Is this normal for Prize Giving

[LanaDelPray]

My son had his year 6 Prize Giving earlier in the week (private school) and although I was very happy he won a prize in a sports category, it was quite evident that all the other prizes (including his) were given to children who excelled in their category, however this was as a result of the parents working super hard with them out side of school.

For example the music award was given to a child who has been learning instruments since 4 and parents are very actively involved in taking him to festivals/competitions etc. The cricket award was given to a boy playing in a local club since he was young and now representing the county. This is just 2 examples, they all have a similar story.

The headteacher even mentioned achievements throughout the school where they played no part whatsoever (I.e. golf trophies). I feel like I’m the only one that sees that this is wrong, to use the success of children who are being heavily guided and supported by parents as their own and claim credit, when it’s quite clearly the parents hard work and support.

Is this normal or is it just our school?

Obviously the children who do sport/music/drama etc out of school will be the best at it - they probably have a natural talent in the first place and all those hours committing to practice will make them better. I’m not sure what your point is - do give think these kids should be ineligible for school prizes?

Kids are a product of their environment... a kid whose skill is nutured by family and school will improve faster than a kid with talent alone. Hence why kids from richer backgrounds are more likely to become Olympians etc.

However the child still has to put the effort in!

Fairly normal. Although all my dc have been learning the piano since they were 6 and only ds1 has ever got the music award for his year group. He did get it most years though. However, although all my dc enjoy learning the piano, practice and are doing well, ds1 is a lot more passionate about it than the others and has taught himself other instruments for fun as well.

You could say the same for academic prizes though, just because someone is naturally talented, or has support from their parents, and comes top in every subject, should they be ineligible for the awards. That just doesn't make sense.

In our private school experience, there were always prizes for improvement or effort as well as acadmic attainment. Also a good range of prizes for sports, dance, drama, art, music, etc etc. Everyone therefore got something, but some got a fistfull, and that's just life!

This makes me laugh. Our local private school is in the middle of the town centre, barely any outdoor space and yet they crow about their equestrian successes, and yes, things like golf, shooting, archery etc. None of which is anything to do with the school but entirely to do with the families who attend and do all this in their free time.

But I'm against private education, and celebrating sporting excellence that is nothing to do with you is not dissimilar to going on about how everyone got 7-9 at GCSE when you've selected on the basis of academic ability in the first place.

Prize giving should be more inclusive. Maybe suggest they have awards for effort, commitment, helping others, role modelling, in addition to straight out achievement.

Our state primary is really good at rewarding those who are displaying the school values consistently.

So it’s normal then. I agree with you @QuickWash i much prefer those awards. I’m trying to raise my son to see he is privileged because of the support we give him to prevent the arrogance some of these children have for ‘winning’ these prizes when they just started the race early and got handheld in the process.

And this is normal life, a prospective employer isn't going to give someone that hasn't got the achievements or experience a job. They won't care whether one person was given more chances than another with the way they were raised. If the parents are giving the child the best start in life and they're being rewarded for that, that's life. Inequalities exist in life unfortunately.

It's not ethical for a school to perpetuate inequality.

Sounds familiar. Rarely is in-school training and performance enough to excel. Schools are very happy to take credit for external accolades and scholarships even so.

I don’t think children would be given the music/sports/drama prizes at my kids school if they didn’t represent the school in those areas (sports team/orchestra/productions). But, yes, accomplishments play a big part in those prizes and they do tend to go to kids who train and practice outside of school as well.

I think it's normal at private schools.

State schools are more likely to give more prizes for effort.

Thank you for the feedback everyone.

Yes this is life and inequality exists and I am contributing to this by supporting my son so he can achieve great things in sport. So why is there a constant debate on which schools to chose if the parents are doing all the work? Asking the parents on forums such as mumsnet, which school to chose out of a certain area? If we all agree that parents are the biggest contributors and influencers to a child’s success?

Thank you for the feedback everyone.

Yes this is life and inequality exists and I am contributing to this by supporting my son so he can achieve great things in sport. So why is there a constant debate on which schools to chose if the parents are doing all the work? Asking the parents on forums such as mumsnet, which school to chose out of a certain area? If we all agree that parents are the biggest contributors and influencers to a child’s success?

It is a private school. So it's very existence does that.

A combination of things happen private schools don't attendance targets so it's easier for them to release DC for national and international competitions. Private schools sometimes give scholarships and or bursaries to get these children to join.
DD was a performing arts scholar who was released for performances etc and the school trumpeted her awards. There was another DC who is part of a world champion cheerleading team, but you need 10 days in May to go to Florida to compete.
Further up the school national swim team member, national show jumping team and European figure skating champion. All of which need adaptations for training and competitions.

Because the English system is obsessed with the illusion of choice. In Scotland the vast majority of parents send their children to the local catchment school and we don't have this obsession over inspection reports. Some parents will deliberately move to a specific area to get their child into a "good" catchment school but as you know that's a self-fulfilling prophecy. It also means they have a similar peer group because God forbid they make friends with poor kids - or even worse, immigrants !!! 🙄

If the school isn't doing anything to improve the performances of those already talented through outside lessons eg orchestra, dance show etc then you have a point.

My DS's primary school (state) boasted about its team's success in a local tennis tournament. The school didn't teach tennis nor even own a single tennis racquet . I daresay they had a few tennis balls. Bizarre.