At Wessex, one of our fundamental priorities is to make sure we both recognise and celebrate our children’s successes or good choices at whatever level and in whatever form. We actively encourage both children and adults to participate in activities which identify and highlight achievements, both big and small – even those achieved beyond the school gates.

Jump down to: Houses & House Points, Good News Assemblies, Trophies, The Golden Post Box, Golden Time and the It's Good to Be Me Tree.

Houses & House Points

Every child and adult from Reception to Y6 is a member of a school house. We have four houses at Wessex :            

York   (Red)    
Lancaster  (Blue)    
Stuart   (Yellow)    
Windsor   (Green)    

At the beginning of each year, the houses gather together and hold an election to elect a House Captain and Vice Captain from our Year 6 children. Children across the school can earn house points for excellent work, good behaviour, looking smart, helping someone, being kind,….just about anything positive. At the end of each week, the total number of house points is added up and the House with the highest total is awarded the house trophy in assembly. At the end of each term, the House who have amassed the greatest number of house points wins a day when they can come to school in their own clothes.

Our houses are also very important during a variety of events which take place through the year. Our PE kit consists of a coloured t-shirt which identifies which house each child belongs to. This year, we are introducing bi-termly ‘inter-house’ competitions including football, netball, and a quiz. Again, we are encouraging competitiveness in a supportive and friendly environment as this is very important. The biggest highlight of the year though comes during the Summer when we all enjoy taking part in Sports Day. Every child takes part, as do some teachers and parents! Points are again collected for each house and the event closes with an award ceremony during which the most successful house is named.

Good News Assembly

Each week, several children in every class are awarded ‘Good News’ certificates by their teachers. They may be awarded for excellent work, solving a problem, being brave, good behaviour, an achievement, demonstrating good leadership skills….again, anything positive. Sometimes certificates are awarded to groups of children or whole classes! Children are encouraged to take these certificates home to share them with their families and display them proudly.

Trophies, Trophies, Trophies

We have a number of sporting and academic trophies which are awarded on an annual basis. Every week, one class is awarded a trophy for the best attendance that week. The winning class keeps the trophy for the week and displays it proudly in their classroom. The number of occasions where we have 100% attendance is creeping up slowly!

We also award a trophy each week to the class who manage to keep their cloakrooms tidy. Lunchboxes, book bags, sweatshirts and coats have a habit of throwing themselves from the right peg. We take pride in our school at all times and so celebrate those classes who help to keep our environment tidy. We have a graph of success in the hall and at the end of each term, the class who have won the most times is rewarded with a special treat!

The Golden Post Box

We have a golden post box in the entrance to both Upper and Lower schools in which we invite parents to inform us of children’s achievements outside of school. Mums and Dads write down what their child has succeeded at on a golden slip and then post it in the box. Each week, we read some out in assembly and every slip is presented in the Golden Book…..a book of achievements which is also on display in the entrance hall.

Golden Time

Golden Time is enjoyed by the children in every class and is used across the school as an incentive for both hard work and good behaviour.

In Lower School, children follow the Golden Rules and are rewarded with Golden Time where they are allowed to play with special toys and games and take part in Golden Time activities.


An example of how Golden Time minutes are displayed within the classrooms.

In Upper School, children start each week with a number of Golden Minutes, which can be added to for positive reasons. Golden minutes can also be lost if a child makes the wrong choice. At the end of the week, all children enjoy their golden minutes in a variety of ways. It might be spent as an extra play time, in the ICT suite, roller skating, playing on their Nintendo DS, playing football, basketball, netball, 4-square……whatever the child chooses as their reward for their week’s hard work. It works really well and is thoroughly enjoyed by all the children.

The ‘Its Good To Be Me’ Tree

During our whole school assembly each week, we follow a theme which lasts for the whole week. The SEAL themes (Social, and Emotional Aspects of Learning) develop throughout the year and permeate all we do at Wessex. Each week, any adult in our school is challenged to ‘catch a child’ following the theme for that week. They write their name down on a leaf and in assembly several leaves are read to the whole school. Those children picked are awarded a badge to wear proudly whilst all the leaves are proudly displayed on our ‘Good To Be Me’ tree for all to see. The assembly then turns to the new theme for the next week.  
Wessex Primary School Awards