School prizegiving days are un-Christian and should be scrapped, says clergyman



Church schools should abolish prizegiving, says former parish priest

Rev Dr Hugh Rayment-Pickard says prizes cultivate 'competitive attitude'



Individualistic attitude to success is 'at odds' with Christianity, he argues



'Un-Christian': The Rev Dr Hugh Rayment-Pickard thinks Church schools should get rid of prizegiving ceremonies

Prizegiving ceremonies that recognise the achievements of outstanding pupils should be scrapped from Church schools because they are 'un-Christian', a clergyman has said.

The Rev Dr Hugh Rayment-Pickard argued that singling out the brightest pupils for praise left those students not receiving prizes with the 'gently corrosive sense of being not quite good enough'.

Dr Rayment-Pickard, who co-founded an education charity with the aim of getting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds into university, said prizes cultivate an 'individualistic and competitive attitude to success', which he described as being at odds with the 'servant ethics' of the Christian kingdom.

Writing in the Church Times , the former parish priest said prizegiving ceremonies, by allowing only a chosen few to 'bask in the warm glow of success', had a negative impact on the rest of a school's pupils.

In his opinion piece, entitled 'Why not "all must have prizes"?', Dr Rayment-Pickard cited a Bible passage which says the contribution made be individuals should be honoured - but that all should be treated as honourable.

He highlighted a ceremony he attended at an East London school during which he presented certificates to each pupil leaving the school that year, and praised the fact that 'every single young person came on stage to have his or her particular achievements celebrated'.

'Individualistic attitude': The former parish priest has argued that singling out high-achievers at prizegiving ceremonies risked giving other students a 'corrosive sense of being not quite good enough'

Competition: According to Dr Rayment-Pickard, secular notions of success are 'at odds with the servant ethics' of the Christian Kingdom

Church of England spokesman Steve Jenkins said: 'How schools operate is decided not by the Church of England but by their headteachers and governors, and I'm sure they will consider the Rev Dr Hugh Rayment-Pickard's thoughts as they would any one else's in education.'

