The head teacher of a Derby secondary school named amongst the UK’s best for attendance has promised free hot chocolates to the best behaved students this term – after dishing out more than 500 ice creams.
Andrew Brown, head teacher at Derby Cathedral School – part of Derby Diocesan Academy Trust – has said the hot chocolate and ice creams are intended to highlight to students who do their best every day that their efforts are recognised.
The school has recently been recognised by the Fischer Family Trust (FFT) as being in the top 10 per cent for attendance in UK schools of the same type – taking into account factors such as catchment area and ethnicity.
The secondary on Great Northern Road is amongst the top quarter of all UK schools for its attendance.
The FFT system measures thousands of schools which are part of its data analysis service.
Mr Brown, who joined Derby Cathedral School as head teacher this academic year, said he was keen to reward pupils “for doing the right thing”.
So far this term two ice cream vans have been arranged to visit the school to reward pupils who had achieved a high set of expectations over the course of one month.
More than 500 Mr Whippys have been handed to pupils who achieved above 95 per cent attendance during the month, as well as an exemplary record for behaviour with no negative points awarded.
The school is setting high standards with negative points given for matters such as late homework, incorrect uniform and talking out of turn in class.
Mr Brown said: “To win an ice cream pupils had one month to come to school every day and be really well behaved. Sometimes in schools the focus is on pupils who aren’t doing the right thing. Students who are doing the right thing every day get forgotten.
“Some children need more support and that’s fine but there is also a group of children who do the right thing every day. We want to recognise those students.
“We also want to drive up standards and expectations in our school, instilling our values of rigour and joy so that everyone can flourish.
“There’s a joyful element to having an ice cream. We wanted to celebrate that our high expectations have been met by so many pupils. In laying on the ice cream vans we were letting our pupils know how we want them to be.
“The atmosphere while we were handing out the ice creams was buzzing – it was a simple thing to do but we hope to instil a really positive message from it.”
Now Mr Brown is promising pupils who demonstrate the same high standards over the course of a month a free hot chocolate loaded high with squirty cream and marshmallows as a pre-Christmas reward for excellent attendance and behaviour.
Dr Sarah Clark, chief executive officer of Derby Diocesan Academy Trust, said: “It’s brilliant to see Derby Cathedral School recognised in the top ten per cent for attendance amongst similar UK schools by the Fischer Family Trust. Congratulations to the hundreds of pupils at the school who have demonstrated that by bringing their best self to class every day they will be recognised and rewarded. Bringing ice cream vans to school is a great way of introducing a joyful spirit into school as a reward for good behaviour.”
This story was written and shared on behalf of Derby Diocesan Academy Trust by Lucy Stephens. Can we share your news and get you in the headlines too? Find out how we can help by getting in touch.
