Welcome to Our Rights Respecting School Page!
We are incredibly proud to announce that our school has achieved the UNICEF UK Silver: Rights Aware award!
is an exciting milestone on our journey towards becoming a fully integrated Rights Respecting School. This award recognises the significant progress we have made in embedding the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) throughout our school community, ensuring that children's rights are increasingly understood, promoted and reflected in our values, policies and everyday practice.
What is a Rights Respecting School?
A Rights Respecting School is a community where children’s rights are taught, practised, and lived. UNICEF UK grants this award to schools that show a unified commitment to placing the UNCRC at the heart of their ethos, policies, and daily practice.
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By learning about their rights, our pupils develop a strong sense of justice, empathy, and global citizenship. They learn not only what they are entitled to, but also how to speak up for the rights of children in Wales and across the world.
Key Vocabulary: Understanding the Language of Rights
To help us live these values, our pupils and staff use specific language. Here are the key terms you might hear your children talking about at home:
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Rights Holders: Every single child from birth up to the age of 18 is a Rights Holder. Rights belong inherently to them—they do not have to be earned, and they cannot be taken away.
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Duty Bearers: These are the adults responsible for ensuring that children can enjoy their rights. At school, duty bearers include teachers, teaching assistants, lunchtime staff, and governors. At home, parents and carers are the primary duty bearers.
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The UNCRC: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. This is a list of 54 articles (rights) that sit at the very heart of Welsh law regarding children.
The ABCDE of Rights
To help our pupils easily understand how rights work, we teach
the ABCDE of Rights. This framework explains theunique nature
of a child's rights:
A – Rights are Universal (for All children)
Rights belong to every child, everywhere in the world, regardless
of their race, gender, religion, language, or abilities.
B – Rights are Inherent (from Birth)
Children are born with their rights. They do not have to pass a
test, behave well, or reach a certain age to get them.
C – Rights cannot be taken away (Can't be taken)
Rights are inalienable. No one can legally strip a child of their rights. Even if a child makes a mistake or misbehaves, their rights remain intact.
D – Rights are Unconditional (Don't have to be earned)
Rights are not a reward. Children do not have to do chores, complete homework, or "earn" the right to be safe, healthy, or educated.
E – Rights are Indivisible (Equally important)
All rights are linked and equally vital. You cannot choose some rights and ignore others. The right to play is just as legally binding as the right to clean water or an education.
How This Fits into the Welsh Context
Our Rights Respecting journey perfectly complements education and law here in Wales:
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The Curriculum for Wales: Our new curriculum focuses on developing ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world. Learning about rights gives our pupils the tools to achieve this.
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The Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure 2011: Wales was the first country in the UK to make the UNCRC a part of domestic law, meaning Welsh Ministers must consider children's rights in everything they do.
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The Children’s Commissioner for Wales: We utilize resources and guidance from the Children’s Commissioner, an independent champion who stands up for the rights of all children across Wales.
What Does This Mean for Our School?
As a Silver Rights Respecting School, we are continuing to strengthen and embed children's rights throughout every aspect of school life. This achievement recognises the progress we have made in creating a rights respecting culture where the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) informs our values, relationships and decision making. You will see this through:
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Class Charters: Rather than simply having rules, classes work together to create charters based on specific UNCRC articles, agreeing on how adults and children will respect and uphold these rights within the classroom.
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Pupil Voice: Our School Council, Eco Council and Criw Cymraeg play an active and meaningful role in shaping school life, ensuring that pupils' views are listened to and valued.
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Our Curriculum: Children's rights are embedded across the curriculum, helping pupils explore local and global issues, fairness, equality, identity and social justice through their everyday learning.
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Rights Respecting Relationships: We promote an inclusive and respectful environment where children's rights are understood, celebrated and reflected in positive relationships throughout the school community.
What’s Next?
Our staff, governors and pupils will now continue working together towards the
Gold: Rights Respecting Award, further embedding children's rights across all
aspects of school life and ensuring that the voices of children remain at the
heart of our school community.
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We look forward to sharing our continued progress and celebrating future
successes with you as our journey continues. Want to learn more? You can visit
the UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools website or the Children’s Commissioner
for Wales website for child friendly resources and information about the United
Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
