The Robert Burns Academy Supported Learning Centre

In June 2022. the Supported Learning Centre at the Barony Campus was awarded a Silver Rights Respecting School Award by UNICEF UK.

UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation working for children and their rights. The Rights Respecting Schools Award is granted to schools that show commitment to promoting and realising children’s rights and encouraging adults, children and young people to respect the rights of others in school. Silver is given to schools that make excellent progress towards embedding the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into its ethos and curriculum. There are over 1,300 schools across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales that have achieved Silver and over 600 schools that have been awarded Gold, the next step up and highest accolade granted by UNICEF.

The Award recognises achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child at the heart of a school’s planning, policies and practice. A Rights Respecting School is a community where children’s rights are learned, taught, practised, respected, protected and promoted.

UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools Assessor, Anne-Marie Poynor, met with some of the pupils, parents and staff in the SLC on 9^th June 2022. She said: “Learning about children’s rights and “living them” is a key priority in the Supported Learning Centre at the Barony Campus. The school has a caring, inclusive ethos and culture of mutual respect”.

Head of the Barony Campus, Peter Gilchrist, said: “I am extremely proud of the pupils and staff of the Supported Learning Centre for achieving the Silver Rights Respecting Schools Award. This achievement has resulted from the sheer hard work and commitment of our young people and, indeed, our whole school community to ensuring the rights of everyone are promoted and respected. It also perfectly reflects our three school values of Achievement, Respect and Equity which are at the heart of all that we do on our Campus. Thank you so much to all of our staff and pupils in our SLC for all you have done to achieve this excellent award. I very much look forward to following your progress towards achieving the Gold Award. Well done every one!

The UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools initiative is aimed at schools across the UK, including those in an early years setting. Currently, it works with nearly 5,000 primary schools, secondary schools, schools for children and young people with special educational needs and pupil referral units across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Schools have reported a positive impact on pupil behaviour, relationships and well-being by enhancing pupils’ self-esteem, leading to less truancy and bullying, better learning and improved academic standards.