“Rights" are things every child should have or be able to do. All children have the same rights. These rights are listed in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Almost every country has agreed to these rights. All the rights are connected to each other, and all are equally important. Sometimes, we have to think about rights in terms of what is the best for children in a situation, and what is critical to life and protection from harm. As you grow, you have more responsibility to make choices and exercise your rights.

This month we are learning about:

Article 6 You have the right to life and to grow up to be healthy.

 

Teachers and Staff will be looking out for pupils and adults recognising Article 12 as we go about our daily routines in class and in the playground.

 

Going for Gold!

Christ the King Primary School has become the first school in Cardiff to earn the coveted Gold Status Award as part of Unicef’s UK Rights Respecting School Scheme.

Unicef works with thousands of schools across the UK to create safe and inspiring places to learn.

The Rights Respecting Schools Award supports the embedding of values in daily school life and gives children the best chance to lead happy, healthy lives. The rights respecting approach means that schools that show commitment to promoting and realising children’s rights are progressively assessed and awarded as they develop as a rights respecting community. Successful schools are expected to encourage adults, children and young people to respect the rights of others around them.

Unicef works to advocate children’s rights across the world. It invites schools to develop a school ethos whereby children participate more actively in decisions surrounding them. In doing so it supports pupils to open conversations around the rights of children globally.

Head Teacher Rachel Woodward said: “We are so proud to have been the first school in Cardiff to have achieved the Gold Award from Unicef UK. It shows a real commitment by our whole school community who have embraced the ethos of rights. This is evident in how we treat each other and how we view the world’

“The impact of our Rights Respecting journey can be seen throughout the school from our very youngest pupils to our oldest. They demonstrate respectful relationships, raised attainment, and promote high self-worth and confidence amongst our learners and families”.

According to Unicef, schools taking part in the scheme have reported less truancy and bullying, better learning and improved academic standards.

Rights respecting lead teacher Kate Martin said: “The pupils in our school have been inspired to think about how their actions might affect the rights of children in the wider world and their responsibility as a global citizen. Our Rights respecting parliament group, made up of pupils of all ages, have passionately promoted a campaign on ‘Fairwear school uniform’ where they have challenged supermarkets to stock ethical uniform garments.”

Being a pupil in a Rights Respecting school is certainly making an impact. Ffion, a year 6 pupil at Christ the King said: ‘I now realise my own rights are important, I have a voice and my opinions are listened to.’

Raising the profile of children’s rights is a huge priority not just in schools but also within the Council. Cardiff Council has recently begun taking steps to become Wales’ first ‘Child Friendly City’ after agreeing a partnership with Unicef UK.

Being a Rights Respecting School will support the Council in becoming the first Council in Wales to acknowledge the importance childrens’ views, which will inform their decision making in the future to ensure that Cardiff becomes a ‘Child Friendly City’ for all.

Sarah Hooke Wales’ lead UNICEF advisor said that Christ the King Primary School was ‘leading the way’ and are a great example for how children can have a voice regarding the issues that affect them both locally and globally.

 

         Anna McMorrin MP came to visit our                  Sarah Hooke from Unicef with ROCSY Raindrop

                Rights Respecting School!                                        Rights Of the Child Say Yes!