Students at Helena Romanes School in Dunmow are to be recognised under a unique scheme launched this summer for commitment and effort outside the classroom.

Staff have set up the Key Stage Three Baccalaureate to encourage sporting, artistic and community effort among the 220 12-year-olds in the year group.

This week 130 students received the first certificates for their involvement in activities from horse riding to kick boxing, voluntary work and piano playing.

School assessment co-ordinator, Graham Potter, said that the awards -- which are not related to the European Baccalaureate qualification -- so far apply to extra curricular and out-of-school activities only, although from September they will also recognise effort and commitment inside the classroom.

Mr Potter said: "The Baccalaureate is very much driven by the students and they are very enthusiastic about it.

"The idea is to reward effort so the focus will not be on excellence or even achievement but on involvement, effort and commitment.

The Baccalaureate is based on the principle of commitment to a particular purpose.

"We wanted to show them that the school does recognise all their areas of interest.

"We are saying we accept and value them as people who have a life outside school, not just as students in school."

Students are encouraged to take on personal challenges, either individually or with the help of school and community groups.

Their efforts are recorded in a log book and personal diary.

The scheme is based on the work of American psychologist Howard Gardner who identified eight areas of human intelligence.

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