Rights Respecting School

Rights Respecting Schools Journey at Ysgol Y Bryn - Bronze

Our Journey To Silver

At Ysgol y Bryn, we want every child to feel safe, valued, included and listened to. Our journey towards UNICEF UK’s Silver: Rights Aware Award is an opportunity to strengthen this commitment and make children’s rights an increasingly visible part of everyday school life.

The Rights Respecting Schools Award is based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, often called the UNCRC. This sets out the rights that belong to every child, including the rights to education, play, protection, healthcare and having their views heard.

As we work towards Silver, our aim is for children and adults to develop a shared understanding of these rights and use that understanding in our learning, relationships and decisions. We want pupils to recognise their rights in everyday experiences, feel confident to speak up and understand how they can support the rights of others.

What does Silver: Rights Aware mean?

Silver is the second stage of UNICEF UK’s Rights Respecting Schools Award, following Bronze: Rights Committed. It recognises a school’s progress in putting children’s rights into practice.

Our work will focus on three connected areas:

Learning about rights: helping children and adults understand the UNCRC.
Learning through rights: ensuring that rights shape the way we learn, work together and treat one another.
Learning for rights: supporting children to express their views and take action for their own rights and the rights of others.

Developing our understanding of children’s rights

We will build regular opportunities to explore rights through lessons, assemblies, stories, discussions and activities. Children will be encouraged to connect their learning with familiar experiences, such as being supported with their work, enjoying time to play or knowing who to speak to when they are worried.

Listening to children and acting on their views

Children’s experiences will help shape our journey. We will create opportunities for pupils to discuss what is working well, what could improve and which changes matter most to them.

This could include class conversations, pupil groups, surveys, suggestion activities and creative ways of sharing ideas. We will consider how to include children who may need additional support to communicate their views.

Listening also means explaining what happens next. We want children to see how their ideas have influenced decisions and to understand the reasons when a suggestion cannot be taken forward. Giving clear feedback will help pupils recognise that their contributions are valued.

Supporting safety, wellbeing and belonging

Our work towards Silver will encourage us to look closely at children’s experiences of school. Do they know where to find help? Do they feel included? Can they explain how school supports their learning and wellbeing?

We will use these questions to guide conversations and identify useful improvements. We want children to feel confident approaching a trusted adult, raising a concern and asking for support.

We will also encourage pupils to think about how everyday actions can help others feel welcome: inviting someone to join an activity, listening carefully, challenging unkindness and recognising different strengths. Adults will remain responsible for responding to concerns and providing the support children need.

Taking action for the rights of others

Our journey will help children look beyond their own experiences and learn about the lives of others locally and around the world.

Pupils will be supported to explore an issue, identify the rights involved and decide on a meaningful response. This might involve creating an awareness display, contributing ideas to improve a shared space, writing to someone who can help bring about change or supporting a pupil-chosen campaign.

We want children to understand the purpose of their action and reflect on what it achieves. Alongside developing empathy, these experiences will help pupils discover that their voices and ideas can make a difference.

Turning our plans into action

To make steady progress, we will develop and review our Silver action plan with contributions from pupils and adults. The plan will help us agree priorities, identify who will help with each action and check how our work is progressing.

Our practical next steps will include:

Developing staff knowledge and confidence through training and shared discussion.
Involving pupils in planning and reviewing rights-related activities.
Building clear links between children’s rights and learning across the school.
Sharing information with families and inviting their contributions.
Gathering feedback to understand what is changing for children.
Reviewing our progress and adapting our plans where needed.

We will aim to make this a shared school journey, with opportunities for the whole community to contribute.

How will we know we are making progress?

We will look at the difference our work makes to children’s understanding and experiences. Pupil and staff questionnaires, discussions and examples of learning will help us identify strengths and decide what needs further attention.

We will gather a carefully chosen selection of evidence, such as pupils’ work, examples of decisions influenced by children and reflections on activities. These will support our evaluation against UNICEF UK’s nine award outcomes.

Preparing for our Silver assessment

When we are ready, we will complete the required school evaluation and share evidence of our progress with UNICEF UK.

Silver accreditation currently takes place through a virtual assessment. An assessor speaks with pupils, school leaders and members of the wider school community to understand how rights are becoming part of school life.

This is an opportunity to explain our progress, share the impact of our work and identify the next steps in our development.

How can families support our journey?

Families can help bring children’s rights to life through everyday conversations. You might ask your child which right they have been learning about, when they experience it or how someone could be helped to enjoy it.

Stories, news and familiar situations can provide useful starting points. Questions such as “Was everyone listened to?” or “What would help that child feel included?” can encourage thoughtful discussion.

We also welcome families’ ideas and feedback. Your perspective can help us understand children’s experiences and strengthen the connection between home and school.

Our commitment

Our ambition is for every child at Ysgol y Bryn to experience rights through the way they are taught, supported and heard.

Working towards Silver gives us a shared focus for developing this further. Together, we will continue building a school community where children understand their rights, value the rights of others and feel confident contributing to the world around them.

Rights Respecting Schools Journey at Ysgol Y Bryn - Bronze

Congratulations Letter - Bronze Award

At Ysgol Y Bryn, we are excited to announce that we have recently embarked on our journey to become a Rights Respecting School. This is an important initiative that aligns with our school values and ethos, focusing on promoting and protecting the rights of every child. As part of our commitment to this journey, we are working towards achieving the Bronze Award, which marks the first step on the path to fully embedding children’s rights into our school culture.

What is a Rights Respecting School?

A Rights Respecting School is one where children’s rights are at the heart of the school’s philosophy. It means ensuring that pupils not only learn about their rights but also actively respect and promote the rights of others. The initiative is led by Unicef UK, and the Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) is based on the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which sets out the rights of every child, including the right to education, protection, and participation.

By becoming a Rights Respecting School, we are creating a school community where every child’s rights are recognised, celebrated, and respected. We are committed to promoting an environment where children understand their rights and are encouraged to be active citizens who respect the rights of others.

Achieving the Bronze Award

Our first goal is to achieve the Bronze Award, which acknowledges that we are beginning our journey towards becoming a fully Rights Respecting School. To achieve this award, we must focus on the following:

Learning About the Rights of the Child:
- Pupils and staff will learn about the UNCRC and the 42 articles that outline the rights of children.
- The school will incorporate rights education into everyday school life, helping children understand their rights and how to respect the rights of others.
Embedding Rights in School Practice:
- We are working to integrate children's rights into our school policies and practices. This includes embedding rights into our curriculum, daily routines, and the way we treat each other.
- The school will focus on developing positive relationships, mutual respect, and inclusivity for all students and staff.

3. Promoting Student Participation:

- Pupils will be encouraged to share their opinions, contribute to decision-making processes, and engage in activities that promote their rights.
- A key aspect of the journey is ensuring that children’s voices are heard in school and that they feel empowered to take ownership of their learning environment.

4. Creating a Rights-Respecting Culture:

- We aim to create a school culture where children and adults are actively involved in promoting and respecting the rights of others.
- The Rights Respecting School initiative will influence our school’s ethos, reinforcing the values of kindness, empathy, and mutual respect.

What Will You See Changing?

As we progress on our journey towards the Bronze Award, there will be several positive changes in the school environment. Here’s what you can expect to see:

Increased Awareness of Children’s Rights: You may notice that discussions around children’s rights become more visible in classrooms and school events. This includes displays, resources, and activities that highlight the rights of children.
Rights in Action: Children will be actively involved in decisions that affect them. They will learn how to participate in school life, how to express their opinions respectfully, and how to understand their rights and responsibilities.
Enhanced School Environment: The school will be more inclusive and respectful, with a focus on promoting equality and respect for all. You will see a focus on celebrating diversity and ensuring that every child feels valued and heard.
Opportunities for Pupil Voice: Through assemblies, pupil councils, and class discussions, children will have opportunities to speak out about what matters to them and how they can contribute to the school community.
Supportive and Caring Environment: Staff and pupils will be encouraged to respect one another, fostering an environment where everyone’s rights are respected. We will celebrate achievements related to rights and ensure that all children are treated with dignity.

How You Can Support Us

As we continue our journey, your support as parents and carers will be invaluable. Here are a few ways you can get involved:

Engage with Your Child About Rights: Ask your child about their rights and the Rights Respecting Schools programme. Encouraging discussions at home can reinforce the learning taking place in school.
Participate in School Activities: Look out for activities and events related to rights, and consider attending or supporting these initiatives.
Share Your Feedback: As we work towards the Bronze Award, we welcome feedback from parents, carers, and the wider community. Your input helps ensure that we are on the right path to creating a truly inclusive and respectful environment.

Looking Ahead

Achieving the Bronze Award is just the first step in our journey. Once we have received the Bronze Award, we will continue working towards the Silver and Gold Awards, which will further embed children’s rights into all aspects of school life. We are excited to see how this journey will enhance our school community and help us create an even more respectful, inclusive, and supportive learning environment for all.

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