May – Article 12 – I have the right to be listened to and taken seriously.

Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is a core principle in UNICEF’s Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA), ensuring that every child has the right to express their views, feelings, and wishes in all matters affecting them. These views must be taken seriously by adults and given due weight based on the child’s age and maturity.
Key Aspects of Article 12 in Schools:
Meaningful Participation: It moves beyond tokenistic “pupil voice” to ensuring children’s opinions genuinely influence decisions.
Active Engagement: Children are recognized as active participants in their own lives, not just passive recipients of care or education.
The Lundy Model: Many UK schools use the Lundy model to implement this, focusing on four areas: Space (safe opportunities), Voice (enabling expression), Audience (listening), and Influence (acting on views).
Application: It applies to all aspects of school life, including classroom rules, learning, and school policies.
Implementation Examples:
Class Charters: Students collaborate to create rules, respecting the rights of others.
School Councils & Pupil Roles: Opportunities for leadership and input.
Active Listening: Staff are trained to listen to and respect pupils’ perspectives.
To learn more, please visit https://www.unicef.org.uk/rights-respecting-schools/