UNICEF
Rights Respecting School
What is the UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools Award?
In 1989, governments across the world promised all children the same rights by adopting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Convention includes 54 rights in total detailing how children should grow, learn, be protected, listened to and treated fairly.
The RRS Award recognises a school’s achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into practice within the school and beyond.
There are four key areas of impact for children at a Rights Respecting school; wellbeing, participation, relationships and self-esteem. The difference that a Rights Respecting School makes goes well beyond the school gates and extends to the whole community.
At GANF we are committed to achieving the RRSA. We currently hold a ‘’Silver” status.
How can parents/carers be involved?
• Have a look at the information here: https://www.unicef.org.uk/rights-respecting-schools/
• Annual reviews of Education, Health and Care Plans are child-centric and an opportunity for parents/carers to experience first-hand how GANF’s rights respecting ethos enables their child to have a voice, make a contribution in the school and community and to enjoy life.
• Get involved in our various fundraising events throughout the year where we contribute to our local, national and international communities.
How are teachers and staff involved?
Teachers and staff model rights respecting language and attitudes and make strategic decisions that involve students every day. Rights are taught and learnt throughout the whole school community through training, curriculum, assemblies, topics, focus days/ weeks and displays. Governors are informed of progress throughout and are invited to participate actively as much as they can.
How are pupils involved?
Pupils are encouraged to have an active and participatory role in their learning and in the community. Pupils are invited to participate in steering groups such as the School Council and Eco Group.
Article of the Week
Article of the Week is a regular set of learning activities centred on a specific article.
This flexible resource is intended to provide easy-to-use, rights-related learning for primary and secondary learners, their families and your colleagues. There is no expectation that you will do a pack each week in school, this flexible resource is intended for you to refer to as you need it.
Some articles touch on hard-hitting topics so we advise teachers to check the contents of the pack to ensure activities will work for learners and edit as required. Article of the Week has been created on a weekly basis, so in some instances the activities reflect the real-world context they were created in over the course of 2020.
