Here at Gleadless Primary School, we aim to be a school where children’s rights are at the heart of our ethos and culture. Gleadless Primary  has worked hard on being a ‘Rights Respecting School’, and have already been awarded Silver status. We are now striving for our Gold Award. This is an award given to schools on behalf of UNICEF UK and recognises a school’s commitment and action in relation to championing the rights.

UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation working for children and young people and their rights. In 1989, governments across the world agreed that all children have the same rights by adopting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). These rights are based on what a child needs to survive, grow, participate and fulfil their potential.

Gleadless Primary School pupils learn about their rights by putting them into practice every day. A Rights Respecting School models rights and respect in all its relationships.  This is continuing to be embedded across all areas of the curriculum. 

WHAT IS RIGHTS RESPECTING SCHOOLS?

The Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) recognises achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) at the heart of a school’s planning, policies, practice and ethos. A rights-respecting school not only teaches about children’s rights but also models rights and respect in all its relationships: between teachers / adults and pupils, between adults and between pupils.

HOW ARE WE A RIGHTS RESPECTING SCHOOL?

Our Core Values; we are respectful, we have a voice, we are determined, we care, we have self-belief and we are a team, are central to our school’s ethos and day-to-day running. Children have a very good understanding of our core values and during our assemblies; we celebrate examples of our core values being shown within the classroom. As a school we believe in our HUGG, which includes preparing children for success, enabling them to make aspirational choices for themselves and positive contributions to the wider world.

In every class, we teach children about their rights, children are given the opportunities to share their own opinions, take part in discussions and value every one’s ideas. We believe that children have a voice, and our Rights Respecting School Committee meet regularly  to help us develop and drive forwards our aims as a Silver status Rights Respecting school.  Each class has a Class Charter that shows how children's rights are met in their classroom. Children can communicate their rights and the basic principles. They understand that some children are not able to access their rights and  can give examples why. Children at Gleadless understand how adults in school and at home help support their rights. Children know when they are learning about rights because they will see Roccy, the Rights Respecting Rat (our mascot, designed by Louie H). 

At Gleadless Primary School, we have taken positive steps in order to empower children to talk about their feelings and worries. Children begin to manage their emotions from an early age, using the Zones of Regulation. Our curriculum helps our pupils develop their personal social and emotional character traits and along with our nurturing approach, our pupils learn to talk about their feelings, thoughts and opinions.

Achieving Silver & Gold: means that we have evidence that:

• Our school is explicitly embedding the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in our policy, practice and culture
• Our school is promoting knowledge and understanding of the Convention throughout your school community
• Our school is beginning to see the positive impact of these actions our children, staff, and on our school’s ethos, practice and environment
• Our pupils are beginning to see themselves as rights respecting global citizens and advocates for fairness and children’s rights, both locally and globally

We really hope that parents/carers and the wider community will be able to support our school on our journey towards Gold and becoming a UNICEF UK Rights Respecting School.  

You can find out a bit more about the Convention on the Rights of the Child by visiting unicef.org.uk/crc.

For further information about Rights Respecting Schools please visit: www.unicef.org.uk/rrsa