Our Commitment to Rights at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School
At St. Mary’s, we hold Rights as one of our core values, central to our BREW curriculum, which stands for Belief, Rights, Environment, and Wellbeing. Although we no longer hold the Rights Respecting Schools Award due to the need for reaccreditation, our commitment to promoting the rights of every child remains unwavering. We continue to embed the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) into our daily practices, ensuring that every pupil understands their rights and responsibilities, and preparing them to be informed, responsible, and compassionate global citizens.
Pupil voice is extremely strong at St. Mary’s, supported by our many proactive pupil groups that actively participate in shaping the school environment and culture. Our School Council, consisting of 12 Year Six pupils elected by their peers after presenting their manifestos, plays a key role in championing these values. They work to represent their fellow pupils and advocate for the rights and wellbeing of everyone in our school community.
Click here to view our School Council
In addition to the School Council, we have a variety of other pupil groups that further strengthen our focus on rights and participation. These include the School Action Team, Mini Vinnies, Wellbeing Champions, Faith in Action Team, and Gardening Team. Each group is dedicated to specific areas of school life, from promoting environmental stewardship and community service to enhancing pupil wellbeing and nurturing faith. These groups provide pupils with numerous opportunities to express their ideas, take on leadership roles, and contribute positively to our school and local community.
At St. Mary’s, we believe that understanding and respecting the rights of others is essential to building a caring and supportive environment. We are committed to fostering a school culture that empowers every child, encouraging them not only to excel academically but also to grow as active, thoughtful, and respectful members of society.
St Mary’s is a Rights Respecting School
WELL DONE to our Rights Respecting Steering Group!! We have achieved Gold.
What is the Rights Respecting Schools Award?
This is an award given to schools on behalf of UNICEF. In 1989 governments adopted the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The rights in the Convention are based upon needs that all children have in order to survive, grow, participate and fulfil their potential. Achieving the Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) means putting the rights and responsibilities of children at the heart of the school’s planning, policies, practice, ethos and vision. A Rights Respecting school teaches and models rights and respect in all its practice. It also models rights and respect in all its relationships: between teachers/adults and pupils, between adults, and between pupils.
There are 42 child-specific articles in the UNCRC, but they can be summed up as follows:
- The right to a childhood
- The right to an education
- The right to be healthy
- The right to be treated fairly
- The right to a voice.
We will, of course, keep you updated as we progress through the project.
