Built Around the Name Banner
On this certificate, the child’s name is the star. A bright yellow ribbon banner crosses the middle of the page, with the name in bold black letters, and everything else arranges itself around it. That makes it a good choice for school achievement awards, where the main aim is that every pupil sees their own name in a place of honour.
Page Layout
The certificate is Letter size landscape, 11 x 8.5 inches. The top third is solid charcoal grey with a thin white line frame, carrying the word CERTIFICATE in a large light serif and of Achievement in bold below. Two thin yellow lines run from the sides toward the centre, forming a shallow V, and in the point of the V sits a round grey and black rosette marked CHAMPION PRIZE, with a ring of stars and the curved words YOU ARE THE BEST.
The lower two thirds are white fading to pale grey. This certificate is proudly presented to leads to Madison William on the yellow banner, flanked by fading dark lines. A paragraph in small text follows, and the page ends with Date and Signature lines. A thin charcoal frame outlines the entire page.
Types of School Achievement
- Academic progress in a subject.
- Perfect attendance for a term.
- Reading challenges and library awards.
- Science fair and maths competition results.
- Good citizenship and kindness.
Writing a Sentence a Child Will Remember
Children read certificates very carefully. Make the sentence personal and positive. “For reading twenty books this term and sharing your favourite with the class” is better than “For good work.” If you are making certificates for a whole class, write a different line for each child, even if it is only five or six words.
Names That Do Not Fit
Long names can overflow a banner. Reduce the font size a little or use a shorter form. Always ask about preferred names, because pupils notice mistakes, and so do their families.
Class Sets and Printing
Save one file per class and change only the name and the sentence. Print on matte paper of 120 to 160 gsm. The charcoal band uses a lot of ink, so run a test and, if needed, use the Draft quality setting for a lighter print. Laminate certificates for younger children so that they survive the bus ride home.
Special Moments in the School Year
This certificate fits several points in the school calendar: the end of a term, a prize day, a sports day or a reading challenge finale. For a prize day, print the names in advance and keep a spare for last minute changes. For a reading challenge, change the paragraph to mention the number of books. Children who see their own achievement in print are more likely to keep trying.
If a pupil has received many certificates, add something personal and specific so that it stands out from the stack at home.
For a more ornate achievement certificate, see the copper filigree project achievement certificate. For a bold version with a ribbon and a year, see the achievement certificate with a red ribbon. Everything is in appreciation and award certificates.
