Rights Respecting School
Here at St. Michael's CE Primary Academy, we aim to be a school where children’s rights are at the heart of our ethos and culture. We have worked hard on being a ‘Rights Respecting School’, and have already been awarded BRONZE status. We are currently striving for our Silver 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.
St. Michael's CE Primary Academy 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 the Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA)
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; Community, Aspiration, Learning and Love, are central to our school’s ethos and day-to-day running. They influence our behaviour and underpin our school rules:
- Treat others as you want to be treated
- Try your best in everything that you do
- Be engaged in your learning
- Forgive and forget
Children have a very good understanding of our core values and rules. They are revised daily at the start of assembly. During our assemblies, we celebrate examples of our core values being exemplified by pupils.
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 School Council meet regularly to help us develop and drive forwards our aims as a Silver status Rights Respecting school.
Each week we refer to rights during assembly time and also think of ideas to raise money for various charities and community projects.
At St. Michael's CE Primary Academy, 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 or emotions thermometers. 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.
While we are currently working towards the Silver – Rights Aware Award, we are also mindful or how we can continue to develop this in the future and hopefully achieve the Gold – Rights Respecting Award.
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 putting into action and developing the plans outlined on our Action Plan for Silver, which was submitted to achieve our Bronze: Rights Committed Award
- 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
