Recognising achievement is an integral part of Curriculum for Excellence. At Whalsay School, we want to celebrate the success of our pupils both in school and at home.
In school, our merit system links directly to our school rules and values. Pupils earn merits, which are collected weekly by our House Captains. Each term, the house with the most merits receives a special treat, such as extra playtime or a movie afternoon.
Recognising our learners’ achievements helps to:
- Boost self-esteem, improve motivation, and keep young people engaged in their learning.
- Encourage young people to reflect on their own progress and personal growth.
- Deliver the core aims, values, and purposes of Curriculum for Excellence, which views achievement as a vital part of lifelong learning.
Pupil achievements are celebrated during assemblies and then displayed on the Achievement wall.
Share Your Child’s Achievements With Us
We want to hear about what your child has accomplished outside of the classroom. Please use the link below to share their successes with us:
Wider Achievement – Fill out form
If you have any photos you are happy for us to share at assembly, on our wall displays, or here on the school blog, please email them to: whalsay@shetland.gov.uk
Ideas of What to Share
Achievements come in all shapes and sizes! Here are some examples of what you might share with us:
Personal Milestones & Independence
- Learning a new life skill, such as tying shoelaces or riding a bike without stabilisers.
- Taking on household responsibilities, like helping to prepare a meal or managing daily chores.
Extracurricular & Community Success
- Sports milestones, including personal or team achievements with a local club, or passing a swimming milestone, like a deep-end test.
- Creative pursuits, such as learning a new song on an instrument, completing a Lego structure, or finishing an arts and crafts project.
- Community contributions and acts of kindness, like volunteering at a local event, participating in a beach clean, or raising money for charity.
Academic & Creative Growth at Home
- Reading achievements, such as finishing a challenging book series or reaching a personal reading target.
- Independent learning, like maintaining a high streak on a language app or coding a basic video game.
