Private school scraps prize-giving to spare children’s feelings

SCHOOLS should continue with prize-giving ceremonies as they teach children that life is competitive from an early age, a senior MP has claimed after a private school scrapped their traditional event.

Andrew Bridgen said he thought the “monster of non-competitiveness” had been “slain” as he urged schools to continue with events that spur children on to success and give them the chance to celebrate achievements of fellow pupils.

He made the remarks as the £20,000-a-year Highgate School in north Lon- don, reportedly came under fire from parents for ditching its traditional end-ofyear ceremony to be sensitive to pupils’ feelings.

Mr Bridgen, a Conservative for North West Leices- tershire, said: “Life is competitive and that is a lesson that needs to be learned at school. If handled properly, prize-givings are a way of encouraging pupils to achieve and a chance to cel- ebrate others’ achievements.

“Achievement in life should always be encouraged and rewarded. I thought we had slain the monster of non-competitiveness, but it would appear it is alive and kicking.”

In a letter announcing the decision, parents were told the whole-school event would be replaced by small ceremonies exclusively for prize winners and their parents. It is the latest episode in an ongoing row over recognising achievements in schools. A recent poll found 57 per cent of primary schools now hold “non-competitive” sports days which do not recognise winners.

‘I thought we’d slain the monster of noncompetitiveness but it appears to be alive’