Unicef: Rights Respecting Schools Award

The Rights Respecting Schools Award embeds these values in daily school life and gives children the best chance to lead happy, healthy lives and to be responsible, active citizens.

Using the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) Unicef works with more UK schools than almost any other organisation. 1.5 million children in the UK go to a Rights Respecting School and more than 4,500 schools up and down the country are working towards the Award.

Rights Respecting schools put in place a set of standards based on equality, dignity, respect, non-discrimination and participation. These values are ever-present in a Rights Respecting school, from the classroom to the canteen.

This supportive environment lets children’s natural curiosity for the world flourish and allows them to develop their talents. The benefits last beyond the school gates, equipping children with the skills and values they need to grow into responsible, respectful members of society and helping them to thrive in a complex, ever-changing world.

In the Kent local authority area there has been growing interest in the RRSA and we are delighted to announce that in the last academic year seven Kent schools have achieved the RRSA level 1 stage of the Award.

Professional Advisor for the South East of England, Paul Harris said: “The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child provides a strategic framework that schools can use to ‘help join up’ all of their work. The Award can be a catalyst for further school improvement and possible benefits for schools at Level 1 and Level 2 include enhanced participation of children and young people in all aspects of school life, improved relationships in school, better attendance, reduced bullying, discriminatory incidents and exclusions, as well as greater engagement in learning and stronger global citizenship.”

Find out more:

• Find out more about the RRSA at the RRSA website and watch Talking About Being Rights Respecting to see the RRSA in action.

Contact Details

For enquiries about the Award in Kent contact:

Paul Harris, Unicef UK South East RRSA Professional Adviser
Telephone: 07960 060034
Email: paulh@unicef.org.uk

For press enquiries contact:

Samantha Bradey, Communications and Resources Officer
Telephone: 0207 375 6119
Email: SamanthaB@unicef.org.uk