How Can Praise & Rewards Shape School Culture?

A guide on how to shape a rewards system that is inclusive and fosters intrinsic motivation.

School culture refers to the values, beliefs, attitudes, norms, and practices that exist within a school and shape the school environment. It encompasses the way that students, teachers, staff, and administrators interact with one another, the types of behaviours that are encouraged or discouraged, and the overall tone of the school.

What does a positive school culture look like?

A positive school culture is characterized by:

1. A supportive and inclusive environment that values diversity and promotes positive relationships.

2. Clear and consistent expectations for behavior and academic performance.

3. A focus on student well-being and development, both academically and socially.

4. A growth mindset and a focus on continuous learning and improvement.

5. A safe and secure environment that encourages students to take risks and be creative.

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Why Implement Praise and Rewards?

Rewards are a powerful tool for creating positive change in a school culture. By providing recognition and tangible incentives for good behaviour, attitudes, and performance, schools can help students feel valued, motivated, and engaged. Rewards can be an effective tool for improving student behaviour in schools, but it's important to use them in a thoughtful and strategic way. In my opinion, rewards and praise shouldn't be given for simply following basic expectations such as having a pen or entering a classroom in a calm and orderly manner, yes recognise the positive behaviour but don't go overboard. Quite often in schools, the most rewarded students are the ones that present the most challenging behaviour but on the occasion they simply follow a rule they are lavished with praise. From my experience, this often alienates the rest of the student body.

Implementing a clear, concise rewards system that is built on genuine high expectations and being the very best version of yourself could have the following benefits in your school:

• Foster a positive atmosphere.

• Increase student motivation (extrinsic & intrinsic).

• Increased opportunities to celebrate & share success.

• Encourage positive habits.

• Foster a growth mindset & develop resilience.

How to Implement an Effective Praise & Rewards System?

Implementing any new system in a school can be difficult and self-doubt my creep in. You may ask yourself: Will this have any impact? Will staff and students buy-in? Will this system drive change in the school? The below bullet points provide some food for thought if you are looking at refining how you praise and reward students in your academy:

• Set clear expectations: Clearly define the behaviours you want to encourage, and make sure individuals understand what actions will result in a reward.

• Make rewards meaningful: Choose rewards that are meaningful and motivating to the individual, this should be bespoke to your school setting and student demographic.

• Provide frequent feedback: Provide individuals with immediate feedback and recognition when they demonstrate positive behaviour, which reinforces the desired behaviour and encourages it to continue.

• Encourage progress: Offer rewards for incremental steps towards a goal, rather than just for the end result. This helps to keep individuals motivated and engaged. Include rewards threshold which can be based on half-termly/termly/annual positive points accumulated.

• Offer a variety of rewards: Offer a variety of rewards to keep individuals motivated and engaged, and allow them to choose their rewards whenever possible.

• Be consistent: Be consistent in your application of rewards, and make sure all individuals have equal opportunities to earn rewards.

• Evaluate and adjust: Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of the rewards program and make adjustments as needed to ensure it remains effective and relevant to individuals' needs.

• Make it a positive experience: Getting a reward should be a positive experience, make it memorable for the children, make it exciting by highlighting their successes and celebrating their achievements.

By using rewards in a positive and strategic way, you can help individuals build positive habits, foster a supportive environment, and improve overall behaviour.

Five Takeaways:

• It's important to consider WHY you are implementing a new praise and rewards system.

• Consider HOW you will implement your new system and be crystal clear about your expectations.

• WHEN will you implement your new system, consider the time of year which will have maximum impact. Do you launch in September? Could you introduce in the summer term ready for September? Again, these will be determined by your school setting.

• Overcommunicate. Does everyone in your school know about the praise and rewards system? Are teachers using it effectively to improve behaviour and engagement? Keep communicating your vision so that every member of staff in your school can articulate it as well as you & every student knows the importance of it.

• Continually refine. Seek feedback from colleagues and use it to develop and improve.

A strong school culture is important because it affects student outcomes, such as academic performance, social-emotional development, and overall well-being. A positive school culture can also help to create a supportive and engaging environment that encourages students to attend school, be engaged in learning, and achieve their full potential. By using rewards in a positive and strategic way, schools can help students build positive habits, foster a supportive environment, and improve overall behaviour and academic performance.