Rights Respecting Schools
Our Rights Respecting School leader is Mrs Sarah Chapman-Allen
As a school, we have achieved the Rights Respecting School - Level 2 (GOLD) award. This is an amazing achievement as we are the first primary school in Buckinghamshire to achieve this. The report highlights that there is: * a clear and purposeful commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of the child * an ethos which is underpinned by respect and where rights are actively promoted and upheld to help create a welcoming, supportive and inclusive learning community * pupils views are listened to and taken seriously * an outward-looking community where children are encouraged to learn about and engage with the wider world. To read the full report click the picture on the right. 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 Iver Village 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
Whole 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 October 2016 we achieved the Recognition of Commitment (ROC) for our rights-respecting work, which is the first step along the process, we are now hard at work to achieve level 1.
Level 1
Following an inspection from children’s charity Unicef on Friday 30th June 2017, Iver Village Junior School has been presented with a Level 1 Rights Respecting Award. The Rights Respecting Schools Award is a Unicef UK programme that aims to put children’s rights at the heart of schools in the UK.
The charity works with thousands of schools across the country to embed children’s rights in their ethos and culture to improve well-being and develop every child’s talents and abilities to their full potential. The Award recognises a school’s achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC or UNCRC) into practice within the school and beyond.
To achieve the Level 1 award, the school laid clear foundations across the whole school, embedding ‘Right Respecting’ into the curriculum. Our school council consisting of 2 children from each class ensured that every child in the school was given a voice.
In addition to this there are also rights displays in school, and rights assemblies have been held, alongside lessons. The children’s knowledge of their rights and their confidence when talking about them with both staff and UNICEF was amazing.
If you would like to read our Rights Respecting Schools leaflet then please click here.
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 Iver Village 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
Whole 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 October 2016 we achieved the Recognition of Commitment (ROC) for our rights-respecting work, which is the first step along the process, we are now hard at work to achieve level 1.
Level 1
Following an inspection from children’s charity Unicef on Friday 30th June 2017, Iver Village Junior School has been presented with a Level 1 Rights Respecting Award. The Rights Respecting Schools Award is a Unicef UK programme that aims to put children’s rights at the heart of schools in the UK.
The charity works with thousands of schools across the country to embed children’s rights in their ethos and culture to improve well-being and develop every child’s talents and abilities to their full potential. The Award recognises a school’s achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC or UNCRC) into practice within the school and beyond.
To achieve the Level 1 award, the school laid clear foundations across the whole school, embedding ‘Right Respecting’ into the curriculum. Our school council consisting of 2 children from each class ensured that every child in the school was given a voice.
In addition to this there are also rights displays in school, and rights assemblies have been held, alongside lessons. The children’s knowledge of their rights and their confidence when talking about them with both staff and UNICEF was amazing.
If you would like to read our Rights Respecting Schools leaflet then please click here.