Leavers assembly - no school prizes

[mids2019]

My daughter has just left primary school and the head decided to give every child a prize instead of traditional prizes for various assignments given by benefactors.

The head explained that every child was special in a unique way and therefore should be equally awarded. The leavers assembly then continued with the head giving a brief statement on the qualities of each child.

Do you think the original awards should be reinstated. Granted not every child wins a prize but do year 6 children ultimately have to accept that not everyone wins in a competitive environment? Should children applaud those that do win and consider how they would go forward to gain comparable awards in future and additional develop resilience when not winning? Is the 'everyone's a winner atrocities ' ultimately helpful or unhelpful.

Probably better what the school did than the usual prizes especially for academic achievement. I'd still like to think that some sporting awards could be given.

Why wouldn't they amplify personal attributes of academic kids too? Im not really following.

At 11 I'd like all kids to be celebrated ! And all kids encouraged in personal skills.

@BugsInTheBed

That is a good .point. Possibly the sporty, musical and academic children are known by reputation and peers respect for these talents is enough? I guess as adults though we take prize giving as a part of human culture from world cups to Nobel prizes so is there an ideal point for children to be shown that there is a competitive element to the world?

To be honest you are coming across as bitter that your child's academic achievements have not been recognised in some way?
If this is the case then you can celebrate with them as a family. The y6s are 11 years old for goodness sake. The leavers assembly is not the time or place for celebrating the achievements of a few individuals. It is about the end of children's journey as a cohort through primary school so it should celebrate all of them.

Primary school is a different journey for all children, no-one should leave feeling like a failure. All children should leave knowing that all of them have their own strengths, challenges and accomplishments. What would the headteacher be saying by rewarding some achievements but not others? Do only academic achievements matter when you look at the progress they have made since 4 years old ? I agree with awards in secondary where academic accomplishments are the focus, but not primary. This headteacher sounds lovely and I think it's great she values things beyond SATs results.

I think the leavers assembly should be about celebrating everyone and the time they have spent together not giving out awards.

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess one of yours is sporty.

I think the adulation of team sports is actually quite bad for children. Particularly girls. Play, have fun, win, that's great. But why should all the non-sporty children who importantly didn't bother going to the match, be forced to sit and clap after the fact? It's utterly bizarre if you think about it.

Mine does solo sports. No one comes and applauds her.

Still not following. I dont live in culture of prize giving as qn adult and dont think its healthy for kids to feel they have to strive to be no 1, especially in academics. Amd for 1 child to feel great for a day and 89 not too - a ll children should have achieved in one way or another oflver 7 years and I think that's really important.

Actually as well in life - to study/work for its intrinsic value is far better than to need to achieve olympic standard for example! Bit like with gymnastics - only a few kids will reach olympic standard. Ot doesnt need to be the goal for all pf them.

@MissAtomicBomb1

My kids were fairly average; it was just there seemed to be a change in philosophy at the school. I agree a leavers' assembly may not be he perfect venue for prize giving but it was a change from the event in previous years.

is there an ideal point for children to be shown that there is a competitive element to the world?

They know that. Hardly a secret It's the cooperative side that gets ignored.

My DC has just finished primary and the leavers assembly included a “coronation” ceremony where each child was given a cardboard crown while the teacher gave a little speech about their unique attributes or achievements. Some were based on academic achievement, some on effort and others on kindness, creativity etc. It was lovely and really highlighted how well the teacher had got to know them through the year.

I also think at primary age a lot of sporting and music “achievement” is down to the amount of time and money parents can spend on coaching outside of school, so hardly a level playing field and perhaps a bit unfair to be rewarding it in school.

We don't in our school, we value personal qualities because they are the things that will take them furthest in life and help them most in secondary and further education. What is the point in getting 100% in every test they take but being unable to work in a group, reflect on their own learning, challenge themselves or persevere ? It's not always important what they know but how they are as learners, which comes back to personal qualities. It's great when children achieve high scores but Education is a marathon not a sprint and personal qualities will often turn out to be the most important in the end.

Thanks @Maymaymay sounds like the children are lucky to have you. Someone who really sees them.

May may that's it exactly. Your school sounds fab.

Some.good.points here and I think ultimately the views here have made me feel the school made incorrect decision. My children are neither particularly academic or overly sporting; pretty.average really.

Out of interest do people feel.that prizes have a place at secondary school?

Out of interest do people feel.that prizes have a place at secondary school?

No.

It's a nice thing to do, especially praising each child's good qualities. The children are only 10 or 11, there's plenty of opportunities for prizes and academic achievement later on.

It's a momentous moment for them (and for their parents and grandparents).

I am reminded of the song that I'm sure featured in lots of leavers' assemblies:

One more step along the world I go.

So how do you want the competitions run? Should there be an exam and the child with the highest mark gets the prize? Or what about giving the kids a hard book to read and the one that finishes first and can answer questions gets the prize?

Or would it be based on progress? The child that couldn't read in y3 because of undiagnosed SEN but finishes a book in Y6? Should they get the prize?

Schools are not judged on league tables. Ofsted do not look at data. Primary school is about giving a broad and balanced curriculum focused on the needs of the community.

It sounds like your head did a great leavers assembly which was inclusive of all (and pretty typical too).

FYI....My son came first in 2 races on sports day and is incredibly salty that all he came home from school with at the end of term was a participation certificate given to all kids for attending sports day!!! 🤣

@MrsTerryPratchett

Quite a definitive answer.

I think our secondary school does give prizes but I don't know if this will change.

Do you think academic success (or sporting or.musical) prowess.should be celebrated more quietly or in a different fashion?

At secondary school there will be a range of academic ability and I guess schools will wish every pupil to achieve their potential (however you define that) but you think that open praise of at least academic ability is not necessarily helpful.

I was split on my thoughts and have felt the answers here quite illuminating. I think there are some good arguments against prize giving .

@Mumdiva99

Well done to your son!

What's a school leavers assembly if it can't end with some kids feeling like they really will never be good enough to win anything and hopefully some tears. None of this niceness to a group of kids who will leave for good in a hew hours. If it isn't a teaching moment, then why is it is school.

Is that better OP?

Prizes are much less of an issue at secondary because the children are 16, and normally a far smaller % of the year group get them.

I think what your school did was great, valuing each individual child, and I'm surprised that your take on this thread was that the school was incorrect.

Imagine, your last day at school, you think you're going to get the English prize or the sports prize or whatever and you don't. It could taint the memory. Or you are one of the lower achievers who always gets overlooked. Your last memory of school is being underappreciated yet again, and yet again having the bright or sporty children who have had accolades from peers and school for the last 7 years being singled out above everyone.

The last day of primary is not the day for 'teaching resilience' to children who have had to be average or struggle for the previous 7 years. The main ones who might need that are the ones usually top.

Do you think academic success (or sporting or.musical) prowess.should be celebrated more quietly or in a different fashion?

Life gives natural consequences. You win at sports, you win there, in the pitch. Your team celebrates. That's the positive consequence. Musical success is celebrated if you do a concert, or take part in grading. DD just likes it when her (very old school and harsh) piano teacher gives her a 'well done'. Academics are celebrated with good report cards and feeling good about high marks.

Even the soft skills. Nice, likeable children have lots of friends.

The world is stuffed with natural consequences for success. Prizes aren't motivating to most children. Teachers who really see the children, privately celebrate the important things for each child, notice them, that's what schools should aim for. That's what motivates. No need for other children to sit and clap for them.

Our secondary has a prize giving event, but it’s invitation only. The children who haven’t achieved a prize aren’t expected to sit and watch those who have. They do also have a reward scheme with a trip for about a third of the children each year, but it’s based on whether their teachers are happy that they’ve been working and behaving well across most of their subjects, rather than their objective academic achievement.

I think it’s a brilliantly powerful and inclusive message to leave their primary school with and to go into the next stage with. Well done to that Head for being able to see the awesome in each individual. They must all feel so important.