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A secondary school is offering its pupils the chance to win a free 40inch smart TV in an effort to boost attendance.
Students at Haven High Academy in Boston, Lincolnshire, who turn up to all of their classes in any two-week period are entered into a draw to win the luxury prize.
The high definition Hye Tizen sets are worth £149.99 each and feature a built-in gaming hub.
In a post on their Facebook page announcing the attendance competition, Haven High Academy said: ‘Get 100% attendance in any two weeks and be in the draw for a TV.
‘Moments matter, attendance matters. Be a hero and win a 40-inch smart TV every two weeks.’
The school also urged its pupils to be a ‘Haven HERO – Here, Everyday, Ready, On Time’.
Defending the initiative, headteacher Austin Sheppard said raising attendance is a ‘massive priority for all schools’.
He added that Haven High Academy had one of the highest improved attendances last academic year after raising it by over three per cent.
Students at Haven High Academy (pictured) in Boston, Lincolnshire, who turn up to all of their classes in any two-week period are entered into a draw to win the luxury prize
The high definition Hye Tizen sets are worth £149.99 each and feature a built-in gaming hub
Mr Sheppard said the school is aiming to raise it again this year and the rewards have been a way of incentivising good behaviour and academic outcomes.
The headteacher highlighted that his school operated within a community which experiences high levels of social deprivation.
Haven High Academy was found to require special measures after receiving an Ofsted rating of inadequate last year.
Mr Sheppard told the Daily Mail: ‘At Haven High we are resolutely committed to improving attendance.
‘We were very proud to have improved our attendance by over 3 per cent last academic year, a feat that made us one of the most improved schools, for attendance, in the county.
‘We are aiming to make further improvements this year. We know that there is a significant link between attendance and outcomes, as noted by the DfE attendance report, March 2025.
‘We also know that the habits that are formed at the start of the academic year can often lead to a trend that is repeated for the rest of the year.
‘Helping to motivate students and their families to put attendance first is key.
‘With this reward we wanted to ensure that it was a prize that students would be eager to win and the TV seemed a great fit.
‘This prize giveaway is part of a comprehensive attendance strategy that includes many elements of accountability and other rewards.
‘Setting high expectations for our students and rewarding those who meet these is a key part of our school improvement strategy and this is a great example of that.’
A recent notice from the Department of Education (DfE) said: ‘Too many pupils are absent too often.’
Last month, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson marked the start of the new school term by urging ‘mums, dads and carers’ to play their part in getting their sons and daughters ready to learn in the classroom.
The DfE said that the Government was already turning the tide on poor attendance, with five million more days recorded in the classroom and 140,000 fewer pupils persistently absent last year.
Officials boasted that this signalled the biggest year-on-year improvement in attendance in a decade, equivalent to 1,000 classes of children learning full time for a year and estimated to protect over £2billion in pupils’ future earnings.
The Daily Mail has approached Haven High Academy for comment.
