UNICEF UK is pioneering an initiative called the Rights Respecting School Award (RRSA), which encourages schools to place the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) at the heart of its ethos and curriculum.
The award scheme started in 2004 and is running in more than 800 primary and secondary schools in the UK. Many schools have reported a decrease in bullying, an improvement in achievement and participation; a positive effect on attitudes and global awareness; and a more inclusive, caring school atmosphere.
A Rights Respecting School not only teaches about children’s and human rights but also models rights and respect in all its relationships, whether between pupils and teachers, or between pupils.
The award is open to all schools: nursery, primary, middle, secondary and special. It is complementary to the Healthy Schools Award and Eco Schools, and can be part of a programme to build a positive school ethos.
In 2008 wesigned up to the programme and a P&K Service Manager came out to school to carry out an audit on where we were. She did this by talking to several children and we were delighted at the way the children saw themselves in the school and how they felt part of the decision making process.
However there were of course some things to debvelop and during 2008-2009 we did the following:
Created an Action Plan
Introduced the children to many of their rights though our Get Togethers.
Created a Rights Respecting wall on which the children placed writings about UNICEF rights and the responsibilities of all pupilsin meeting everyone's rights.
We informed parents of what we were doing and discussed it at a Parent Council.
Ensured that the ethos of the school reflected the pricipals of child rights.
At the start of 2009 all P.7 pupils became prefects.
It was felt that to develop the children's responsibilites within the school it would be a good idea to appoint P.7 pupils as prefects. In this way the older pupils have more responsibility within the school, have thew chance to be good role models and also have increased privilieges if they carry out their duties in a sensible and mature way.
Their duties will be as follows:
Each prefect will be on duty one day a week.
If on duty they will be responsibloe for ringing the bell at 9am and at breaks and for organising and ensuring other pupils enter school in an orderly fashion.
At break times along with staff supervisors they will circulate outside ensuring children are safe and happy.
They have been guidance on what to do in certain situations and will use their own discretion on dealingw ith a situation.
Regualr meetings will be held to diuscuss how things are going and how situations were handled. it is hoped that in this work the children will learn a lot about helping others and in the development of their own social skills.
Of course for doing this work and giving up some of their own time the pupils will be given certain privileges.
The children also understand that if they themselves behave in a way that convenes their Prefect Charter they will lose the responsibility and privilege of being a prefect. the lenght of time they are 'stripped' of this position will be decided by the HT and fellow prefects.
We have change d the way the Pupil Council operates this year. In the past a Council has represented children for a whole year. This session we will have councils running for a set period of time. Sept - Dec, Jan- April. April - June.
Staff will nominate pupils who they feel would benefit from this position and who would best represent the children of the school. These nominations will be voted for by pupils and staff.
The council will be made up of 3 children from P.3-5 and 3 from P.5-7.
The process will be repeated at the end of each Council period. The same pupils can be put forward again for election.
The council will meet at least once per term to discuss issues relevant to the children in the school, make decisions about fund raising for the school or charity, making the school environment better and any other relevant matters.
