Head teacher to reward kids for turning up

Dec 31 2008 By Rupert Basham

Gareth Balch

Gareth Balch, head teacher at Jubilee High School in Addlestone, is to hand out badges for good attendance in a bid to cut unauthorised absences.

The initiative will be launched at the former failing comprehensive in Addlestone, at the start of next term in a bid to encourage pupils with personal or family problems, who might otherwise stay at home, to come to school.

The move comes after the school, which was ranked 'exceptionally low' for attendance by Government Ofsted inspectors in June 2007, was ranked 'satisfactory' for attendance after its latest inspection in November.

Principal of the School Lane comprehensive, Gareth Balch, said: "We want this to help those kids who aren't being supported at home, or are overcoming illness. We put the idea into our newsletter and we had a very quick response from the governors who thought it was extremely worthwhile."

Awards are to be handed out to pupils who have continually improved in their attendance and those that have achieved 100% throughout the term.

Four different levels of badges will be given to students: green for improvement, blue and red for continual improvement and gold for continual outstanding attendance.

It is hoped that the badges will motivate those children who don't have any sports, prefects or Duke of Edinburgh badges on their blazers.

Mr Balch said: "We have to make sure that the right kids are being rewarded for the best attendance. As always we give out certificates for those students who have achieved excellent attendance throughout the term, but the badges will hopefully prove to be motivational."

Students who succeed at this will be awarded with £25 book tokens monthly, but those who have achieved gold badges or have made a leap in their attendance will be put into a termly draw, which will see a much grander prize being awarded.

Mr Balch said: "At the moment we are looking for donations from parents and governors, we are hoping that we could give the students something like a mountain bike, but it does all depend on the response."