Unicef Rights Respecting Schools Award presented to local primary schools

Ceramic displays featuring the Unicef and Rights Respecting Schools Award logos at Castleton Primary School

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Four local primary schools have been presented with a Rights Respecting Schools Award by Unicef.

Castleton Primary School was awarded Gold Rights Respecting accreditation, the highest stage of the RRSA.

It is given to schools that have fully embedded the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in their practice and ethos.

Rights Respecting Leader and teacher at Castleton Primary, Lucy Ward, said: “To be the only school in the borough to be given a Gold is brilliant, and it really shows what hard work all the children have been doing and how it is all linked with fairness and equality. They absolutely love it.”

To be awarded Gold, the children at Castleton Primary school have been learning and campaigning about children’s rights around the world. They have also written to the local MP, who has been into the school, and written to the Queen.

The school has a dedicated Rights Respecting School team, made up of children from Year Two upwards, who have also been delivering assemblies as part of the campaign. All children in the school learn about the scheme, right down to those in nursery and reception.

Pupils at Castleton Primary have also worked with an artist to create ceramic displays featuring the Unicef and Rights Respecting Schools Award logos, and proudly displayed a banner depicting their status.

Kentmere Primary Academy, Broadfield Community Primary School and St Gabriel’s CE Primary School were each granted a Silver: Rights Aware award, showing good progress towards embedding children’s rights in the school’s policy.

Nicola Howard, Deputy Head and PSHE co-ordinator at Kentmere, commented: “I’m so proud of this achievement which is a result of dedicated work and commitment from all our team. Our children have been instrumental in driving forward the work and it is satisfying to see the positive impact on the whole school community. In a recent whole school assembly, it was heart-warming to watch all our pupils talk passionately about the importance of respect and equality.”

More than 4,800 schools across the UK are currently involved in the award. Of these, over 1,700 schools have been granted a Silver or Gold accreditation by Unicef UK since 2006.

The awards are valid for three years, after which time schools must be re-accredited.

Broadfield Community Primary School and St Gabriel’s CE Primary School did not respond to an invitation to comment.