Baljaffray Primary School in Bearsden has been awarded Gold by UNICEF UK’s Rights Respecting School programme.
It becomes the seventh school* in East Dunbartonshire to attain this UNICEF accolade.
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 600 schools across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales that have received Gold.
Councillor Lynda Williamson, Convener of East Dunbartonshire Council’s Education Committee, paid a visit to Baljaffray Primary to meet staff and pupils with their award.
She said,
Baljaffray Primary School’s dedication to embedding children’s rights within the ethos of the school has resulted in them being presented with this prestigious accolade.
To achieve Gold, schools must implement three evidence-based strands that cover: leadership of the school; knowledge and understanding of children’s rights; ethos and relationships and the empowerment of children and young people.
“This award is well deserved; the school has worked hard to build on the foundations that have been in place for many years at Baljaffray Primary in order to meet the requirements of the UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools Gold Award. Congratulations to everyone at Baljaffray Primary School!”
Headteacher of Baljaffray Primary, Lesley Rodden said,
I am absolutely delighted that Baljaffray Primary School has achieved UNICEF’s Gold Level Rights Respecting Schools Award
Children’s rights have become the driver of what we do and as part of this we have developed our curriculum with children’s rights at the very centre. Our children have been very motivated by this approach, contributing to our positive school ethos.”
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 Rights Respecting Schools Award Programme Director, Martin Russell, said, “Children at Baljaffray Primary School understand and are strongly committed to children’s rights. They have played a strong ambassadorial role with other schools in the UK and from further afield, and the school is fully committed to engaging and empowering all students to have a voice and develop as leaders. Upon entering the school premises, it is clear that the Convention is central to the school’s ethos and we are very pleased to be awarding them as Gold: Rights Respecting.”
The UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools initiative is aimed at schools across the UK, including those in an early years setting. Currently, it works with nearly 5,000 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 pupils’ self-esteem, leading to less truancy and bullying, better learning and improved academic standards. Visit UNICEF Rights respecting school website to learn more.
* Other schools at a Gold standard in East Dunbartonshire are Bearsden Primary, Castlehill Primary, Craigdhu Primary, Douglas Academy, Killermont Primary and St. Ninian’s High School.
