Rights Respecting Award

Rights Respecting Award

Nearly half of all deaths in children under the age of 5 are attributable to under nutrition. This accounts for approximately 3 million young lives a year. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) came into force over 25 years ago yet there are still children all over the world who are denied their basic, fundamental rights as a child – as a human being. The Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) is a Unicef UK programme which aims to support schools across the country to embed children’s human rights in their ethos and culture. The Award recognises a school’s achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into practice within the school and beyond. In order for Bridge of Don Academy to achieve this Award there are 4 criteria that we as a school have to meet: rights-respecting values underpin leadership and management, the whole community learns about the UNCRC, the school has a rights-respecting ethos and children are empowered to become active citizens and learners. We have already begun taking steps to meet these aims, for instance, our Headteacher has presented assemblies to each year group informing the pupils about the UNCRC and detailing the basis of the Rights Respecting Award. In addition, a “Global Goals Group” has been formed within the school which aims to raise awareness and implement the values of the Convention. We have already sent out questionnaires to pupils regarding their knowledge of rights and the Award and are making plans towards creating a display board showcasing children’s rights. However, in order for our school to achieve this Award we need YOUR help and support! We need pupils, staff, parents and the community to become involved and support this cause as, while it may seem small, it is another step towards securing human rights for everybody across the world.