At The Oaks Primary School, we aim to provide rich leaning opportunities that allow children to reach their full potential in a safe and happy learning environment. As part of our school’s aims to promote a happy and successful school, we have recently achieved the ‘Rights Respecting School’ Silver Award and are now working towards the Gold Award. These are awards which are given to schools on behalf of UNICEF.

UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation working for children and their rights. In 1989, governments worldwide promised all children the same rights by adopting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). These rights are based on what a child needs to survive, grow, participate and fulfil their potential.

The ‘Rights Respecting School’ award (RRSA) will help our pupils to grow into confident, caring and responsible young citizens both in school and within the wider community. By learning about their rights, our pupils learn about the importance of respecting the rights of others.

Work we have done so far:

• In summer 2015, we achieved our Recognition of Commitment (ROC)
• In 2018, we achieved the ‘Rights Respecting School’ Bronze Award
• In November 2018, we achieved the ‘Rights Respecting School’ Silver Award
• Classes throughout the school have studied the rights and created a class charter to document the rights that are important to them and how they will respect these rights
• Held assemblies that link to the rights
• Include the rights on the fortnightly newsletter
• Implemented a Rights Respecting Council (RRC)
• The RRC have met to discuss issues in school that relate to our rights, such as charity events, play times and the class charters
• We have raised money as a school for local charities
• We have designed a Rights Respecting Schools Mascot; Polly the Rights Parrot
• We have changed policies and practices to better reflect our Rights ethos.
• Polly has started to visit each class in the school to help children learn about their rights
• In September 2022, we were awarded the Gold Award in recognition of all we do to support children's rights. You can read the report below. We are Rights Respecting!

Here is a picture of Polly the Rights Respecting Parrot.

Equality Act 2010