Rights Respecting Award
Here at the Beacon, we are proud to be a Silver Rights Respecting School. This means our pupils are starting to embedd children's rights throughout the school, in its policies, practice and ethos. Right Respecting is ingrained through our INSPIRE curriculum and based on both respect and inclusion. The rights are frequently linked to learning, therefore children have an understanding of their rights which are embedded throughout the school day.
Some of the rights that you will see being displayed around our school community are;
- in the classroom (Article 28: the right to an education),
- in the dining hall (Article 24: the right to nutritious food and clean water),
- in the playground, (Article 31: the right to relax, play and take part in a wide range of cultural and artistic activities)
- in the local community (Article 2: child rights apply to every child without discrimination, whatever their ethnicity, gender, religion, language, abilities or any other status, whatever they think or say, whatever their family background.).
- and as a global citizen (Article 4 (implementation of the Convention) Governments must do all they can to make sure every child can enjoy their rights by creating systems and passing laws that promote and protect children’s rights.
This award helps develop pupils’ acceptance of differences and diversity whilst providing them with a strong moral compass. Althought children discuss rights frequenctly, they are not in charge of ensuring the rights are followed, adults are!
All staff who work at The Beacon CE Primary School are passionate about their role as duty bearers (the people who uphold the rights of a child).
This award helps develop pupils’ acceptance of differences and diversity whilst providing them with a strong moral compass. Althought children discuss rights frequenctly, they are not in charge of ensuring the rights are followed, adults are!
What are "Children's Rights"?
The Rights Respecting Schools Award surrounds 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 a guide. There are 54 articles that explain childrens rights across the world.
Article 1 (definition of the child): Everyone under the age of 18 has all the rights in the Convention.
What is a Rights Respecting School?
A rights respecting school is a school that is officially recognised by the charity UNICEF for actively teaching children about their rights. Together young people and the shcool learn about childrens rights and put them into practice every day.
Article 42 (knowledge of rights): Governments must actively work to make sure children and adults know about the convention.
As a school, we thrive to follow the four key areas; wellbeing, participation, relationship and self-esteem that will positively impact childre at a Rights Respecting School. This will help the students feel safe, healthier, happier, encourage them to have better relationships and become more involved in school life and the wider community. It is a Rights Respecting School's duty to ensure that children's rights are promoted and embedded by both children (rights holders) and adults (duty bearers).
Class Charters
As you walk around are school, you will notice in each class, a personalised class charter to represent the individual class. A charter is a visual document that establishes an agreed set of rights. Creating charters allows students to create their own positive learning environment which reflects life in the classroom, the whole school, in the playground and other areas of the school community.
Creating a charter helps to make the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) more prominent and relevant. - UNICEF
Here at the Beacon, we make new class charters each academic year to ensure children know that our classrooms are a place their rights are respected. When making a new class charter, both Adults and Children make pledges to explain how they are going to use the rights within school.
Creating a charter helps to make the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) more prominent and relevant. - UNICEF
We were assessed as a Silver Rights Respecting School meaning we are rights aware.