Rights Respecting Schools
The Federation of Towers Schools; Rights Respecting Schools.
What is a Rights Respecting School?
The UNICEF Right Respecting Schools Award 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. For a school to receive accreditation, it must evidence that it has reached the three RRSA Strands.
Strand A: Teaching and learning about rights
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is made known to children, young people and adults, who use this shared understanding to work for improved child wellbeing, school improvement, global justice and sustainable living.
Strand B: Teaching and learning through rights – ethos and relationships
Actions and decisions affecting children are rooted in, reviewed and resolved through rights. Children, young people and adults collaborate to develop and maintain a school community based on equality, dignity, respect, non-discrimination and participation; this includes learning and teaching in a way that respects the rights of both educators and learners and promotes wellbeing.
Strand C: Teaching and learning for rights – participation, empowerment and action
Children are empowered to enjoy and exercise their rights and to promote the rights of others locally and globally. Duty bearers are accountable for ensuring that children experience their rights.
Towers; A Rights Respecting School.
Our schools’ vision and values have at their heart the importance of treating each other as we would want to be treated ourselves, with respect and dignity, making sure that each person is valued. This is one of the reasons why the work of UNICEF and Rights Respecting Schools is so significant to us.
We are a school where children’s rights are at the heart of our ethos and culture, to improve well-being and to develop every child’s talents and abilities to their full potential. As such, we are working towards recognition as a Rights Respecting School, an award given to schools on behalf of UNICEF UK.
UNICEF UK works with schools to create safe and inspiring places to learn, where children are respected, their talents are nurtured and they are able to thrive. The Rights Respecting Schools Award supports schools to put in place a set of standards based on equality, dignity, respect, non-discrimination and participation. These values stem from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
Children's rights are imbedded our practice and ethos; we put children's rights at the heart of our school. We work to create safe and inspiring places to learn, where children are respected, their talents are nurtured and they are able to thrive.
Becoming a Rights Respecting school supports our children in achieving their potential and becoming responsible global citizens. Our integrated curriculum helps children learn respect for self, others, critical thinking skills and informed decision-making. We have embedded children’s rights within our teaching, ethos and school policies. We believe that the principles and values of being a Rights Respecting school has a positive impact on the children’s learning environment.
When children learn about their rights it is important that deeper connections are also made in their understanding about the nature of rights. They are taught the ABCDE of their rights.
Rights through the Curriculum
Rights are woven through everything we do. Some of the places rights are explicitly taught are:
- Our school Vision
- Reflecting on children’s rights in key stories on our reading curriculum and our reading spine
- Writing about rights in our curriculum
- In history lessons, the treatment of children and the perception of how their rights have changed over time
- In geography and PSHE, when considering how children’s rights are met or not met around the world
- In PSHE, PE and computing lessons, as children invoke and respect their own rights related to their health, fitness, wellbeing and privacy
How can parents support children with learning rights?
- Take the time to ask your child what he/she has learnt recently regarding children’s rights
- Discuss the ideas learned in class, and try to think of examples from your own experiences, or from the media, of rights being respected or denied.
- Discuss how your child or your family can promote respect for rights, or help those whose rights have been violated.
- Model using rights related language with your children.
- Ask your child’s opinion on children’s rights.
Useful resources
You can find out more about the Award here:
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
ABCDE of Rights
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NOUwasPrGv_9fa4uSprAc4HF6NA69wEBas_9Fhh4La4/edit
Some Frequently asked questions:
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What is a UNICEF UK Rights Respecting School?
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A UNICEF UK Rights Respecting School is a school that ensures children’s rights are taught, understood and lived in school. Rights Respecting schools put in place a set of standards based on equality, dignity, respect, non-discrimination and participation based on the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child. These values are ever-present in a Rights Respecting school, from the classroom to the canteen. As a result, the Rights Respecting Schools Award transforms whole schools into places where children feel safe, nurtured and in control of their futures. |
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Why is this happening? |
A UNICEF UK Rights Respecting School models rights and respect in all its relationships, whether between adults and pupils, between pupils or between adults. It is proven to benefit everyone in the school community to grow and learn together. Read more about the Award at www.unicef.org.uk/rrsa |
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How will becoming a Rights Respecting School benefit my child(ren)? |
The RRSA Impact Report demonstrates that children and young people who attend a school that has progressed through the Award are engaged in their education, feel a shared sense of community in school, believe they can change the world for the better, develop self-esteem and value themselves and have a school environment where they feel safe and cared for. |
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How can I get involved?
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Please do read about the Convention and UNICEF’s work to see what it’s all about. Read more: unicef.uk/intro_to_crc |
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What is the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child? |
In 1989, governments worldwide promised all children the same rights by adopting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Convention recognised that all children have the right to be treated with dignity and fairness, to be protected, to develop to their full potential and to participate. The rights in the Convention describe what a child needs to survive, grow, and live up to their potential in the world. They apply equally to every child, no matter who they are or where they come from. The Convention changed the way children are viewed and treated – in other words, as human beings with a distinct set of rights instead of as passive objects of care and charity. It is the most widely ratified human rights treaty – only the United States has not ratified it. The UK signed up to it in 1991. |
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What is UNICEF? |
UNICEF is the world's leading organisation for children and young people, promoting the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything they do. Together with their partners, UNICEF works in 190 countries to translate that commitment into practical action. UNICEF UK is a registered charity. It raises funds through donations from individuals, organisations and companies and campaigns to keep children safe. UNICEF UK also works with schools, hospitals and local authorities in the UK to put children at the heart of what they do. To find out more about Unicef, go to: www.unicef.org.uk |
