BEHAVIOUR good and bad is under scrutiny at a North-East school thanks to an innovative rewards scheme which uses the latest computer technology.
And the system, which rewards for good behaviour and promises consequences for bad, has been given the thumbs up by students because of its consistency and fairness.
Darlington School of Mathematics and Science have introduced interactive computerised seating plans for each lesson which even includes a photo of the pupils so relief teaching staff know who is who.
As lessons progress every student gains the opportunity to collect Vivo points, on a scale of P1-3, for their behaviour and performance, which they can use to order a host of rewards from an on-line shop.
Any inappropriate behaviour is recorded too with C1-3 scoring the level of severity.
C1 might result in a warning or them having to move seats; C2 indicates they haven’t responded to the warning and they will receive a detention; C3 covers serious infringements resulting in a 45-minute lunchtime detention with a senior member of staff.
An investigation then looks at the events leading up to the infringement and the teacher and student formulate an agreement so it does not happen again.
A three-month trial revealed just four per cent of students suffered the consequences of their bad behaviour while 94 per cent received high praise.
DSMS head teacher Calvin Kipling said: “The students like the system because it is fair and it keeps disruption in lessons to an absolute minimum, even when they are not being taught by their normal teacher.
“It also introduces an element of healthy competition, focuses them on their learning and rewards positive behaviour, which links in nicely with our house system.
“It is easy for schools and teachers to concentrate their efforts on the extremes – the elite students and the disruptive – but this system caters for all pupils of all abilities and behaviour.”
The initiative is the latest in a series of innovations being introduced at DSMS that have transformed its fortunes and contributed to the pupils’ record GCSE exam results.
