Rights Respecting Schools | Downderry Primary School

We have successfully achieved the Silver: Rights Aware award for our rights-respecting work.

What is the Rights Respecting Schools Award?

The Unicef UK Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) supports schools across the UK to embed children’s human rights in their ethos and culture. The award recognises achievement in putting the UN Convention on the Right of the Child (UNCRC) at the heart of a school’s practice to improve well-being and help all children realise their potential.

The award is based on principles of equality, dignity, respect, non-discrimination and participation. The initiative started in 2006 and schools involved in the Award have reported a positive impact on relationships and well-being, leading to better learning and behaviour, improved academic standards and less bullying.

What does the Award involve?

Schools involved in the Rights Respecting Schools Award work towards recognition that they have embedded children’s rights in their school’s practice and ethos. Schools are required to implement four evidence-based standards that cover the leadership of the school, knowledge and understanding of children’s rights, ethos and relationships and the empowerment of children.

There are three levels to the Award:

The journey to Silver Level 1 can take 6 — 12 months and we are currently working towards this award at Downderry Primary School.

How can parents support what children are learning about rights at school?

Take the time to ask your child what he/she has learned 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.
Ask your child’s opinion on children’s rights.

Some typical ways of using Rights Respecting language at home

You have the right to play but you must respect the family’s right to a tidy house and must tidy up your toys afterwards.
You have the right to watch the TV but your right to be fed is more important right now and you need to turn the TV off.
You have the right to an opinion and I will listen but you need to respect my right to express an opinion as well.
You have the right to be healthy and my job is to make you healthy by giving you healthy foods
You have the right to a clean world to live in and so does everyone else. Therefore you need to respect that right and put your rubbish in the bin.

A message about Rights Respecting School from our Head Pupils.

We are working towards a Rights Respecting School Award. This means creating a safe & fun school, where our rights are respected, our talents allowed to grow, and where we are encouraged to be the best we can be.

So far not all children know most of their rights. This year we hope to change this by working with the teachers and children to explain how important it is to have our rights and what they are! We will brush up on it in assemblies!

Children at Downderry strongly agree that they can influence decisions. We do this regularly through our school council and the work we do as Head pupils. Children feel safe at school and could tell an adult if they felt unsafe.

At the moment children are least confident in helping to do things globally. We do things already such as sponsoring a child to school in South Africa and through our many charity events. Children in Need is coming up on Friday 17th November! We will look at this more in School Council.

By Bishman & Rummana