The staff and children of Seaham Trinity Primary school worked incredibly hard to achieve the Level 1 Rights Respecting school award. We are now heading for gold.
What is the Rights Respecting School Award?
The Rights Respecting school award (RRSA) is an initiative run by Unicef to encourage schools to place the Rights of the child at the heart of the school ethos and curriculum by embedding the United Nations convention on the rights of the child (UNCRC) into all aspects of school life.
Seaham Trinity Primary school aims to create an environment that not only fosters academic achievement but also meets the social, emotional and diverse needs of all children in a nurturing and respectful way.
As we work towards our goal of becoming a Rights Respecting school our journey will support us to enable all our pupils, your children, to realise their own rights and the rights of other children, locally, nationally and globally enabling them to become citizens of the world.
Ultimately the award will thread through all aspects of school life creating a positive and safe environment that fosters mutual respect for all children where they can reach their full potential and become confident, happy, tolerant and respectful individuals who are accepting of differences and diversity.
What is Unicef?
UNICEF is the world’s leading charitable organisation working for all children and their rights. It runs operations all over the world supplying food, shelter, clean water, education and medication etc to children wherever they need it. In 1989, almost all governments around the world promised all children the same rights by adopting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). These rights are based on four guiding principles of what a child needs to survive, grow, participate and fulfil their potential. Unicef works tirelessly to help children access those rights.
What are our next steps?
We are currently working towards gaining our Gold Award. To achieve this, we must meet four standards as set out by Unicef.
The four RRSA Standards are:
Standard A: Rights-respecting values underpin leadership and management
The best interests of the child are a top priority in all actions. Leaders are committed to placing the values and principles of the CRC at the heart of all policies and practice.
Standard B: The whole school community learns about the CRC
The Convention is made known to children and adults. Young people and adults use this shared understanding to work for global justice and sustainable living.
Standard C: The school has a rights-respecting ethos
Young people and adults collaborate to develop and maintain a rights-respecting school community, based on the CRC, in all areas and in all aspects of school life.
Standard D: Children and young people are empowered to become active citizens and learners
Every child has the right to say what they think in all matters affecting them and to have their views taken seriously. Young people develop the confidence, through their experience of an inclusive rights-respecting school community, to play an active role in their own learning and to speak and act for the rights of all to be respected locally and globally.
If you would like any more information please speak to Mrs Clayton; who can be contacted through the main office.
