In 2023/4 session we established a Rights Respecting Group at Oaklands with the aim of working towards the Unicef Rights Respecting Award. This award aims to put the rights of children at the heart of everything. We seek to create a safe and inspiring place to learn, where children are respected, their talents are nurtured and they are able to thrive. We want our pupils to experience a curriculum that embeds these values in daily school life.

The award has three levels, Bronze, Silver and Gold and in 23/24 we began working towards our Bronze Award by

• Identifying 11 key articles from the UNCRC that we would focus on
• holding training for all staff
• establishing a working group of pupils and staff (1 from each class)
• holding monthly meetings
• writing a song
• holding an assembly
• developing a display board
• singing songs, telling stories and playing games

We were absolutely thrilled to be awarded our Bronze award at the end of April in 2024 and have now begun the journey towards our Silver Award.

What are Children’s Rights ?

Everyone has heard of the Human Rights Act. Children have additional rights as they are more vulnerable to abuse and exploitation compared to adults.

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

The UNCRC is made up of 54 articles. 42 describe children’s rights and the others describe how the UN and governments work to ensure those rights.

Who are the rights for?

The rights are

• universal – all children have rights
• inaliable – the rights cannot be taken away
• indivisible – the rights are interdependent
• accountable – governments have the duty to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of children

Rights not rules!