Rights Respecting School

We are a Gold-Level Rights Respecting School

At Saint Norbert’s, we are proud to have been recognised as a Gold-Level Rights Respecting School by UNICEF. This prestigious award reflects our deep commitment to promoting children’s rights, ensuring that every pupil in our school is treated with dignity, respect, and equality. Being a Gold-Level Rights Respecting School means that strive to embed the values of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into our everyday school life. It also means that we have beeb acknowledged for providing a safe, supportive and inclusive environment in which every child can thrive and achieve their full potential.

What is a Rights Respecting School?

A Rights Respecting School is one that is dedicated to helping children understand and enjoy their rights, whilst also encouraging them to respect the rights of others. For us, this is about creating an environment in which children – as ‘Rights Holders’ – are aware of their rights and have the tools to advocate for themselves and others, building a culture of mutual respect, kindness and fairness.

‘Gold Level’ is the highest level Rights Respecting Schools Award and demonstrates that we are providing a rights-respecting education in a way that is deeply embedded in every aspect of school life, including:

  • Curriculum and Teaching: Children at our school learn about their rights through lessons, activities and discussions which explore the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. We encourage them to think critically about how these rights affect their lives and the world around them.

  • School Culture and Values: Our school’s ethos is based upon respect for everyone, regardless of their background, beliefs, or abilities. Every member of our community, from children to adults, understands the importance of respecting and upholding the rights of others.

  • Child Voice and Participation: We empower our learners to take an active role in shaping the school community. Through regular discussions and the school council, children have the opportunity to voice their opinions, suggest improvements and contribute to decisions which affect their education and wellbeing.

  • Equality and Inclusion: We are committed to ensuring that all children, regardless of background, abilities or needs, feel valued and supported in our school. We will continue to strive to ensure that everyone’s rights are respected equally.

Our Journey to Gold Level

Renewing our Gold Level Rights Respecting Schools Award has been the result of years of dedication and collaboration between children, staff, governors and the wider community. This recognition is not just about meeting specific criteria but about fostering a school culture where respect for children’s rights is at the heart of everything we do.

Throughout this journey, we have focused on:

  • Educating our children about their rights and empowering them to become rights-respecting citizens.

  • Promoting a safe and positive environment in which every child feels valued, respected and heard.

  • Ensuring our policies and practices reflect the rights of all children and that we continuously reflect upon how we might further improve.

The Importance of Children’s Rights

Children’s rights are essential to their development and well-being. When children’s rights are respected, they are more likely to feel safe, supported and confident in their ability to thrive. By embedding the principles of the UNCRC into our curriculum and school life, we ensure that our students not only grow academically but also socially and emotionally.

UNCRC Articles We Live By

At Saint Norbert’s, we ensure that key rights from the UNCRC are embedded throughout our school life. Some of the articles upon which we particularly focus include:

  • Article 12 – The Right to be Heard: Children have the right to express their views, opinions and ideas and to have them taken seriously.

  • Article 28 – The Right to Education: Every child has the right to an education which encourages their full development.

  • Article 31 – The Right to Play and Rest: Children have the right to relax, play and engage in recreational activities.

  • Article 19 – The Right to Protection from Harm: Children have the right to be protected from all forms of harm, abuse and neglect.

Our Rights Respecting Initiatives

In addition to the integration of rights into our teaching, we actively run initiatives and projects which promote children’s rights. These include:

  • Rights Respecting Assemblies during which we celebrate children’s rights and highlight important global issues.

  • School Council where children participate in decision-making and have a voice in shaping our school policies.

  • Collaboration with local and global communities to understand and raise awareness of children’s rights worldwide.

What Does it Mean for Our Children?

As a Gold-Level Rights Respecting School, every child at Saint Norbert’s benefits from:

  • A greater sense of belonging and self-worth through learning about their rights and responsibilities.

  • Increased confidence and ability to speak out and advocate for themselves and others.

  • A deeper understanding of equality, fairness, and justice, both in school and in the world around them.

  • Enhanced wellbeing and emotional resilience, knowing they are respected and valued in a safe and supportive environment.

Join Us in Our Commitment to Children’s Rights

At Saint Norbert’s, we are always looking for new ways to promote and protect children’s rights. We welcome families and the local community to be part of our Rights Respecting journey and encourage all to support the continued development of a culture of respect, equality and justice.

Thank you for visiting our page. We are proud to be a Gold-Level Rights Respecting Primary School, and we will continue to work together to ensure the rights of every child are respected, celebrated and upheld.