To think that the school prize-giving could do with a rethink?

[jillowarriorqueen]

So my 10 year old DD's school had a prize-giving ceremony this morning to celebrate their achievements last academic year. It's a very small school with only 14 children in her class - a mixed year 5 and 6 group. Of those 14 children, 4 came away with nothing. 2 of those children were new and therefore ineligible for a prize until next year, but 2 were eligible, they just didn't get one. My DD was one of these. It was no skin off her nose to be honest. She suspected she wouldn't get anything, despite getting glowing reports this week about behaviour and effort and she had mentally prepared herself for the disappointment. She got two prizes last year anyway, one of which was a big one. But her friend - the other child who didn't get a prize - was crying (and got shouted at by the teacher for being upset) as she hadn't got one for the last three years. Last year, I think everyone in her class got a prize except for her, in fact.

AIBU to think that if you're a tiny school, then you need to be really careful with prize-giving ceremonies, so that you don't give 10/12 kids a prize, leaving 2 out? The ratios just seem off to me. I'm not advocating prizes for everyone - that becomes meaningless. But I think either have less prizes or include more people in the cohort that are competing for them (like other year classes). Or just not do prize-giving in primary schools at all?

I guess I'm looking for other parent's thoughts on this, is all.

Surely it'd be more meaningful anyway to just have 2 or 3 prizes per class, so that the vast majority don't have a prize and only a couple do.

To leave out just 2 is horrid at any age!
I couldn't support that, even if my child was one of the ones receiving. A nasty idea and one that is sure to cause upset.

Unfortunately it's hard to be the one to complain if your child is the one without a prize. People will think it's just being a 'sore loser.' You're in a much better position to complain of your child is a prize winner, but so few people will.

blackberry when dd started in Reception many years ago after about 2 weeks she announced that she needed to be”more naughty”. I asked why and she said it was because the badly behaved children always ended up on the well done wall but she never did despite always doing as she was asked.
This continued throughout School until at her y6 leavers assembly the only thing her teacher had to say about her was that she always kept her desk tidy ( highest score in the year in her SATs, Grammar place and scholarship offer to Private school, School librarian, playleader for the younger years and School councillor) . The “community “ award went to a boy who had been told 2weeks previously that if it wasn’t so close to the end of the year he would have been suspended.
To be honest she ( and we) are ok with it, it seems unfair but if these awards help children behave so my dcs education isn’t disrupted by them then that’s fine by me. It’s not ideal but I don’t have a huge issue with it and as I explained to dd back in Reception for X sitting quietly during carpet time probably presents as much as a challenge to him as times tables do to you.
I do worry about these children once they leave school though and start work, they are unlikely to be rewarded just for turning up and trying your best but not achieving much probably wont lead to a promotion or pay rise!!
Obviously effort needs to be rewarded but as well as achievement rather than instead of