We are a Silver Rights Respecting School!
St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School is a school where children’s rights are at the
heart of our ethos and culture, in order to improve well-being and to develop every
child’s talents and abilities to their full potential.
At St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, we believe in the ethos behind this award.
We achieved our Bronze Award in 2023, Silver Award in 2024 and are very proud to
share that we are on our Gold Award journey.
‘Silver: Rights Aware is granted to schools that make good progress towards
embedding the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into their
ethos and curriculum. Silver: Rights Aware is the second stage of the Rights
Respecting Schools Award.
Gold: Rights Respecting is granted to schools that have fully embedded children’s
rights throughout the school in its policies, practice and ethos. Rights
Respecting is the third stage of the Rights Respecting Schools Award.
Read more about the GOLD accreditation here:
https://www.unicef.org.uk/rights-respecting-schools/getting-started/gold/
About the Rights Respecting Schools Award
The Rights Respecting Schools Award puts children’s rights at the heart of schools
in the UK. Unicef works with schools in the UK to create safe and inspiring places to
learn, where children are respected, their talents are nurtured and they are able to
thrive. Our Rights Respecting Schools Award embeds these values in daily school
life and gives children the best chance to lead happy, healthy lives and to be
responsible, active citizens.
‘Using the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) as our guide, we are
working with more UK schools than almost any other organisation. Over 1.5 million
children in the UK go to a Rights Respecting School and nearly 5000 schools up and
down the country are working towards the award’ – Unicef – Rights Respecting
Schools.
Why is being a Rights Respecting School is important?
Unicef is the world’s leading organisation working for children and young people and
their rights. In 1989, governments across the world agreed that all children have the
same rights by adopting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
These rights are based on what a child needs to survive, grow, participate and fulfil
their potential.
All adults (parents, carers teachers or the government) are known as Duty Bearers.
It is our responsibility to make children aware of their rights and to act if their rights
are not being met.
Children understand that their rights are:
- Indivisible – Rights are indivisible meaning no right is more important than
another one. They are equal and linked. - Inalienable – Rights are inalienable meaning you cannot give them away or
sell them and no one can take them away from you. - Universal – Rights are universal meaning they are for all children (under 18),
everywhere, all the time. - Unconditional – Rights are unconditional meaning they are not a reward and
not dependent on a responsibility or performing an action to get them.
