Our scheme to promote excellent attendance (From Echo)

Our scheme to promote excellent attendance

3:02pm Wednesday 4th June 2008 in Belfairs High School

A PUPIL at Belfairs ol has won a bike in a competition designed to encourage attendance.

Belfairs High School launched an initiative to promote good attendance and to reward the efforts of its students.

This year, for the first time, a competition was held giving all students a voucher for each full week of attendance over a school half-term.

The school said 2,163 vouchers went into the draw and, thanks to Bikebase in Queens Road, Southend, the school was able to offer the winner a bike of his or her choice.

Just before half-term, headteacher John Duprey pulled out one of ten tickets that had gone into the draw from Year 10 pupil Sam Joscelyne.

Sam said: "I chose a mountain bike because I can do so much more with it than the bike which I take to school. I'm really pleased with it."

Dan Hickey, from Bikebase, presented Sam with his new bike.

Mr Hickey recently devoted a day at the school to give students' bikes a safety check as part of a drive to encourage safe journeys to school. Pupils' bikes were security tagged at the same time.

Jan Andrews, community projects co-ordinator, said: "Belfairs High School has always been innovative in seeking ways to promote the importance of 100 per cent attendance and seeking to recognize the efforts of its students."