There are four key areas of impact for children at a Rights Respecting school; well-being, participation, relationships and self-esteem.
Children are healthier and happier
By promoting the values of respect, dignity and non-discrimination, children’s self-esteem and well-being is boosted and they are less likely to suffer from stress. A child who understands their rights understands how they and others should be treated and their sense of self-worth is strengthened.
Children feel safe
The Rights Respecting Schools Award gives children a powerful language to use to express themselves and to challenge the way they are treated. They are also able to challenge injustices for other children. Children and young people are empowered to access information that enables them to make informed decisions about their learning, health and well-being.
Children have better relationships
Both with their teachers and their peers, based on mutual respect and the value of everyone’s opinion. In a Rights Respecting school children are treated as equals by their fellow pupils and by the adults in the school. Children and young people are involved in how the Award is implement in the school but are also involved in strategic decision-making; in decisions about their learning; and in views about their well-being.
Children become active and involved in school life and the wider world
This builds their confidence to make informed decisions. They have a moral framework, based on equality and respect for all that lasts a lifetime, as they grow into engaged, responsible members of society. Children and adults develop an ethos and language of rights and respect around the school. Rights and principles of the Convention are used to put moral situations into perspective and consider rights-respecting solutions – this all has a huge impact on relationships and well-being. Children and young people get very involved in raising awareness about social justice issues, both at home and abroad. They become ambassadors for rights and take part in campaigns and activities to help to bring about change.
RRS Articles
The RRSA encompasses all that we do as a school to allow our children to flourish into kind and respectful lifelong learners who advocate the rights of every child everywhere and make a positive contribution to society. By learning about their rights, our children also learn about the importance of respecting the rights of others.
The UNCRC is at the heart of teaching and learning at Poplar Farm School and is embedded within our school ethos and practice. Children learn about their rights across the curriculum and learn to respect each other’s rights:
- in the classroom (Article 28: the right to an education)
- in the dining hall (Article 24: the right to nutritious food and clean water)
- in the playground, (Article 31: the right to relax, play and take part in a wide range of cultural and artistic activities)
- in the local community (Article 2: child rights apply to every child without discrimination, whatever their ethnicity, gender, religion, language, abilities or any other status, whatever they think or say, whatever their family background)
- as a global citizen (Article 4: implementation of the Convention. Governments must do all they can to make sure every child can enjoy their rights by creating systems and passing laws that promote and protect children’s rights)
