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Secondary education

do all schools run a house point system?

16 replies

nipersvest · 01/12/2013 12:06

and what is the general consensus on house points?, fair or a popularity contest?

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Vatta · 01/12/2013 12:12

Nope, some do, some don't.

And depends how the points are awarded really - in my school the house who came top in sports/exams/won the drama comp etc got points, and individuals got points for good work/being helpful, so it seemed pretty fair.

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rightsaidfrederick · 01/12/2013 12:27

Mine didn't - houses were only really for things like sports day and debating competitions (and, strangely, dividing up the English classes)

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NoComet · 01/12/2013 12:30

ours didn't, Eisteddfod and sports day only.

DDs primary and secondary do, but no one cares.

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Talkinpeace · 01/12/2013 13:05

many do - they are effective peer pressure

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Bunbaker · 01/12/2013 13:13

I am struggling to understand the connection between house points and a popularity contest.

At DD's school they get "rewards" from good school work, working well in class, good homework, good reports etc. It has nothing to do with popularity.

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juneybean · 01/12/2013 13:17

Ours didn't but then again I didn't go to Hogwarts :(

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Bunbaker · 01/12/2013 13:23

I meant to add that DD's school uses the rewards system to motivate the pupils to behave well and work hard.

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BackforGood · 01/12/2013 13:29

Some do, some don't, but what on earth would it have to do with 'popularity' ? Confused

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CaroBeaner · 01/12/2013 13:30

No.
DC school seem to find other ways to motivate, reward, discipline and sanction.
Personally I am not in favour of collective punishment - e.g removing house points- over random groupings over which the children have no control. If they are in teams chosen on merit or self chosen and compete, that is one thing, or choose to accomplish projects in groups and the get a group reward or prize, but random selected quarters of a school getting penalised by one rogue member or benefitting form the lucky inclusion of a high ratio of geek all sounds a bit silly and pointless.

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Bunbaker · 01/12/2013 13:33

At DD's school the only way a pupil loses rewards is if they have done something they shouldn't have like being disruptive in class, so it isn't based on what their peers have done or random groupings.

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MissMillament · 01/12/2013 15:55

My previous school did but the house points were awarded to individuals for a wide range of different things. Can't see where a 'popularity contest' would come in. They didn't get removed either. I liked the house system, as in a big school it gave the pupils a more managable structure and something to identity with.

My current school does not have houses.

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AChickenCalledKorma · 01/12/2013 20:56

I don't suppose every school does, but they are used effectively at both my children's schools (primary and secondary).

Can't see any reason why they would be unfair, as long as everyone has an equal opportunity to earn them. In the case of our secondary school, they are awarded for stuff like good participation in class, being generally helpful and responsible, getting stuck into non-compulsory aspects of school etc. Nothing that any child would be unable to do, if they set their mind to it.

Also, neither of my children's schools bears the slightest resemblance to Hogwarts Hmm. Although DD2 is in Griffin (houses named after mythical beasts) and it tends to get "-dor" added when kids get excited!

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AChickenCalledKorma · 01/12/2013 20:57

Oh, and house points can only be earned, not deducted.

Cautions are what you get when you do something wrong.

And more than a certain number of house points gets you entered for a prize draw.

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Suffolkgirl1 · 02/12/2013 09:39

DD's school doesn't have houses. Individuals earn merits, which if you get enough can earn you a prize. Demerits lead to detentions if you get too many in a term.

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nipersvest · 02/12/2013 09:45

ok, the popularity comment comes from dd, she feels that some kids are more likely to be awarded a house point than others despite all having done/achieved the same. am aware this may not be the case but dd is quite sharp for her age and does notice subtleties. but i don't want her becoming bitter about things like this, the school run a leader board for house points, so it becomes quite a competitive thing, the sporty ones who are part of a school team get points for every match they play, as they maybe should, but for the non sporty kids, it leaves them without a hope of getting anywhere near the leader board.

dd feels that sport is recognised, but other subjects aren't, ie achieve something in sport = a house point, achieve something in art = nothing.

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MillyMollyMama · 02/12/2013 23:31

Nipersvest. What you describe in your latest post is extremely unfair and I am not surprised children notice. We currently seem to have a country where sport is all and arts are not valued. I would have been cross if this system had been in place at my children's school. They did, at junior and senior school, have house points but they were awarded across the board for a whole range of achievements. My children were also sharp and definitely would have complained if they felt the systems were unfair. Personally I would ask the Head how this system is designed to motivate all children to do their best for their House. It should not be an individual contest. That is why they are called House Points!

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