Rights Respecting School
WHAT IS A RIGHTS RESPECTING SCHOOL?
The UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) is based on principles of equality, dignity, respect, non-discrimination and participation. The RRSA seeks to put the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child at the heart of a school’s ethos and culture to improve well-being and develop every child’s talents and abilities to their full potential.
A rights-respecting school is a community where children’s rights are learned, taught, practised, respected, protected and promoted. Young people and the school community learn about children’s rights by putting them into practice every day.
UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools are required to implement four evidence-based standards.
- Rights-respecting values underpin leadership and management.
- The whole school community learns about the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
- The school has a rights-respecting ethos.
- Children are empowered to become active citizens and learners.
Our children create their own class charters, incorporating elements of the UN charter for children. Each class talked through their own charter of rights and how these rights also have responsibilities. The charter is agreed in each class and put into practice. Throughout our school and with parents we will create a rights respecting ethos which will add and emphasise the values we already uphold at Hillcrest.
The UN charter of children’s rights is in two versions, a summary version and a children’s version, here are both:
The UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) Is based on the principles of equality, dignity, respect, non-discrimination and participation. The RRSA seeks to put the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child at the heart of the school’s ethos and culture to improve well-being and develop every child’s talents and abilities to their full potential. Our school is a community where children’s rights are lived, learned and understood.
You can find out more about the award and work of UNICEF on their website.
Pupil voice is strong at Hillcrest reflecting every child’s right to have their voice heard. We have a School Parliament with 8 committee’s on which children serve and represent the pupils. All are elected by the classes.
*Eco Committee
*Well-Being
*The 3B’s – Be Safe, Be Kind, Be Respectful
*School Grounds
*Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion – Skiittles
*Litter
*Fundraising
*Community
We have a school Rights Respecting calendar which focuses on monthly themes and articles to ensure the whole school understands children’s rights. Teachers can use these themes as part of our curriculum intent to ensure that children see the connection and relationship between what they are learning and the values that the school promotes.