At The Birley Academy we want to recognise the huge number of our pupils who achieve both academically and pastorally, and who meet our expectations every single day. This is something incredibly important to us.
We have launched our academy values, and our behaviour and rewards systems are now built on these.
Pupils have multiple opportunities to be recognised for their positive contributions to school life.
During registration, pupils are allocated their Values points for the day. We are proud to assume that all pupils will meet expectations every lesson, and this is why we have chosen to allocated values points in this manner. Pupils are allocated 5 points for each lesson, P1 – P5, and 5 points for their Personal Development lesson each day – so 30 values points per day.
Pupils can therefore earn 150 values points each week, and should they go above and beyond in their actions, for example demonstrate ambition in lessons by working incredibly hard, courage by standing up to bullying behaviour, kindness by helping a pupil who is new or upset, they can be granted 5, 10, or up to 50 and 100 additional points by staff or senior leaders!
But… what do these points mean?
We are growing a ‘values shop’ in school. This is where pupils will be able to ‘spend’ their values points on a range of items, including pencils, pens, fiddle toys, rulers, pencil cases, notebooks, bouncy balls, footballs, water bottles etc!
The Values points will be deducted from their spendable budget, but not from their running total, as this is what qualified pupils for
Each term (Christmas, Easter and Summer) there will be a range of activities or trips on offer to all pupils who have achieved the required percentage of values points. This is calculated through the amount they have gained, against the amount they have LOST through negative or poor behaviour choices. Pupils need to have achieved 90% positive points to be eligible for the rewards events. Pupils will be updated on their percentage each week, and given opportunity to undertake activities around school which can earn them ‘catch up’ values points, such as helping the site staff or supporting with organising the library or classrooms. The 90% is a firm line, and is not negotiable, so pupils will be encouraged each day to demonstrate values and not have these points deducted through poor behaviour choices.
There will always be Celebration events which take place in school, which are at no cost to families, but we are keen to also provide exciting out of school opportunities for pupils, such as Ice Skating, Alton Towers or Water Parks. These will be at a cost to families, but we will ensure there is lots of lead in time for affordability.
Pupils will also be recognised for their contributions to the academy values through the presentation of bronze, silver and gold ‘values badges’. These will be presented in assemblies half termly, along with certificates to take home.
We will be recognising the success of pupils who demonstrate our values through our Awards evening, where we will have specific awards for each value – these will be open to all parents and carers and will be presented alongside all of our curriculum awards.
