UNICEF – Rights Respecting Schools
Holy Cross is working with UNICEF on their Rights Respecting Schools programme. The Rights Respecting Schools Award puts children’s rights at the heart of schools in the UK.
UNICEF works with schools to create safe and inspiring places to learn, where children are respected, their talents are nurtured and they are able to thrive. 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.
UNICEF Ambassadors
As part of our Rights Respecting Schools programme we have established a team of ambassadors
to help Miss Baptiste and Miss Panchoo guide us on our journey. We look forward to the programme and these children playing their important role in this.
We are delighted to announce that we are now officially a Silver School! We had a meeting on Wednesday morning with an assessor and she was extremely impressed with the work that we have done here at Holy Cross. It is so important that our lovely children have the rights that they entitled to and that they know about these rights. My thanks to Miss Baptiste, Miss Panchoo and Mr Foster for spending a considerable amount of time working on this application and with the children.
We are continuing our work on the Rights Respecting Schools programme along with our fabulous team of UNICEF Ambassadors. Each week the programme focuses on some of the articles from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). We will share these with you each week through the newsletter and discuss them with children in School. We want our children to understand their rights and to be aware of the importance of them in our lives. The website is full of interesting information, please do take a look.
This week we are looking at:
This week, as part of our UNICEF Rights Respecting School work, each class held debates about the different articles from the Convention on the Rights of the Child to choose which one they will advocate for this term and unveiled this in our weekly Rights Respecting School assembly.
Year 1 chose Article 12 (respecting children’s views), emphasising the importance of adults listening to children to help them feel valued and make good choices together.
Year 2 selected Article 31 (rest, play, culture, and arts), focusing on how play helps them feel happy and healthy, and the need to prioritise time for fun and creativity.
Year 3 decided on Article 15 (setting up or joining groups), highlighting how being part of groups and clubs builds friendships, inclusion, and a sense of belonging.
Year 4 advocated for Article 2 (no discrimination), stressing the importance of treating everyone fairly and ensuring no one feels left out in their community or beyond.
Year 5 chose Article 27 (food, clothing, and a safe home), recognising the importance of supporting families in need so every child has the essentials to thrive.
Year 6 focused on Article 28 (access to education), advocating for every child’s right to go to school, regardless of challenges or barriers.
Each class is excited to begin their advocacy work and make a difference!
Using the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) UNICEF works with schools across the country. The Award recognises a school’s achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into practice within the school and beyond