Towerbank Rights Respecting Schools' Award

The pupil steering group has finished surveying the whole school. Here you can see them working with the Primary 1s.

Next the pupil steering group met to develop the action plan. From the base line survey it appears that in Towerbank there are three initial areas we need to work on. The first is a general need to develop a better understanding of what rights are. The second is to communicate these with the wider school community especially parents and carers. The last area is to develop a stronger ‘pupil voice’ within the school to allow pupils to have a greater say in decisions that affect them.

The first thing our pupil steering group is doing is surveying a sample of pupils throughout the school to see what they currently understand about children’s rights. The survey also asks the pupils how well they think the school currently listens to their opinions when making decisions that affect them. This will help us decide where our initial focus should be in this project.

The teachers who are running this project held two meetings with staff. Firstly they met with the teaching staff, the deputies and headteacher to introduce the project and then they met the PSAs. At these meetings the RRSA was introduced and staff watched Powerpoints and videos explaining the project further.

On the 3rd of November Mr Hepburn and Ms McDonald made presentations to the school assemblies to introduce Rights Respecting Schools and tell the pupils what our next steps are.

Rights Respecting Schools is a new initiative for many of us at Towerbank and we, as teachers, are learning along with the pupils. Four members of staff are currently back at school (UN school) and are taking part in a 7 week online training course to learn more about the award and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Good luck to Ms Hawkins, Mrs Hamilton-Wylie, Ms McDonald and Mr Hepburn.

At Towerbank we are starting on the journey towards the UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools’ Award (RRSA). Childrens’ rights, as described by the UN, will be used throughout the school to develop understanding of rights, and the acceptance of difference and diversity.

This blog will be used to show everyone our progress. Please scroll down to see how we are doing so far.

Parents – What does this mean for you? As we begin our journey you may find your children speaking more about their rights and how their actions can impact on other childrens’ rights. Please take a moment to read some of the rights below or use the link above to read more about the RRSA.

These rights include –

Article 1 – Everyone under 18 has these rights.

Article 2 – All children have these rights, no matter who they are, where they live, what their parents do, what language they speak, what their religion is, whether they are a boy or girl, what their culture is, whether they have a disability, whether they are rich or poor. No child should be treated unfairly on any basis.

Article 5 – Your family has the responsibility to help you learn to exercise your rights, and to ensure that your rights are protected.

Article 12 – You have the right to give your opinion, and for adults to listen and take it seriously.

Article 19 – You have the right to be protected from being hurt and mistreated, in body or mind.

Article 22 – You have the right to special protection and help if you are a refugee (if you have been forced to leave your home and live in another country), as well as all the rights in this Convention.

Article 23 – You have the right to special education and care if you have a disability, as well as all the rights in this Convention, so that you can live a full life.

Article 24 – You have the right to the best health care possible, safe water to drink, nutritious food, a clean and safe environment, and information to help you stay well.

Article 28 – You have the right to a good quality education. You should be encouraged to go to school to the highest level you can.

Article 29 – Your education should help you use and develop your talents and abilities. It should also help you learn to live peacefully, protect the environment and respect other people.

Article 31 – You have the right to play and rest.