A HELENSBURGH primary school has become the first in Argyll and Bute to receive Gold recognition from Unicef UK’s Rights Respecting School programme.
Hermitage Primary was awarded a silver certificate in April 2018 – and that achievement has now been topped following the award of the gold certificate at an event in the school on World Children’s Day.
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. More than 500 schools across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have received the award.
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Children wore yellow and gold to school to celebrate receiving their prestigious award and took part in a number of activities focussing on climate change. Senior pupils took part in Unicef UK’s outright campaign, writing to local and national leaders and the COP26 President on action they think should be taken to combat the issue.
They also held a special virtual assembly, which was beamed into all the classrooms, while children had a special ‘clap’ which echoed around the school to congratulate one another and created gold decorations to brighten the school hall over the coming festive period.
Head teacher Elspeth Davis said: “We are incredibly proud to be the first recipient of this award from Unicef UK in Argyll and Bute.
“It marks an enormous effort on the part of our whole school community – pupils, staff and parents in embedding rights education in all we do.
“Children’s rights are at the heart of our school and this strength of the partnership we build together permeates through all aspects of our work.
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“I’d like to thank pupils and staff, and in particular, Mrs Louise Grafton, our RRS school lead. Getting our Gold is not the end of our journey!”
Councillor Yvonne McNeilly, Argyll and Bute’s policy lead for education, said: “Congratulations to all the pupils and staff at Hermitage Primary for all their hard work.
“We’re living in times where respect, kindness and a sense of community have never been more important.
“I am extremely proud of the work the school has undertaken to achieve this award and very much value the approach. I look forward to other schools across the locality and the wider council following in their footsteps.
“When I look at these young people, I feel a sense of pride and also a sense that Argyll and Bute is in safe hands in the future.”
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