APC Proposals

Apposition and prizes - joint meeting of Student Council and APC

Monday 6th March 2006

1.30 p.m. Montgomery Room

Background

The issue was first raised in the Academic Policy Committee in December 2004; it was agreed at the outset that the Student Council should be asked for views. It was then considered by all Heads of Departments in Spring 2005 and recently returned to the APC for detailed proposals. Apposition in 2006 will follow the established format; the earliest possible time for any change would be 2007.

The motivation for change was based on three principles:

  1. to respond to comments from a number of parents and pupils that Apposition was such a special event that it was a pity that more pupils didn't get the chance to attend, i.e. to make the event more inclusive
  2. to increase the number of prizes for Juniors (4ths-6ths). Last year, about 25 such prizes were awarded; there were about 500 juniors.
  3. to adjust the distribution of prizes so that they reflect current uptake for subjects

Do you agree with these principles?

If so, in what ways should Apposition be changed to respond to them?

It was these three principles that led to the following proposals which the council discussed on 13th February. The italics show the Student Council's responses, taken from the minutes.

1. Overall size and format of Apposition remain unchanged, i.e. declamations and prizegiving followed by lunch.

2. Apposition to become an event for 8th forms only, and to include more U8th formers even if they haven't won a prize. Strong feeling that it shouldn't. Juniors welcomed chance to be part of it. Doubt that any non-prizewinner would want to attend.

3. More prizes for 4ths, 5ths and 6ths (including Undermasters' prizes for improvement) but awarded at special assemblies rather than at Apposition; parents not invited (lack of available space). No support. Happy with present arrangements. Views on Improvement prizes divided.

4. Numbers of prizes in each subject changed to reflect number of boys doing each subject.

5. Boys to be invited:

  • All 8th form prizewinners
  • Prefects
  • Chairman of Student Council (if not already included)
  • Other U8ths who wish to attend; if oversubscribed, chosen by ballot. Would enough boys want to go? By removing Junior prizewinners and their parents from the ceremony, there would probably be another 80+ places available for U8th boys.

6. Parents to be invited:

  • Parents of prizewinners
  • Should parents of non-prizewinning prefects be invited? If they are, fewer U8ths could attend the event

 

PW 3/3/06