We are proud to be a Rights Respecting School (Level One).

The Rights Respecting Schools Award focuses on children’s rights in schools and takes a whole-school approach to child rights and human rights education. Child Rights Education (CRE) can be defined as learning about rights, learning through rights and learning for rights within an overall context of education as a right. It aims to build the capacity of children and young people as rights-holders to claim their rights, and the capacity of adults as duty-bearers to fulfil their obligations. Child rights education helps adults, children and young people to work together, providing the space and encouragement for the meaningful participation and sustained civic engagement of children and young people.

• Read what the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child says about the right to education.
• Find out how the participation of children and young people underpins all our rights-respecting work.
• Read more about the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child or download a summary of the Convention.

Achieving the award has helped our pupils create a safe and inspiring place to learn, where pupils are respected, their talents are nurtured and they are able to thrive.  Pupils are also given the opportunity for the best chance to lead happy, healthy lives and to be responsible, active citizens. 

Benefits form being involved in the award has seen

• Pupils develop a long-term commitment to values such as social justice and inclusion
• There is a reduction in bullying and discriminatory behaviour among children
• Pupils enjoy and feel safe at school
• Pupils feel included and valued
• Pupils’ wellbeing and emotional resilience is improved
• Pupils’ engagement in the school and their own learning is improved
• Pupils’ attainment is improved, and the attainment gap between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged pupils is narrowed
• Pupils are more engaged in their local and global communities as ‘active citizens’

We are in the process of developing further and achieving the Level 2 Right Respecting Award.  This award is the highest level of the Award and is granted by Unicef UK to schools that have fully embedded children’s rights throughout the school in its policies, practice and ethos, as outlined in the four standards.

Achieving Level 2 means there is evidence that Hope School have met the Level 2 Expected Outcomes and that:

• Hope School has explicitly adopted a child rights approach based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC or CRC) and has embedded it in school policy, practice and culture
• Children, young people and adults in your school have a thorough understanding of child rights, and rights-respecting attitudes and language are embedded across the school
• RRSA has had a positive impact on children and young people’s learning and wellbeing
• Pupils see themselves as rights-respecting global citizens and are advocates for social justice, fairness and children’s rights at home and abroad.

What is the Rights Respecting Schools Award?

The Unicef UK Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) supports schools across the UK to embed children’s human rights in their ethos and culture. The award recognises achievement in putting the UN Convention on the Right of the Child (UNCRC) at the heart of a school’s practice to improve well-being and help all children and young people realise their potential.

The award is based on principles of equality, dignity, respect, non-discrimination and participation. The initiative started in 2006 and schools involved in the Award have reported a positive impact on relationships and well-being, leading to better learning and behaviour, improved academic standards and less bullying.

Article 37: Children must not be tortured, sentenced to the death penalty or suffer cruel or degrading treatment or punishment. Children should be arrested, detained or imprisoned only as a last resort and for the shortest time possible. They must be treated with respect and care, and be able to keep in contact with their family. Children must not be put in prison with adults.

Article 42; Governments must actively work to make sure children and adults know about the Convention.