwich, Half termly discos and movie nights that double as fundraising for Prom etc.

Wayland Superstar

Each fortnight, each Head of Year selects their most noteworthy 'Star of the Week' to be chosen as a Superstar. Their photo is displayed on display boards around the academy and they are given a goodie bag.

Year 11 Electives

Participating in the extra Y11 learning and /or engagement activities offered throughout the year. These along with additional group target setting are rewarded with year 11 specific events such as Rewards afternoon in the autumn term to recognise sustained effort over the summer break, eligibility to attend Prom, discounted tickets for Prom and more.

Automatic 'always prepared'

1 full week of always being equipped, never late, always dressed smartly – automatically added.

Automatic '100% attendance'

100% attendance in a week – automatically added.

Celebration

At the end of each term, celebration events are held to promote exceptional work towards our three values: we work hard for our future, we are kind to ourselves each other and the environment, and we work towards independence every day.

  • All students keep a copy of their certificates in their Record of Achievement - stored in form rooms and updated at least once a half term.
  • All students celebrate the achievements of their year group in a termly year group celebration assembly.
  • Students with a noteworthy achievement in a particular subject area are invited to a Subject Awards ceremony. During this event we also celebrate those students who have completed their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze or Silver Award.
  • Achievement Evening is held every year in the second half of the autumn term. This evening celebrates the achievements of our outgoing year 11. We also recognise current students who have achieved our top values awards: The WAY 100, the Flourish Award, the Gatsby Award.
  • In the spring term, coinciding with the week of World Book Day we host a Literacy Award Evening where students who have graduated from specific reading interventions, achieved high standards of reading or handwriting quality, and/or have contributed significantly to Student Voice are celebrated for their personal achievements.
  • In the summer term we celebrate the exceptional commitment of our sportspeople through our Sports Awards Evening - an opportunity for students to have their names forever engraved on a cup, shield or medal.

Each of the awards presented during an evening celebration event has a pin badge to accompany it. Students are expected to wear the badges they are awarded on their blazer throughout the year.

Badges for attendance and House Points are awarded at relevant points throughout the year.