School Prize-Giving & Awards Evening Ideas
School prize-giving awards are a chance to celebrate the pupils who have worked hardest, achieved the most and made the biggest contribution to school life. Done well, an awards evening or end-of-year assembly becomes a moment pupils and families remember for years.
This guide covers award categories that work for primary and secondary schools, how to choose between trophies, cups, plaques and glass awards, wording ideas for engraving, and how to plan an awards evening without a last-minute scramble.
Prize-giving award categories that work
The best prize-giving evenings recognise a wide range of pupils, not just the highest achievers. Mixing academic, personal and community awards means more families leave proud. Aim for a list where pupils from every year group and every part of school life have a realistic chance of being recognised, and review it each year so new activities get their own prize.
- Subject prizes – one per subject or department, for outstanding achievement.
- Effort or progress awards – for pupils who have improved the most.
- Head's Award or Principal's Award – a headline prize for an exceptional all-round contribution.
- Citizenship or community award – for volunteering, charity work or helping others.
- Sports awards – Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, team of the year.
- Arts awards – music, drama, art and creative writing.
- Attendance or punctuality – recognising reliability across the year.
- Leadership – for prefects, head pupils or school council members.
Ideas for primary schools
Primary schools often hold an end-of-year celebration assembly rather than a formal evening. Year 6 leavers' awards are especially popular, marking the end of primary school with something personal.
Small trophies, medals or plaques suit younger pupils well. Categories such as Star of the Year, Kindest Friend, Most Determined, Super Reader and Best Mathematician are simple for children to understand. Keep the wording warm and positive, and consider an award for every Year 6 leaver if your budget allows.
A leavers' medal for every Year 6 pupil, engraved with the school name and year, is a popular and affordable choice. Medals on our site start from £1.25, so even a large year group can be covered on a modest PTA budget, with a handful of trophies kept for the named awards.
Don't forget staff, governors and volunteers
Prize-giving is also a good moment to thank the adults who make school life work. A long-service award for a retiring teacher, a thank-you to a parent volunteer who has run the PTA for years, or recognition for a governor stepping down all add warmth to the evening.
For adult recognition, glass awards and engraved plaques tend to work best because they look at home on an office shelf or mantelpiece. Keep the wording personal, such as In grateful thanks for 25 years of dedication, with the person's name and the date.
Ideas for secondary schools and sixth forms
Secondary schools usually hold a formal prize-giving evening with subject prizes, special awards and guest speakers. Many prizes are named after former staff, governors or benefactors, and these are often perpetual trophies that stay at the school.
For sixth form and leavers' awards, glass awards and quality cups give a grown-up feel. Glass awards on our site range from £20 to £350, with laser-engraved glass from around £20 to £68.50. Cups range from £2.25 to £31.50.
Choosing trophies, cups, plaques and glass
- Cups – traditional and instantly recognisable as a prize; ideal for named subject and house prizes.
- Plaques and shields – great for perpetual awards with space for annual winners; on our site they range from £5 to £80.
- Glass awards – elegant and modern; ideal for headline awards, staff recognition and leavers.
- Achievement trophies – figure and star designs that suit primary pupils and effort awards.
- Music and drama trophies – themed designs for performing arts prizes.
Engraving wording for school awards
Keep engraving clear and consistent across all awards. A good format is school name, award title, pupil name and academic year. For example: Ysgol Example / Year 6 Award for Kindness / Megan Davies / 2025–26.
Check the engraving lines and characters per line on each product listing. Long award titles may need shortening, so agree abbreviations with the department in advance. Bilingual wording in Welsh and English is a lovely touch for Welsh schools if the plate has enough space. Our engraving wording guide has many more examples.
Planning your awards evening
Start with a list of every award, its recipient and the exact wording. Send it to heads of department for checking, as name spellings are the most common source of errors. Then order with at least four weeks to spare, as larger orders typically take 10–14 working days.
On the night, lay out awards in presentation order with each pupil's name visible on a label. Keep a spare blank award or two in case of a late addition, and ask a member of staff to check each award against the running order before guests arrive. If you'd like a quote, message us on WhatsApp with your list and date, and we can arrange an invoice for the school once you approve it.
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Frequently asked questions
What awards are given at school prize-giving?
Most schools give subject prizes, effort or progress awards, a headline Head's Award, and awards for citizenship, sport, the arts and leadership. Primary schools often add warm, simple categories such as Kindest Friend or Star of the Year. A wide range of categories helps more pupils feel recognised.
What should be engraved on a school award?
Use the school name, the award title, the pupil's name and the academic year, for example Year 6 Award for Kindness, Megan Davies, 2025–26. Check the characters per line on the product listing so the wording fits. Agree any abbreviations with staff before ordering.
Should school prizes be perpetual trophies?
Long-standing named prizes are often perpetual cups or shields that stay at the school, with each year's winner engraved on them. Winners then receive a smaller keepsake to take home. This keeps tradition alive while still giving pupils something personal.
How far ahead should schools order prize-giving awards?
Order at least four weeks before your awards evening. Larger orders typically take 10–14 working days, and summer term is a busy time for awards. Allow extra time to collect and check the list of winners and name spellings.
Are glass awards suitable for school prizes?
Glass awards are ideal for headline prizes, sixth-form leavers and staff recognition, as they look elegant and engrave beautifully. For younger pupils, sturdier resin or metal trophies are usually a better choice. Laser-engraved glass on our site starts from around £20.