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UN Rights Respecting
We achieved the GOLD AWARD in 2022. Read on to see what that means for our community.....
The Rights Respecting Schools Award is a Unicef UK Programme that aims to put the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRN) at the heart of schools in the UK. The Convention has 54 articles that cover all aspects of a child’s life and set out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights that all children everywhere in the world are entitled to. It also explains how adults and governments must work together to make sure all children can enjoy all their rights. Every child has rights, whatever their ethnicity, gender, religion, language, abilities, or any other status.
Our St. John’s Community (children, parents, staff and governors) work collaboratively to put children’s rights at the forefront of everything we do. Together, we create a safe and inspiring place to learn, where children are respected, their talents are nurtured and they are able to thrive. As a result, we were accredited with the Bronze Rights Respecting Schools Award (‘Rights Committed’) in 2018 and the Silver Rights Respecting Schools Award (‘Rights Aware’) in 2019. We achieved the Gold Rights Respecting Schools Award in November 2022.
Our Rights Respecting St. John’s Steering Group!
Every class (from Years 1 – 6) has a nominated Rights Respecting Representative and these children form the Rights Respecting Steering Group for our school. They meet regularly and work on different projects to ensure that St. John’s continues to deepen teaching and learning ABOUT rights, THROUGH rights and FOR rights.
Our Rights Respecting St. John’s School Mascot:
‘Utopia’ the Panda!
At the start of our Rights Respecting Journey, the Rights Respecting Steering Group researched the commonly held, popular views of some ‘characteristics’ of different animals to decide upon the most appropriate Rights Respecting Mascot for our school. They decided on a Panda because these animals are widely considered to be typically peaceful, strong, yet also vulnerable. The Rights Respecting Steering Group felt that children are vulnerable too, but by respecting each other’s rights, children can be protected and be peaceful and strong together! Pandas are also regarded as a symbol of friendship. Consequently, the Rights Respecting Steering Group felt that if we respected each other’s rights here at St. John’s, our friendship bonds would certainly strengthen too!
The Rights Respecting Steering Group then organised a whole school competition to name the panda! They then studied all the entries and decided that ‘Utopia’ was the most suitable name for our panda because the word ‘Utopia’ means ‘an imagined place in which everything is perfect’! The children felt very strongly that if we continue to educate others about children’s rights and children’s rights are consistently being upheld, then we will be creating a more ‘perfect’ world! Utopia keeps an eye on all the children at St. John’s and is very proud of all their Rights Respecting work and Rights Respecting behaviour!
Our Rights Respecting St. John’s Song!
Also at the start of our Rights Respecting Journey, the Rights Respecting Steering Group worked collaboratively to create a Rights Respecting Song for the whole school! Here are the lyrics that they decided upon:
Rights Respecting School,
We’re a Rights Respecting School!
Rights Respecting School,
We’re a Rights Respecting School!
R – respect for ourselves and each other,
I – is for inclusion,
G – gratitude for all our rights,
H – happy children,
T – together we stand,
S – for St. John’s, it’s our school!
Rights Respecting School,
We’re a Rights Respecting School!
Rights Respecting School,
We’re a Rights Respecting School!
Rights Respecting and British Values
At St John’s, we promote fundamental British Values through: our ethos; the curriculum; spiritual, moral, social and cultural development (SMSC); and through our work as a UNICEF Rights Respecting School. We reinforce and promote the British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, as demonstrated below:
Democracy
Article 2 Every child has the right to be treated equally and with respect
Article 12 Every child has the right to be heard
Article 13 Every child has the right to share their thoughts freely
The children decide upon their Class Charter and the rights associated with these. The role of the adults is also made clear on the charter. A group of pupils are nominated as Rights Respecting Ambassadors and work together on our Rights Respecting Steering Group to discuss rights and fundraising, and to present ideas at assemblies on whole school issues.
Children have many opportunities for their voices to be heard. We have a School Council which meets regularly to discuss issues raised by pupils. Two council members for each year group are voted by each class.
The Rule of Law
Article 2 Every child has the right to be treated equally and with respect
Article 19 Every child has the right to be protected from harm
Article 24 Every child has the right to the best health care possible
Article 28 Every child has the right to an education
Article 29 Every child has the right to an education that fully develops their personalities, talents and abilities
The importance of laws is consistently reinforced throughout the school day. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. The Class Charter sets out expected behaviour and associated rights in each class. Circle time and PSE/RE lessons are used as an opportunity to discuss difficult situations that benefit from whole class discussion. Keeping safe when using the internet is regularly discussed with children in computing lessons and in assemblies. All members of the school community sign our Acceptable Use Policy and pledge to use the internet safely.
Individual Liberty
Article 2 Every child has the right to be treated equally and with respect
Article 12 Every child has the right to be heard
Article 17 Every child has the right to access reliable information
Article 19 Every child has the right to be protected from harm
Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school, we educate and provide boundaries for pupils to make choices, through provision of a safe environment and an empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely; for example in computing through our E-Safety policy.
St John’s pupils are given the freedom to make many choices, be this in class, through their choice of learning strategies, in a wide range of extra-curricular activities, and through fundraising or sporting opportunities.
Mutual Respect
Article 2 Every child has the right to be treated equally and with respect
Article 28 Every child has the right to an education
Article 29 Every child has the right to an education that fully develops their personalities, talents and abilities
Article 42 Every child has the right to learn about their rights
As a UNICEF Rights Respecting School, mutual respect is at the heart of our ethos and values. Children learn that their behaviour has an effect on their own rights and those of others. There are many opportunities to develop SMSC development across the curriculum, for example, through R.E., PSHE, PE, Art, Music, History, Geography, Science and English. Children are encouraged to work in collaboration as much as possible in their class and also with other year groups as mediators.
All members of the school community treat each other with respect.
Tolerance of Those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
Article 2 Every child has the right to be treated equally and with respect
Article 14 Every child has the right to practice their own religion and beliefs
Article 30 Every child has the right to practice their own culture, language and religion
Within our school we constantly promote tolerance of our communities, languages, faiths and beliefs. Our Religious Education syllabus, Personal, Social, Health and Emotional curriculum and Rights Respecting School initiative all reinforce our commitment towards a tolerant society.