A new rewards system at Ballakermeen High School is already proving popular with both students and staff.
From the start of the school term, the Douglas school scrapped its ‘merits’ rewards system, which deputy head teacher Annette Baker described as being ‘quite unwieldy’ and ‘not meaning anything’ to the students.
It has been replaced with Vivo Miles, an online rewards system which is being introduced in a growing number of schools in the UK.
It works by giving students the opportunity to trade in ‘Vivos’ which they have earned and then saved up to exchange for goods in an online shop.
At present, items in the online shop include top-up cards with Manx Telecom, vouchers for Sure Strike bowling centre in Ramsey, Subway vouchers and a Laser Mayhem experience for two.
Students can also choose for a donation to be made to an appointed charity.
Mrs Baker said: ‘So far, we have had very positive feedback from both staff and students.’
She said it provided an ‘extra incentive’ for students to perform at their best and ‘keeps student morale high’.
Points are awarded for positive achievements both inside and outside the classroom.
Staff have chosen 12 categories so far, including improvement in achievement, excellent achievement and out of hours learning.
Students are also awarded for making a positive contribution to the school or the wider community, and outstanding sporting achievement.
Mrs Baker said: ‘There’s an ever-increasing number of categories as staff decide they would like different things from the rewards system.’
In addition, Mrs Baker said teachers can add their own individual categories, for example, to encourage students to bring in the necessary materials from home for an art class.
At the moment, points can be awarded to students by teachers, learning support staff and administration staff but it could soon be extended to the school caretakers too.
Students and their parents can log into the rewards system at any time.
It means students can keep up to date on what item they are working for in the online shop.
And parents can keep track of what areas their children are gaining points in.
Ballakermeen has paid an initial start-up fee to Vivo, and pays for items redeemed by students in the shop.
In the UK, many of the items that can be redeemed are from Argos. As there isn’t a store here, Mrs Baker has had to source many of the products herself.
Ballakermeen had an initial boost from a number of companies.
Mrs Baker said they would not be able to rely on continued donations but would be looking to negotiate good deals.
‘We’ve had brilliant support from Manx Telecom, Shoprite, Sure and Laser Mayhem.
‘There are other people we are hoping to get on board in the future.’
Mrs Baker said she was on the look out for new items to stock – they may include sporting equipment and even driving lessons.
Vivo was launched in 2008 and is now used in hundreds of schools.
According to the company, 96 per cent of schools say it has aided academic performance and 94 per cent report an improvement in student motivation and behaviour.