PUPILS were treated to a trip to the cinema to celebrate good and improving school attendance, hard work and achievements.

Celebration events and rewards are being used to encourage students at New Rickstones Academy, in Witham, to try their hardest in all areas of school life.

As part of a drive to improve attendance at the school, hundreds of Year 7 to 10 students were treated to a movie afternoon to reward their efforts to be in class.

Year 7 students with the highest attendance enjoyed a trip to Cineworld in Braintree to watch a private screening of Jurassic World Domination in recognition of their efforts in their first term at the academy.

Rickstone's director of culture Pete Vik said: “The link between attendance and achievement is clear and these students have put themselves in good stead to achieve, both at New Rickstones and beyond. 

“As a school, we celebrate good attendance, but also take into account extenuating circumstances where students are trying their best in difficult times to be in school as often as possible.”

Students are also celebrated during special 'honours assemblies' each term.

The latest event saw more than £3,500 of prizes handed out to students for good attendance, including an iPad Mini and iPad Pro.

Mr Vik said: “We believe it’s important to recognise the hard work and achievements of our students.

“We aim to recognise our students every day. However, honours assemblies are a formal occasion where every single member of the year group comes together to celebrate each other’s hard work, progress and achievements.

“It was inspiring to see so many students receiving certificates and awards, and it was uplifting watching whole year groups of students cheer on their friends for doing well.

“While this is nothing new for us at New Rickstones Academy, it catches me by surprise every time.”