Celebrations, Rewards and House Teams

At Groveside, we aim to encourage and celebrate the success of all our pupils in all areas of school life, and to ensure that personal commitment and achievement is acknowledged, rewarded, recorded and celebrated.

We recognise that it is important that a young person’s efforts are acknowledged so that they are encouraged to learn the value of contributing to a positive learning environment.

Rewards can increase pupil motivation, encourage self-esteem, aspirations and a greater engagement with learning as well as strengthen relationships between staff and pupils.

We recognise that success can take many forms and looks different for each individual, and it will be regularly celebrated. We have a commitment to high standards and a relentless drive to remove barriers that may have prevented pupils from engaging in education in the past, developing a community with a shared sense of purpose.

We aim to ensure that pupils of all abilities in all years can benefit from a system of rewards which is consistent across key stages as well as being robust and simple for all staff to distribute awards for individuals, classes or houses.

We reward positive engagement and behaviour using a variety of methods including but not limited to both verbal and written praise, contact with home, certificates for attendance and punctuality, Star of the Week certificates presented at weekly assemblies, Summer Celebration of Achievement Awards and public display of work.

We award Sleuth points which can be achieved throughout the entire school day: during lessons and for participation in weekly assemblies, during morning and lunch breaks and during transition periods throughout the day.

These points recognise pupils demonstrating both our Living Values of Friendship, Kindness and Honesty, and also our Learning Values of Responsibility, Resilience and Respect.

At the end of each term, pupils have the opportunity to ‘spend’ their Sleuth Points. pupils can chose to exchange their points for a personal reward, a present for a family member, a cultural/character experience or donation to charity.

Pupils’ positive Sleuth Points also achieve House Points for the four House Teams, which encourages pupils to feel a sense of teamwork and achievement for the House. Pupils work towards achieving the House Shield at our End of Year Celebration Day Assembly.

We encourage our pupils to look beyond personal gain and to work towards a common purpose and sense of community and belonging.

To participate in off-site trips and events, pupils must demonstrate that they can follow instructions and stay safe on site to enable access to off site events, subject to necessary risk assessments being completed.