Rewarding the Values throughout school
Why Get Set?
Joining Get Set meant an opportunity for Churchmead School (Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, South East) to promote the Olympic and Paralympic Values and link with other schools in Games-related projects. It wanted to encourage students to become lifelong learners using the Values, seeing this as an essential part of London 2012’s legacy.
The Journey So Far
A student Olympic committee has attended courses, visited other schools, hosted assemblies, presentations and parents evenings, designed displays and organised competitions. Special committee badges and T shirts have been made and committee members have been actively blogging. A Young Ambassador programme is also in place.
Churchmead has completely transformed its rewards system, pastoral
form groups and aspects of the curriculum to embed the Olympic and Paralympic Values. Student diaries now include a page for counting up house points awarded for displaying one of the Values and house groups represent nations competing at the Games. Individual forms are competing in a house ‘race’ to travel from Beijing to London earning ‘miles’ by competing in a variety of different events.
Hosted by the Olympic Committee and swimmer Karen Pickering a special opening ceremony marked the arrival of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Olympic Flame. The ceremony launched five weeks of Olympic themed schemes of work after which the flame finally moved on to another school in the borough.
Positive Values
The Values have been the basis for the school’s behaviour for learning policy. Students aspire to achieve points awarded for demonstrating an Olympic or Paralympic Value in any aspect of school life. This could be demonstrated through behaviour, academic or practical performance.
Results have been profound with the impact being seen in all aspects of school life. The system is relatively new to staff and students but engagement in learning has already improved greatly and students have adopted a very positive approach to demonstrating many of the Values in lessons.
And the highlights for students?
Students are inspired by the Games because they can relate to the idea of working towards an end result. The preparation an athlete goes through mirrors how successful students prepare for their GCSEs.
‘The pupils have relished the challenges and the Olympic Miles buzz is spreading throughout the school.’
Towards 2012
Churchmead’s involvement is part of a long term plan stretching beyond 2012 and it intends to continue using the Olympic and Paralympic Values as a core ingredient of its pastoral care system and rewards policy; it aims for a legacy of students demonstrating the Values in everyday life and for the rewards policy driving students to succeed.
By London 2012 students will have an increased knowledge of the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Churchmead aims to increase motivation and participation in many sports for years to come, seeing the Games as inspiring a legacy of athletic success.
