Rights Respecting Schools
The Rights Respecting Schools Award puts children’s rights at the heart of schools in the UK.
Unicef works with schools in the UK to create safe and inspiring places to learn, where children are respected, their talents are nurtured and they are able to thrive. The Rights Respecting Schools Award embeds these values in daily school life and gives children the best chance to lead happy, healthy lives and to be responsible, active citizens. To read more about this award you can click the link below.
In June 2020, we were delighted to receive our Bronze: Rights Committed Award.
Currently, we are working towards earning our Silver: Rights Aware Award.
We will be spending time exploring the articles set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Here is some information about Unicef and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is a universally agreed set of non-negotiable standards and obligations, built on varied legal systems and cultural traditions.
These basic standards – also called human rights – set minimum entitlements and freedoms that should be respected and put into effect by governments. They are founded on respect for the dignity and worth of each individual, regardless of ethnicity, gender, language, religion, opinions, origins, wealth, ability or any other status and, therefore, apply to every human being everywhere.
There are 54 articles in total.
The general principles of the Convention are found in articles 2, 3, 6 and 12:
- Non-discrimination
- Best interests of the child
- Life, survival and development
- participation
Articles 43 – 54 are about how adults and governments work together to make sure that all children get all their rights.
The UK ratified the CRC on 16 December 1991. This means our government has to make sure that every child in the UK has all the rights in the Convention.
Click the picture below which summarises the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Health and Safety Checklists
Mrs Duffy has recently had a very special job for the School Council. She needed some help to create some health and safety checklists to use in the classrooms as she is our co-ordinator for the Right Respecting School Award. The lists needed to tie in with the articles below:
Article 6 - Every child has the right to develop to their full potential.
Article 19 - Every child has the right to be kept safe.
Article 24 - Every child has the right to the best possible health.
Article 28 - Every child has the right to education.
Mr Robb and the School Council members suggested that there should be a morning and and afternoon checklist and that there should be an identified Health and Safety Monitor in each class. The children then worked together with Mrs Duffy to decide on the checklist points. You can view the lists below.
World Children's Day
On Friday 20th November we celebrated World Children’s Day. All the children were invited to come to school in clothes that chose instead of their uniform. This formed the basis of class discussions about children’s likes linked to the concept of their right to share opinions and feelings. We explored the concept of "what makes us unique". Year 2 did some work on what makes them special and unique.
Dress to Impress Day
My ears show the right to be listened to.
My house represents the right to shelter.
My water bottle signifies the right to clean water.
My pencil shaped body is to signify the right to education.
My apples and carrot signify the right to healthy and nutritious food.
My ball is a symbol of the right to relax and play.
My microphone shows the right to speak and have opinions.
In each of hubs the children have worked together to create a Right Respecting School display.
