Please give me a clue....Headteacher award

[DutchMummy88]

As my username implies, I didn't go to school in the uk. My little boy has just started reception year and seems to be doing really well.
I received a message from the school that he's been selected to receive a headteacher award during assembly next week and we are invited to attend.

I'm sure this is just a sweet and simple thing they hand out to every kid at some point, but nonetheless I'm very proud :)
The only problem is, I have no clue at all what it is all about, I don't even know what assembly is?!

Please explain so I don't look like a total fool next week. Not so much for me, but mostly for my boy who doesn't like being the centre of attention. I'd love to be able to tell him what to expect etc

Ag my children’s school, all the school children will bd sat in rows and some parents will attend. Sometimes the children will put on the assembly by acting out the theme of the week. A head teacher’s award is a special one and it wont be for every child. Your child will probably be brought ip to the front to be given it.

Primary school assemblies are generally lovely.

Turn up, follow the other parents.

You sit at the back of the hall and the children sit in front.
The head will come up and talk about the children receiving the award and everyone claps. Some children may do a presentation.

Be aware that unlike the rest of the world children in England (not sure about the rest of the uk) are required to have a religious assembly so you may need to join in with a prayer or hymn.

Thanks for explaining, that does sound like it's quite a special occasion to be given the award? As he's in reception do you think he got chosen for being helpful or something like that?
Still a bit in the dark as to what assembly means, do they do it every morning?
Feeling a bit shitty now about my relaxed attitude towards him starting school

Assembly format varies between schools and some schools will do it daily (mostly religious schools) and others every few weeks. Basically all the kids sit in the school hall and something will happen (a show, presentation etc). A few parents will sit at the back. It will be very sweet. He’s probably been to a few assemblies this term, even if he doesn’t know what they’re called, so he’ll be less phased by it than you. Be proud!!

They will have an assembly of some sort every day, but generally it is just a story with a moral, sing a hymn and say a prayer.
Schools are obliged by law to have a daily assembly that is broadly Christian. How broad depends on the school.

This sounds like a weekly special assembly to celebrate good work, trying hard, being a good friend type stuff.

Oh gosh, that all sounds very sweet and potentially christian! I shall be prepared to stand in the back, sing about Jesus and try not to cry!
This whole reception thing is a lot more emotional than I thought!

Can your child not explain what assembly is to you!??

Thanks for your super helpful reply tvstar, yes my child can tell me what assembly is about, but as he's only been in school for a short amount of time and I don't have any personal experience with it, it is still helpful to get other peoples opinions and experiences.
HTH

Hi OP
I went to a praise assembly last week with 3 other mums. Our four kids had to stand up and show their work. They took their photo afterwards.
That was it. Most assemblies are about 10-15 minutes long. If the kids are not presenting work, just being asked to collect a certificate or award, then it will simply be a case of standing up and shaking hands.
Mine hates being the centre of attention and I did ask if it was a wise thing to do but he was fine. Yours will be too. I am sure the teacher will walk him through it. Well done him.

You asked hey a question, TVstar 🙄

Her*

An assembly is when the children come together (sometimes the whole school, sometimes a year group or key stage) in the hall (usually). They will listen to a story, sing, listen to information (Robin Class won a football tournament or if you want to be in the eco council then speak to Mrs Smith type info), awards and praise are given, reminders (please don’t slam doors) or a class may lead it and act out a book or something, some kids might share their work, sometimes an outside speaker might come in. It’s supposed to have a ‘daily act of worship’ but this can vary dependant on the school and their persuasion.

Most schools have a "Celebration Assembly" once a week-usually on a Friday to which parents are invited. This will be different to the usual daily assemblies. In our Celebration assembly we have
Special Mentions-2 children from each class selected for good work/manners/etc by the class teacher who come out to the front of the hall to get a sticker!
Star of the week-one child from each class who gets a certificate( you will find that over the year pretty much everyone will get one of these for something!
Head Teachers Award-in our school this is an award suggested by a parent ( Little Dottie has learnt to swim 5 metres this week/won a football medal at the weekend/helps her gran with the shopping) for something done outside school. However, each school will have its own criteria!
School Council awards-children chosen by other children for an award.
Add to this birthdays, a song and a prayer and it can be a long assembly!

I'm afraid I don't think this is as special as everyone is making out. I'm sorry OP, you must have felt immensely proud of your DC, but this is possibly not as grand as you are imagining. Like spaniel eyes it is likely to be along the lines of a weekly celebration assembly where one or two kids from each class have been picked for a merit of some kind. At reception level at this stage of the year it is often along the lines of 'being a good friend to classmates' or 'sitting nicely' or 'tidying up toys'. I dont really wish to go off on a tangent about the fairness or otherwise in they way how primary schools give out awards, but pleas be aware that it is extremely common that over the course of the year, every child will win the class award/head teachers award, on the grounds of 'there are no losers/everyone wins etc. Indeed, my cynical self has noted over the years that the more 'troublesome' children or the 'teachers pet' child get a disproportionate number of these awards, and those well behaved and average academically are the forgotten ones. Rant over. Maybe phone the school on Monday and ask about what happens at the assembly. It's pretty poor that they haven't communicated this to you as a new parent to the school. My DCs school didnt communicate that they did birthdays in a similar type of assembly and i didnt find out until other parents berated me for not going to my DCs birthday in the autumn term, as I wasn't a working mum at the time. Don't beat yourself up if you can't make it. Save up your time off from work for all the Christmas events, there may be several😮