Routines and expectations

At King Ecgbert School, we place great value on high standards and expectations.

To ensure the smooth running of our school and to allow students to focus their attention on learning, we have clear routines for all aspects of the school day.

We teach our routines to students when they first arrive as Year 6 students and regularly revisit these to ensure all students have a clear understanding of school expectations.

Many of our routines are linked to key skills that are required elsewhere in life and in the working world too.

Routines

  • Uniform
  • Attendance and punctuality
  • Mobile phones/devices
  • Corridor movement
  • Equipment
  • Entering and leaving classrooms
  • Social times
  • Arriving at and leaving school
  • Line-ups

Celebrations

We’re proud of our students at KES and ensure that positive contributions and achievements are celebrated. The rewards system recognises all students who meet expectations in every lesson. In addition, students may receive House Points for excellent performance in lessons or contributions to the wider school. We communicate with parents and carers frequently to celebrate students’ achievements.

House Points contribute to individual totals as well as form group and House competitions. Students are also recognised for excellent attendance and outstanding Attitude to Learning (ATL) scores. Rewards events and recognition include:

Star performer award

Every fortnight, form tutors select one student from their form to receive the Star Performer Award for their contributions over the previous two weeks. The criteria are broad and may relate to a student’s efforts in or out of school. Students wear a gold pin badge for two weeks and receive a one-week queue jump pass, allowing first entry to the canteen at lunch along with one friend.

Form breakfast

Every three weeks, form groups compete against each other to win a form breakfast. The criteria focus on House Points and avoiding negative behaviour points. The winning form attends the canteen on their year group’s designated morning for a free breakfast with peers and their form tutor.

Golden tickets

Golden Ticket events occur half-termly and are strictly top secret. Various criteria are used throughout the year to select winners. Tickets are delivered during form time on the day of the event, with instructions on when and where to attend. Past events have included an ice cream van, crêpe van, stage shows, and hot chocolate with cookies.

Rewards assembly

At the end of each term, students attend a rewards assembly. Term 1 and Term 2 assemblies feature multiple prize draws recognising excellent attendance and House Point collection. Term 3 hosts an extended assembly where attendance awards, subject achievements, and special awards are presented.

Postcards

Each term, staff write postcards to students recognising performance or conduct in lessons. Postcards are hand-delivered during form time by House and pastoral teams.

House rewards

House competition runs across the academic year, with the highest-scoring House crowned winners at the end of the year. Winners who meet behaviour criteria are invited to a special event in HT6. A rewards trip is also held for the highest-scoring House Point earners from each House. Sports Day contributes significantly to the House competition, with points awarded for race and competition winners.

Student leadership opportunities

We offer students a variety of leadership opportunities within school.

The main aims of our leadership opportunities are to:

Develop key life and employability skills

Student leadership programmes help pupils build skills that employers and universities value, such as:

  • Communication and public speaking

  • Teamwork and collaboration

  • Problem-solving and decision-making

  • Organisation and responsibility

These skills support the Gatsby Benchmarks.

Improve behaviour and school culture

When students take on leadership roles:

  • They act as positive role models

  • Peer influence is used constructively

  • Relationships between staff and students improve

Opportunities available

Y11 prefects, sustainability group, community group, diversity and equality group, LGBTQ+ group, and sports leaders.

Our students make a real difference across our community, serving as school ambassadors, leading initiatives, and representing our school as role models.

House system

King Ecgbert School uses a House system as a key part of school life, designed to build community, encourage teamwork, and give students opportunities to take part in activities with House members from across the year groups.

What the House system is for

The House system is designed to help students:

  • Mix with pupils from other year groups and build friendships across the whole school

  • Take part in competition, cooperation, and teamwork through events and activities

  • Gain recognition for achievement, both inside and outside the classroom

  • Develop leadership skills through roles in House events and activities

Houses

When students join King Ecgbert, they are assigned to one of four Houses. Each House includes students from all year groups, helping younger and older pupils mix and support each other.

The Houses include:

  • Kelham House

  • Henderson House

  • Crucible House

  • Steel House

House competition

  • Inter-House competitions take place throughout the school year, including sporting events, charity activities, fundraising, and other extracurricular competitions

  • Points are earned by Houses for achievement, participation, and effort in these competitions, as well as in everyday school life

  • Houses track these points, and the House with the most points overall wins House honours at the end of the academic year

Elite performance

King Ecgbert School has a proud history of elite performance. Notable alumni include Olympic gold medallist Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill and England cricketer Joe Root.

Many of our students participate in sport at an elite level, representing county, national, and international teams in football, cricket, athletics, diving, sailing, and climbing. Many of our elite performers receive bespoke support to maintain their studies while pursuing their out-of-school interests.

King Ecgbert School Sixth Form is leading the way in supporting talented athletes in education, having been accredited by the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) initiative through Sport England.

The TASS Dual Career Accreditation Scheme allows athletes to reach their potential in education while achieving success in their sport. Any individual competing at regional or national level can apply for this support once they join us.

Support for TASS students

We are committed to supporting TASS students through:

  • Flexibility with timetabling where possible

  • Monitoring and supporting attendance

  • Monitoring and supporting academic progress

  • Mentoring through the challenges of balancing workload and sporting activity

  • Liaising with teachers so they are clear about the demands placed upon athletes

  • Flexibility with deadlines when needed

  • Flexibility with internal examinations when needed

  • Providing notes and PowerPoints for lessons missed

  • Celebrating success with staff and students