We are delighted to announce that Portaferry Integrated Primary School are now a Silver: Rights Aware Accredited UNICEF Rights Respecting School.
In September 2021, we started our RRS journey and in January 2022 were awarded the Bronze: Rights Committed Award. We have recently achieved the Silver: Rights Aware Award from Rights Respecting School. These awards will see the students, staff, and wider community come together to learn about children’s rights and put them into practice every day. The Award is not just, about what children do but also, importantly, what adults do. In Rights Respecting Schools, children’s rights are promoted and realised, adults and children work towards this goal together. The Award recognises a school’s achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into practice within the school and beyond. There are three stages to the award; Bronze: Rights Committed, Silver: Rights Aware and Gold: Rights Respecting. We will now be starting our journey into becoming a Gold status school.
What is Rights Respecting School?
UNICEF Rights Respecting School Award (RRSA) helps schools to use the UNCRC as the values framework that enables this to be achieved. The UNCRC enhances pupils’ understanding of the consequences of individual and group actions on the rights of others locally and globally. The articles of the Convention are based on the recognition of every child’s basic needs to thrive. UNICEF UK believes that the principles and values of the UNCRC should be embedded in the ethos and curriculum of every school. It is not a one-off lesson but integrated into the heart of the school, in our policies, procedures and practises. This is the purpose of the Rights Respecting School Award.
RRSA provides a framework to help schools to use UNCRC as the basis for their ethos. In a rights respecting school, children learn about their rights and the responsibilities that are implied. By promoting the values of respect, dignity and non-discrimination, children’s self-esteem and wellbeing is boosted, and they are less likely to suffer from stress. A child who understands their rights understands how they and others should be treated and their sense of self-worth is strengthened. The Rights Respecting Schools Award gives children a powerful language to use to express themselves and to challenge the way they are treated. They are also able to challenge injustices for other children. Students are empowered to access information that enables them to make informed decisions about their learning, health and wellbeing. This builds their confidence to make informed decisions. In addition, students have a moral framework, based on equality and respect for all that lasts a lifetime, as they grow into engaged, responsible members of society. Rights and principles of the Convention are used to put moral situations into perspective and consider rights-respecting solutions – this all has a huge impact on relationships and well-being.
How does Portaferry Integrated PS promote these rights?
- Anti-Bullying policy – Article 19: the right to be safe and to be protected from violence and/or neglect.
- Provides a range of extra-Curricular activities – Article 15: the right to meet with other pupil and join groups that you choose.
- Our School Ethos – Article 28: the right to education.
- We are a healthy/eco-conscious school – Article 6/24/27 : the right to live, survive and have the right to healthy food and water.
- Foundation Stage – Article 28/29/31 – the right to education, to play and to work to be the best that you can be.
- Numeracy and Literacy Framework – Article 28/29 right to education and working towards becoming the best that you can be.
- Our Pastoral Care team – Article 12/19/36 – to be heard and respected, to be protected from violence, abuse and neglect.
- Our Pupil Steering Group – Article 12 – to have our pupil voice heard.
Impact of RRSA
The impact of the RRSA has been extraordinary:
- Children at Portaferry Integrated are involved in the decisions about school life, expressing their opinions knowing that they will be listened to.
- The Pupil Steering Group act as the face of the student body, representing them and they regularly get consulted on matters of the school. Their feedback and opinions are taken seriously, and this is reflected in their attitudes about making a difference to their own learning.
- Through RRS, staff are more respectful of pupils and colleagues, in the language they use and in their general attitudes. Classes all follow the guidance set out by ‘The RRS Classroom’, and the class charters are positively influencing class behaviours.
- Because of the success that Portaferry Integrated have seen from RRS, the board of governors have now put it in the school development plan as a long-term goal, to continue to be a Rights Respecting School
- Children are making many cross curricular links using lessons taught through RRS. They are questioning their own learning and making intelligent connections between their National Curriculum subjects and RRS.
- Children feel safe and respected in school, but know how to seek help and support if needed.
- By improving relationships with peers and adults, children are showing increased prosocial (helping) behaviours and improved understanding of the importance of being respectful.
- Within lessons, children are more engaged in the learning, especially in issues of social justice/injustice. Because of RRS, the children at Portaferry Integrated are showing more positive attitudes towards diversity and inclusion in society, as well as enhancing moral understanding.
Pupil Steering Group
The Pupil Steering Group leads, guides and informs the activities of the whole school so that it ensures the work of Rights Respecting Schools. Their work has influence and the ability to drive forward change in a meaningful way, because as representation of the student body, their opinions matter to Portaferry Integrated PS.
Outright Award 2022/2023
OutRight is a campaign by children and young people, for children and young people. In 2022/23, OutRight focussed on children’s right to the best possible health, and how it links to health systems and the UNCRC. Children and young people produced a variety of posters, letters, poems and more, advocating for how children’s rights to be protected by strong health systems, all around the world. Through our RRS work, we achieved the Outright Award and it is proudly on display on our school.
Silver Award
Children and young people are beginning to see themselves as rights respecting global citizens and advocates for fairness and children’s rights, both locally and globally. By achieving Silver: Rights Aware, this means that Portaferry Integrated is:
- Explicitly embedding the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in its policy, practice and culture.
- Promoting knowledge and understanding of the Convention throughout the school community.
- Putting into action and developing the plans outlined on our school RRS Action Plan
- Beginning to see the positive impact of these actions on children and young people, staff, and on the school’s ethos, practice and environment.
RRSA Contact Information and Further Learning
If you would like to learn more about the Rights Respecting School Award or the UNCRC, the RRS Co-Ordinator is Miss McCarthy.
For more information
http://www.unicef.org.uk/rights-respecting-schools/
https://www.unicef.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNCRC_summary-1_1.pdf
