Unicef Rights Respecting School
At Chantry we believe in the importance of treating each other with respect and dignity, making sure that everyone is valued. This is one of the reasons why the work of UNICEF and Rights Respecting Schools is so significant to us and why we are working towards achieving the Bronze: Rights Respecting level.
What is a Rights Respecting School?
The Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) is a programme run by Unicef UK that places children’s rights at the heart of school life. The programme supports schools across the UK in creating a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment where children’s rights are understood, respected, and actively promoted.
By embedding the values of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into all aspects of school life, the RRSA helps to improve well-being, support positive relationships, and develop each child’s talents and potential. Schools work in partnership with Unicef UK on a journey to become fully Rights Respecting, with the Award recognising their commitment and progress.
What does it involve?
The Rights Respecting approach is a whole-school initiative that includes learning about rights, through rights, and for rights. This means that children not only learn about their rights but also experience them in practice through respectful relationships and meaningful participation in school life.
Through this programme, children are empowered as rights-holders, and staff are supported as duty-bearers, helping to create a culture where everyone feels valued and heard. Rights Respecting Schools encourage active citizenship and help children to understand their role in making the world a fairer, more compassionate place.
UNICEF Ambassadors at Chantry
At our school, we place the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child at the heart of everything we do. We believe that everyone – children, young people, and adults – has a part to play in building a school community founded on equality, dignity, respect, non-discrimination, and participation. This approach shapes not just how we learn and teach, but also how we support one another’s wellbeing.
Our School Council, supported by enthusiastic Class Representatives from across the school, plays a vital role in promoting children’s rights and connecting these rights to everyday learning.
Led by our elected Chair and Vice Chair, the School Council ensures that every pupil’s voice is heard and valued. Working as a team, they help drive positive change, plan exciting events, gather ideas from their peers, and help make our school an even better place to learn and grow.
