Rights Respecting School
Our Journey to Becoming a Bronze Rights Respecting School
We are proud to announce that our school has achieved the Bronze Rights Respecting School Award, a recognition from UNICEF UK that highlights our commitment to embedding children’s rights in everything we do. This marks an important step in our journey towards creating a school environment where every child feels valued, respected, and empowered.
What Does It Mean to Be a Rights Respecting School?
A Rights Respecting School places the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) at the heart of its policies and practice. This means that children’s rights—such as the right to be heard, the right to education, and the right to be safe—are understood, promoted, and upheld across the school community. Our Bronze Award demonstrates that we have begun this journey by making a firm commitment to children’s rights and establishing a foundation for further progress.
What This Means for Our School Community
For our pupils, this means that they are learning about their rights and the responsibilities that come with them. They are encouraged to be active participants in shaping their school experience, contributing to decision-making, and understanding the importance of respect and inclusion.
For staff, this means fostering an environment where the principles of dignity, fairness, and equality are embedded in everyday teaching and interactions. It also means equipping students with the knowledge and skills they need to be compassionate, responsible global citizens.
The Role of Parents and Carers
Parents and carers play a vital role in reinforcing children’s rights at home. By understanding the principles of the UNCRC, they can support their children’s learning and well-being, ensuring they grow up in an environment that values respect, kindness, and fairness. We encourage families to engage with our Rights Respecting journey by discussing these values at home and supporting school initiatives that promote children’s rights.
Impact on the Wider Community
A Rights Respecting ethos extends beyond the classroom and into the wider community. By fostering a culture of inclusion, respect, and advocacy, we hope to positively influence local partnerships, encourage community engagement, and promote fairness and social responsibility in our broader society.
Our Bronze Award is just the beginning. As we work towards Silver and Gold, we will continue to build on our commitment to children’s rights, ensuring that our school is a place where every child thrives. We look forward to working together—students, staff, families, and the wider community—to make this vision a reality.
Working Towards Silver
Achieving the Silver Rights Respecting School Award means embedding children’s rights even further into our school’s ethos, curriculum, and daily practices. To reach Silver, we must:
- Ensure children’s rights are known, understood, and consistently promoted throughout the school community.
- Further develop student voice and participation, empowering children to lead initiatives that support rights-respecting values.
- Strengthen links between the school, parents, carers, and the wider community to advocate for children’s rights beyond the classroom.
- Demonstrate the impact of a rights-respecting culture on students’ well-being, learning, and attitudes.
We are committed to taking these steps and look forward to involving the entire school community in our journey towards Silver. Together, we can create a truly inclusive and rights-respecting environment where every child thrives.
For more information on the Rights Respecting Schools Award, please visit UNICEF UK’s website.
