Rewards and Praise
I can live for two months on a good compliment. Mark Twain
At Harris Academy Rainham, we understand the value of recognition and praise. We strive to reward students whenever possible—whether formally or informally, publicly or privately, and always with sincerity and consistency.
By acknowledging achievements, we celebrate those who excel, inspire those who may face challenges, and motivate students who may feel disengaged. Encouraging a culture of reward is central to our approach to teaching and learning.
How we reward
At Harris Academy Rainham we reward achievement in several ways, including:
- Verbal praise
- Teacher commendations
- ‘Belong, Believe, Become (BBB) points
- Middle leader commendations
- Commendation via email or letter home
- A positive phone call home
- Public display of high-quality work
- Special reward assemblies
- BBB points shop
- Jack Petchey Award winners
- Principal’s Praise winners
- Proud Thursday book praise and prizes
We will ensure that the quiet, compliant student is not overlooked, and we will aim to speak positively to every class member during a lesson. A positive atmosphere of mutual enjoyment should be evident in every lesson.
Learning behaviours and BBB points
Students are regularly awarded BBB points from staff for displaying positive behaviours listed below:
- Confident
- Resilient
- Curious
- Ambitious
- Informed
- Kind
- Proud
- Equipped
- Extra-curricular activities
Students’ BBB points can be exchanged at the BBB points shop (located in the Head of Year office). Students are able to exchange BBB points for: stationery, sporting equipment, gift cards, toiletries, and snacks!
Attendance awards
Prizes in the form of certificates are also given for 100% attendance. Any pupil with 100% attendance, no negative behaviours or ‘lates’ will be automatically awarded commendations each week; additional commendations are also awarded each term.
Each year we set aside special evenings to acknowledge the diverse range of achievements of our students. These include the school play, concert, carol service, and sports awards evening.
Proud Thursdays
At Harris Academy Rainham, we are proud of the work that our students produce, and we believe that they should be proud of their work too. Every Thursday lunchtime, members of our Senior Leadership Team and Heads of Year invite students to bring them a class workbook to showcase their hard work. Students are rewarded with a certificate and may have a special shoutout on our Facebook page!
Principal’s Praise
We believe that every student deserves recognition, especially those who quietly and consistently demonstrate dedication to learning but are prone to flying under the radar. To reward these students, we have introduced the Principal’s Praise Award. Each Friday, one outstanding student is personally commended by the principal and receives a certificate along with branded school items, such as bags and bottles. This award celebrates students who maintain excellent attendance, diligently complete their work, and embody our core values.
Full details of our expectations for behaviour, both inside and outside of the academy, and of our approach to rewards, sanctions, support and intervention, can be found in our behaviour policy downloadable from our Student Welfare page.
