Leavers' assembly prizes

[Anyother]

Just wanted other people's thoughts on this. How would you feel about a year 6 leavers' assembly that gave out prizes to 60 out of 90 children? Awards ranged from things like a maths prize, drama prize, hard worker prize to a 'twinkle in their eye' prize.

Have to admit I would wonder why they couldn't have "found" a prize for every child if they were giving to such a high proportion.

At DC's leavers' assembly every child got an individual prize for something genuinely personal to them, plus they gave out about 20 extra prizes for subjects, effort, service to school etc (year group of 120).

There should be less prizes. If you can't get a twinkle in your eye prize what's the point.

I think prizes for achievement, academic, social or sporting are great and needed. Dilute with random ones and then leave 30 kids out is harsh. Plus it's going to take bloody ages to get through 60 prizes.

All of the kids or 10 of the kids.60/90 is awful.

English, Maths,
Girls sport, Boys sport,
Music, drama, art,
Perseverance
Overcoming adversity
Contribution to school

Sorted.

So others agree - it's not just me! My thoughts were - either give everyone a prize - or give to a small percentage. Otherwise, what's the point? You don't feel special if you get a prize and you feel pretty rubbish if you're in the minority that didn't get one. I'm just surprised that not one member of staff thought that this was not a good idea?

It's a bit like birthday party invitations - either invite everyone or just a small group so that no one feels singled out for exclusion.

I hate it when schools do this, poor kids who didn’t get a prize. Either give them all a prize or just 10-20 out of the 90.

When my DD left primary, they gave awards for every academic subject. Some DC would win two, or three. Some none at all. I now volunteer at the school and they give prizes for Maths, English, Science and a special Cup for Drama, Sport and Music. Also an award for most house points.
But each and every child, whether they have won one of the "big" prizes or not, is given a certificate for something unique to them eg being a supportive friend on PGL, being a Librarian, reading to Reception children etc. They all get three things mentioned. I think it is lovely, but it is only a very small school and I can see that would be difficult with 90 children. It's not fair though to highlight the achievements of sixty out of ninety DC.

that is just sillly. Ours has way too many sports things which all go to the same children I believe but I have never taken much notice as my children would never get any of them anyway. I still remember at school I had been really very ill for 2 years yet had still kept on top of my school work etc and there was one prize for endeavour or whatever it was which was the only thing I had a chance of winning yet I was also really the only candidate for it. then our year they changed it to being something else and so someone else got it. I was so disappointed as I really had been up against the odds.

The problem with prizes is that if you do one subject or activity where do you draw the line. Far better to literally do 2 or 3 ones for "nice personal qualities" of various types and forget the rest in my opinion.

This will out me hugely to any of my friends reading this but when at DS1's school they gave a merit award at the end of each term for a boy and a girl so 3 boys and 3 girls in Year 3 then in Year 4 a different 3 boys and 3 girls got it and so on for Year 5 and Year 6. By the end of Year 6 DS1 still hadn't got one. There were 24 children in his class right up until Easter of Year 6 so he'd worked out that he must be the one to get it at the end of Year 6 and it would be amazing because it would be so special as he got it at the end of his Junior school time. However a new boy joined just after Easter and he got the merit award at the Leavers Assembly. The image of my son sitting there with tears rolling down his face as the realisation that he was the only child in his class never to be recognised for his achievements will stay with my forever and Im really not a precious snowflake kind of mother! He is really academic and very sporty so to this day I still don't know why he never got one.

that is so sad Norfolklass. and it will be purely because someone ticked a list wrong probably! I spoke to the teacher when my eldest was in reception, they had told me she was exceptionally well behaved, helpful, hardworking, kind etc etc etc but she was the only one who hadn't had a head teachers award and many had had more than one. turned out someone had ticked her name accidentally.

All should get a leavers certificate. No
Prizes. They celebrate leaving. It’s easier, sensible and fair!

This will out me if any friends read it, but, at dd1s leavers assembly, 23 out of the 24 children were awarded a prize.
Dd sat there in tears, and refused to go back to class, or back to school for the last few days. And this was a child who'd never ever been in trouble, always had good marks, represented the school for various competitions etc, and had almost 100% attendance throughout her 7 years at school.

A complaint to the headteacher got a "there, there, we can't all be winners all of the time" type reply. I've actually never been so angry!
I think she'd been missed off a list tbh, the teacher had only been there for 6 weeks, and dds name was last on the register, but, surely someone should have noticed? They knew there was 24 in the class, so why didn't they realise there were only 23 certificates and prize bundles?

The "prize" (a calculator and dictionary) was delivered (by hand, through the letterbox cowards couldn't even knock the door ) the next day, but that didn't make up for it.

It took a long time for dd to get over that.

Where are the teachers on this thread? They’re usually pretty quick to rush in and defend their profession

My grandson is an average student. He never was "the best" in any academic subject. But in second grade (age 7) he got an end-of-year award for "Most Persistent". I had to tell him that meant he kept trying until he got it right. He is now age 16 and he still remembers that award and still reminds me that he will keep trying until he succeeds.
You never can tell what effect a "random" prize will have on a child.

What the hell is the criteria for 'twinkle in their eye"? What a shit prize which tells everyone else 'you don't have it'. I agree, a few prizes with actual criteria for achievement, no teachers getting to choose their favourite bollocks. Leavers certificates to all to acknowledge the 7 years of primary completed. Even 'best student' I find stupid as I want to know 'best what....'. Best manners, best attendance, best maths, best English etc. And then who determines what makes your manners the best etc.

Norfolklass that is horrendous!! I hope you explained to the school the disappointment experienced by your son and asked why he was the only one not to get something.

That proportion is all wrong. Way to make a third of the year group feel like shit.

I’m not keen on prizes in primary I think it’s just a popularity contest tbh. My son who was always impeccably behaved and in top groups for everything the whole 7 years never got anything. Now in high school where there appears to be proper objective criteria for who wins what he is winning prizes and most of the ones who won in primary aren’t getting them.

I would think that would be a VERY long leavers assembly.

Where are the teachers on this thread? Teacher here and I agree it’s bloody awful. The two stories upthread where their DC was the only one not to get a prize are heartbreaking. I would be willing to wager it was an admin error but god how awful. I would be so angry with myself if I messed up something like that. Sadly, the confident children will always say “but Miss, I haven’t got a prize yet!” and you can quickly correct it but the well-behaved quiet children may well not speak up and the teacher ends up none the wiser.

What would be a long leavers’ ceremony? If schools are inclusive and value all children, all children should get a leavers’ certificate. Nothing else is needed.

DC's old school had 120 in the year group and managed to give every child a personal award (as well as some outstanding awards). It took about 40 minutes. Hardly too long ...