Newbury Park Primary School  has been awarded Gold by UNICEF UK’s Rights Respecting School programme. This is the highest level of the UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) and means  that we  have fully integrated the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into our policies, practices and ethos.

What are children’s rights?

In 1989, governments worldwide promised all children the same rights by adopting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. 

The Convention recognised that all children have the right to be treated with dignity and fairness, to be protected to develop their full potential and participate. The rights in the Convention describe what a child needs to survive, grow and live up to their potential in the world. They apply equally to any child, no matter who they are or where they came from. 

The Convention has changed the way children are viewed and treated—in other words, as human beings with a distinct set of rights instead of as passive objects of care and charity. It is the most widely ratified human rights treaty.—only the United States has not ratified it. The UK signed up to it in 1991. 

The rights of children are referred to in the convention, as articles.  Click here to view a list of the articles:

What is a Rights Respecting School?

The Rights Respecting Schools Award recognises schools that place children’s rights at the heart of their school.  It is an award delivered by UNICEF, the world’s leading organisation for children and young people, promoting the rights and well-being of every child, in everything they do.  You can find more information about UNICEF and their work with schools here.

What does Rights Respecting look like at Newbury Park?

• Our pupils learn about rights through weekly assemblies and Personal Health and Development lessons
• Pupils consider rights when interacting with their peers and resolving conflicts.  
• Through playground and classroom charters, pupils and adults understand how to ensure that everyone makes the most of their education and break times.
• Both adults and pupils ensure that everyone in the school is treated with respect and dignity.  
• Our groups of ambassadors ensure that all pupils in the school have a say in school decisions, where appropriate. 
• Pupils are encouraged to discuss rights in all aspects of their learning and reading materials
• Pupils learn about different charities and how they support children around the world.  
• Pupils take part in various campaigns for children’s rights locally and globally. 

 

Rights Respecting Ambassadors 

Our ambassadors were invited to apply for their position and have been elected by their peers through a democratic voting process.

The Ambassadors are elected to be promoters of pupil voice; their job is to help ensure that Newbury Park is a safe and happy place for all to learn in. They are also champions of rights and they ensure that the rights are promoted and discussed in their classes. 

Newbury Park Primary School’s Rights Respecting Ambassadors are an example of the Fundamental British Value of Democracy in action and of our school’s commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 12 of which states: Every child has the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously.

 

 

 What qualities should a Rights Respecting Ambassador have?

• Creativity - Have passion for Children’s Rights and original thinking about how to promote them 
• Compassion - Treat others with dignity and respect. Help others to be confident, caring and responsible  
• Courage - Speak out about important matters. Always behave with integrity.  
• Curiosity - Think of new ideas and ask questions  

 

What have our ambassadors been up to?     

Our ambassadors have presented their very own assembly, teaching  their peers about the ABCDE of rights.

They have been very proud to have launched  Rights Respecting Cups to our school.  Pupils can earn these cups if they have been nominated by a friend due to an act of kindness or respect.  On a fortnightly basis, our ambassadors count the nominations and select the pupils with the most   The cup is p[resented  to the winner in assemblies.

Every month, our ambassadors get together and choose a ‘right of the month’.  This is then celebrated  and learnt about across the school.

Ambassadors are advocates of our school values and behaviour ethos.  They regularly remind their peers to follow both their class and playground charters.

Our ambassadors are also advocates for supporting the rights of children globally. They have been very pleased to introduce the Clarks Shoeshare initiative to our school community, which aims to enable all children around the world to access an education.

Some of our ambassadors have taken part in a campaign to improve our local air quality through the ‘We care for our air’ project.  This has involved  conducting some fieldwork and research and then  presenting their findings in an assembly, to both school staff and pupils.

Our school also has a team of dedicated conservation, sports and digital ambassadors who are working very hard to ensure that our pupils have a voice, understand about world sustainability, learn how to keep safe on-line and lead active, healthy lives.