Holywell School in Upchurch, Sittingbourne has been awarded Gold by Unicef UK’s Rights Respecting School programme.
Unicef is the world’s leading organisation working for children and their rights. The Rights Respecting Schools Award is granted to schools that show commitment to promoting and realising children’s rights and encouraging adults, children and young people to respect the rights of others in school. Gold is the highest accolade given by Unicef UK and shows a deep and thorough commitment to children’s rights at all levels of school life. There are over 500 schools across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales that have received Gold.
The school has been working with Unicef UK since 2017. They received their Silver certificate in June 2017. Last year, children from Holywell School attended a special Parliamentary event and exhibition to speak out on behalf of children across the country for their right to clean air. In a speech to MPs and UNICEF representatives children from the school spoke of the dangers of toxic air on their health, the importance of monitoring and significantly reducing toxic levels of air pollution urging the government to action to protect children’s health.
Headteacher of Holywell School, Mr Darran Callaghan, said:
“I am immensely proud of our achievement and the work that children, staff and the community have done to receive this award and I want to thank everyone for their commitment to put the rights of children at the very centre of every decision we make. By embedding the UN Convention on the rights of the Child we help our pupils grow into confident, caring and responsible young people so they may realise their potential. As a result, children at our school not only have a voice, feel safe and well cared for but also have a greater understanding of equality, dignity, respect and non-discrimination and the impact they can have, not just in their community but in the wider world.”
Holywell School is one of only four schools in Kent to have received the Gold award from Unicef UK and the first school in Swale. The Award recognises achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child at the heart of a school’s planning, policies and practice. A Rights Respecting School is a community where children’s rights are learned, taught, practised, respected, protected and promoted.
Unicef UK Rights Respecting Schools Programme Director, Frances Bestley, said:
“We are very pleased to be awarding Holywell Primary School Gold; Rights Respecting. It is clear that the whole school has embraced a culture based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Holywell is a very inclusive school where children report feeling valued and safe irrespective of their background. Pupils also have many genuine opportunities to have their views heard and influence key aspect of school life, in turn creating a positive learning environment. It was also clear that children had an excellent grasp of children’s rights and social justice, and so did school staff, parents, carers and the school’s governors. Everyone should be very proud of their achievement particularly in achieving Gold at such a challenging time for schools.”
The Unicef UK Rights Respecting Schools initiative is aimed at schools across the UK, including those in an early years setting. This year the programme has received additional support from The People’s Postcode Lottery. This vital funding is helping Unicef UK continue its work with over 4500 primary schools, secondary schools, schools for children and young people with special educational needs and pupil referral units across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Schools have reported a positive impact on pupil behaviour, relationships and well-being by enhancing pupil’s self-esteem, leading to less truancy and bullying, better learning and improved academic standards.
Mr Darran Callaghan
Headteacher
Holywell Primary School
Telephone: 01634 388416
