St John's Church of England School

St. John’s School aims to be a school where every aspect of a child is focused on and developed, including the area of wellbeing. As part of our school’s aims to promote a happy and successful school, we are working towards recognition as a “Rights Respecting School”. This is an award which is given to schools on behalf of UNICEF.

UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation working for children and their rights. In 1989, governments worldwide promised all children the same rights by adopting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). These rights are based on what a child needs to survive, grow, participate and fulfil their potential.

The ‘Rights Respecting School’ award (RRSA) will help our pupils to grow into confident, caring and responsible young citizens both in school and within the wider community. By learning about their rights our pupils, your children, also learn about the importance of respecting the rights of others i.e. their responsibilities.

We really hope that you will feel able to support us and your child in working towards our goal of being a ‘Rights Respecting School’.

If you would like more information about the work of UNICEF or a Rights Respecting School then please visit: www.unicef.org.uk/rrsa

We are very pleased to tell you that we have recently been awarded the first stage of Unicef UK’s Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA), Bronze: Rights Committed.

We are always striving to create the best possible learning environment for our children and this achievement shows that we are committed to promoting and realising children’s rights and encouraging adults, children and young people to respect the rights of others in school.

We have set up a pupil-led steering group and have an action plan to ensure that:

• The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) underpins our values and decision making in school
• The whole school learns about the CRC and respects the rights of others
• Children are empowered to become active learners and active local and global citizens.

Unicef (United Nations Children’s Fund) is the world’s leading organisation working for children and their rights, and we will be joining a community of over 4,500 schools in the UK working on the Rights Respecting Schools Award.

Right Respecting Schools across the country have reported that that the Award has many positive impacts including improved relationships, wellbeing and self-esteem, leading to better attendance and improved learning.

You can find out more about Unicef, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Rights Respecting Schools Award from the RRSA website:

www.unicef.org.uk/rrsa

We will be using the RRSA logo on our letters and will keep you informed about our rights respecting journey through our website, newsletters and events.

UPDATE: We were recently assessed by a Unicef RRSA assessor who looked at St John’s rights respecting work.  I am delighted to tell you that we have been awarded the next stage of the Rights Respecting Schools Award.  This means that we are officially recognised as a Unicef UK Silver: Rights Aware school.  Congratulations to all the children, staff, parents and governors who have been supporting us this past year and especially to Mrs Purice and the RRS Ambassadors who continue to work so hard in developing this.