Rights Respecting Award

 

The Rights Respecting Schools Award puts children’s rights at the heart of schools in the UK.

Bexhill Academy is proud to be working with UNICEF to create a safe and inspiring place to learn, where children are respected, their talents are nurtured and they are able to thrive.

UNICEF’s Rights Respecting Schools Award embeds these values in daily school life and gives children the best chance to lead happy, health lives and to be responsible, active citizens. The award is not just about what the children who are (rights holders) do but also what adults who are (duty bearers) do.

In April 2022, we achieved our silver award and we are excited to continue with our journey to gold! Our silver accreditation report is attached below.

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What are the children’s rights?

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, or UNCRC, is the basis of all of Unicef’s work. It is the most complete statement of children’s rights ever produced and is the most widely-ratified international human rights treaty in history.

The Convention has 54 articles that cover all aspects of a child’s life and set out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights that all children everywhere are entitled to. It also explains how adults and governments must work together to make sure all children can enjoy all their rights. Every child has rights, whatever their ethnicity, gender, religion, language, abilities or any other status.

Please see the picture below for a summary of Articles 1-42.

The ABCDE of Children’s rights’ is one way that can help children learn about the nature of rights.

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Why become a Rights Respecting School?
  • It develops a common language to build the schools vision and values
  • They are an inalienable set of rights which the children have a right to know
  • Children and young people become actively involved in the learning process
  • Children and young people take responsibility for respecting their right to an education, and the rights of others
  • It is an efficient and effective framework for School Improvement
  • To build good global citizens

What is the impact of being a Rights Respecting school?
  • Everyone in the school community has a clear framework of reference
  • Children become advocates for their own learning
  • Improved behaviours for Learning
  • Less passive and more active learners
  • Improved results

How can I get Involved?

We have a child-led steering group at school who are our ‘Rights Rangers’ and we would welcome any involvement from parents or carers. It is not a massive commitment, more of an opportunity to support the children in developing a rights respecting ethos through attending 1 or 2 meetings across the year.

Please contact the RRS lead if you would like to get involved or for any further information.

Aimee Ridley: bexhill@wiseacademies.co.uk