Welcome to Our Rights Respecting Journey!
At St Richard Reynolds Catholic Primary School, we place the rights, wellbeing and voices of our children at the centre of everything we do. Living out our college mission, we strive to ensure every child is loved, listened to, challenged and inspired so they can become the person God created them to be.
As part of this commitment, we are proud to share that we are officially working towards achieving the UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) at Bronze: Rights Committed level.
What is a Rights Respecting School?
The Rights Respecting Schools Award is a national initiative run by UNICEF UK that recognises schools embedding the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into their practice, culture and daily life.
The UNCRC is an international agreement outlining the fundamental rights every child under 18 is entitled to—including the right to an education, healthcare, play, safety and having their opinions heard.
By becoming a Rights Respecting School, we are creating an environment where:
- Children feel safe, valued and empowered: Pupils learn that rights are inherent, equal and cannot be taken away. Rooted in our Catholic ethos, recognising the dignity of every person aligns naturally with respecting children’s rights.
- Positive relationships thrive: Mutual respect forms the foundation of all interactions between pupils, staff and our wider college and parish community.
- Student voice is championed: Because our children are truly listened to, they are active participants in decision-making processes across the school, through initiatives like our Primary Parliament.
- Global citizenship is developed: Pupils learn about global issues, Catholic Social Teaching, sustainability and human rights beyond our school gates, helping them grow into empathetic, globally minded leaders.
How Rights Impact Your Child’s Daily Learning
Rights-based learning goes beyond simply memorising articles. It changes how children learn and interact. In our classrooms, children learn:
- To respect the rights of others: Understanding their own rights helps children respect those of their peers and adults, strengthening our community spirit.
- How to express opinions constructively: Pupil voice is actively sought, giving children the confidence to contribute to school decisions and thrive academically and personally.
- Inclusion and diversity: Differences are celebrated, and every child is supported to flourish in a safe, non-discriminatory environment.
Our Roadmap to the Bronze Award (Rights Committed)
To achieve our Bronze status, our school community is undertaking a clear, structured action plan:
- Building Whole-School Awareness: Introducing staff, governors, pupils and parents to the UNCRC through targeted assemblies, curriculum links and school communications.
- Establishing a Pupil Steering Group: Forming a dedicated group of pupil ambassadors who will help lead our rights-respecting actions, evaluate our progress and collect feedback from their peers.
- Embedding Rights in Policies & Practice: Aligning our behavioural guidelines, anti-bullying strategies and pastoral care directly with key UNCRC articles.
- Creating Class Charters: Collaborating with pupils in every classroom to agree on shared expectations rooted in rights, respect and our core Catholic values.
- Connecting to Global & Gospel Values: Integrating global citizenship and charitable initiatives into our broader curriculum alongside Catholic Social Teaching.
How Parents and Carers Can Support Us
You are an essential part of this journey! We deeply value our partnership with parents. You can help by:
- Asking your child what rights they have been learning about in class or assembly.
- Discussing how rights, duties and respect apply at home and in the local community.
- Keeping an eye on our bulletins and website for regular updates as we progress.
We look forward to sharing our milestones with you as we work towards our Bronze Award and continue to build a thriving, rights-respecting community where every child can flourish!