End of Term Cup Awards....

[Flowertop]

Hi just want to rant really. Why is it the same children every term who win all the awards for excellence, sport, art etc. My two never ever receive anything and I have to collect them today knowing (as I have just been sent the award list)they have not had anything. They are well behaved, not particularly bright but DS1 is very good at art. They both need confidence boosts and getting an award would give them such a lift but they are never included. Sorry if I sound totally self obsessed but I am really sad for them both.
Somebody talk some sense into me please.

ThanksXX

I take the piss out of these awards to my son and let him now how I see them of being no value or recognition of anything.

He is smart but crap at sport but you can't be good at everything attitude adn that some things are more recognised than others but for no real reason.

have to say ours are normally fairly even handed in Autumn and Spring and look at effort as well as achievement. End of year is more achievement orientated. dd got a swimming shield at Christmas despite being one of the weaker swimmers in the year group. You do get the same names recurring even so.

Have you spoken to the Head/class teachers about this? Particularly DS1s class teacher if you feel some sort of award would improve his performance?

We have Head Teacher certificates through the year which I think all pupils get for something that they have done well, academic, sport, behaviour etc. The end of year trophies are for Year 6 only and are given to the student who has won the most/excelled the most, which I think is how it should be.

Or, you could broaden your childrens horizons and enter other competitions. My 3yo won a silver cup for most points in the children's section of the village horticultural show at the weekend. Last year my 6yo got the Art Cup from the same show, which was a bloody huge great thing!

TBH i think they shouldn't have any of these cups/certificate thingys. Having seen it from both sides no-one is ever happy. dd1 was ALWAYS top of her class for everything to the point where it got a bit embarrassing, at 6 or seven she couldn't see why, despite her getting the highest mark/winning the race etc she shouldn't get the prize, it upset her when the trophies for maths/science/english and french which traditionally go to the child with the highest score in the end of year test didn't go to her when she got 100% in all of them, and was the only child to do so.

Equally DD2 who is very mediocre academically, musically and athletically gets so upset when she never ever wins anything despite trying much harder than her sister.

I think perhaps a quick word of how proud the headteacher is of you in their office or similar might be nicer. (this happens at DS1 nad DD1s secondary, there is a prize giving, 1 prize for effort, 1 for acheivment but head frequently calls home/speaks to child etc)

If the awards are to mean something, then they should be given to those who meet the minimum standard.

If you want DCs like yours to get a prize, perhaps you could sponsor a cup for a specific category. My boys' prep school had a Cheerfulness Cup, so anything goes.