A Glossop primary school has been awarded the UNICEF Rights Respecting School Bronze Award – and is now going for Gold.
The status has been granted to St Charles’ Catholic Voluntary Academy by UNICEF in recognition of the way it has embedded children’s rights into its policies, practice and ethos.
The Bronze award means that St Charles’ Senior Leadership Team understands what is involved in the award and is committed to embarking on the UNICEF UK rights respecting journey. It also recognises that the right foundations are in place for the school’s journey to the second stage which is Silver.
The school has placed the UN Convention on the Right of the Child (UNCRC) at the heart of its practices, helping to improve the wellbeing of all children and young people and making sure they realise their potential. UNCRC recognises that all children have the right to be treated with dignity, fairness, to be protected, to develop their full potential and to participate.
The Award is based on principles of equality, dignity, respect, non-discrimination and participation.
Year Two teacher Oliver Wakefield is leading the programme at St Charles’. He said: “There are over 50 children’s rights and we are putting them at the heart of our school and embedding them. A lot of children didn’t know they had rights so we created a corridor where their rights are displayed and they see them every day.
“We talk to them about their rights, like the right to have clean clothes, and they learn that some children don’t have the rights that they have, for instance, there are a lot of children around the world who don’t have an education or a house.
“We might look at one right a week and then follow that up with a linked activity and talk about what it means.
“We will be working towards the Silver award next and ultimately we would like to achieve Gold. The UNICEF rights can be brought into every area for our children; it’s all about that holistic approach to education.”
Headteacher Bernadette Quirke said: “Becoming part of a UNICEF Rights Respecting School has helped to develop our Character Curriculum.
“The school recognises the importance of developing character traits in our pupils, which include personal and social responsibility.
“As part of our Catholic ethos, we want our pupils to grow into responsible citizens who care about the world and learning about children’s rights helps to create understanding.”
Picture: Oliver Wakefield and some of the children display their UNICEF award.
