Rights Respecting School

Our Rights Respecting School leader is Mrs Francis

St Paul's Rights Rangers

Right of the Fortnight

As a school, we are honoured to become a recognised Rights Respecting School (Bronze). We have united together to achieve the UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools award.

Click here for our Rights Respecting Report

UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation working for children and their rights. In 1989, governments worldwide promised all children the same rights by adopting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

These rights are based on what a child needs to survive, grow, participate and fulfil their potential. The ‘Rights Respecting School’ award (RRSA) will help our pupils to grow into confident, caring and responsible young citizens both in school and within the wider community. By learning about their rights our pupils, your children, also learn about the importance of respecting the rights of others i.e. their responsibilities.
There are 54 articles all together. However, articles 43-54 are about how adults and governments work together to make sure that children get all their rights. For this reason at St Paul's CofE VC Junior School we promote the first 42 rights.
The general principles of the convention are found in Articles 2, 3, 6 and 12.

- Non-discrimination - Best interest of the child
- Survival and development - Participation

St Paul's CofE VC Junior School objectives:

- Understand the UN Convention on the Rights of the child.
- Explore a range of values (e.g. honesty, friendship, kindness, respect)
- Understand the process of becoming a Rights Respecting School.
- Have a deeper understanding for ‘wants and needs’.

Impact on the school

- RRSA is not an initiative, but instead provides an overarching set of values that improve the climate for learning and within which other initiatives can sit.
- A deeper and more cohesive way of working.
- Improved relationships with pupils and a reduced hierarchical divide between staff and pupils, due to a common rights-respecting language.

Impact on the pupils

- Improved self-esteem and feelings of being valued and listened to.
- Increased levels of respect for each other, leading to improved relationships with other pupils and with staff.
- A sense of security as rights-respecting language and behaviour is used consistently throughout the school.
- Improved attainment and attendance
- An understanding and respect of religions, cultures, beliefs and abilities different to their own.
- A wider and deeper understanding of the world in which they live.

Recognition of Commitment (ROC)

In March 2016 we achieved the Recognition of Commitment (ROC) for our rights-respecting work, which is the first step along the process. We successfully achieved Level 1 in July 2017. We are now working towards our silver award.

Our Rights Respecting Display in our Reception Area

We've All Got Rights

'We've all got rights' is a fantastic song and animation by children and staff from Crosby High School, a Unicef UK Rights Respecting School in Liverpool. We often listen to this song during our Collective Worship.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN_70HXxd5Y

Parent Information Leaflet to inform all parents/carers of our quest to becoming a 'Rights Respecting School'.

Useful Information and Links

“The UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) supports schools across the UK to embed children's human rights in their ethos and culture. The award recognises achievement in putting the UN Convention on the Right of the Child (UNCRC) at the heart of a school’s practice to improve well-being and help all children realise their potential. The award is based on principles of equality, dignity, respect, non-discrimination and participation. The initiative started in 2006 and schools involved in the Award have reported a positive impact on relationships and well-being, leading to better learning and behaviour, improved academic standards and less bullying.”