Four primary schools across Helensburgh and Lomond have earned UNICEF Rights Respecting School Awards - and two of Argyll and Bute's three gold awards have gone to pupils right here in the local community.

Cardross and Hermitage primary received their gold awards, Colgrain was awarded silver, and Garelochhead got a bronze.

It's further recognition for Hermitage in particular, which three-and-a-half years ago became the very first school in Argyll and Bute to achieve the gold standard.

Pupils celebrated the momentous occasion at an event in the school on World Children’s Day.

The Rights Respecting Schools (RRS) 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.

Awards are given to schools that can show they have put the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and its principles of equality, dignity, respect, non-discrimination and participation, at the heart of everything they do

Nor are the four local schools in the latest list the only ones in the area to be recognised by the scheme: Parklands School in Helensburgh received its bronze award in March, while Kilcreggan Primary was given gold status in January.

Hermitage Academy, meanwhile, has been a 'rights respecting school' since 2017. 

The school's pupils won praise the following year for their campaign to improve the treatment of unaccompanied refugee children, a campaign which earned praise from local MP Brendan O'Hara in the House of Commons and a visit for the Academy's RRS pupil group to the Houses of Parliament.

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 now received the award.

Councillor Audrey Forrest, policy lead for education at Argyll and Bute Council, said: “We are committed to improving the outcomes for our children and young people in Argyll and Bute, and that starts by creating safe and inspiring spaces to learn.

"We are well on our way to becoming the first Rights Respecting Education Service in Scotland, with so many of our schools now successfully engaged with the programme.

"As a council, we put the UN Convention Rights of the Child (UNRC) at the heart of what we do by adding it to the list of implications we consider for all decisions made throughout the council, as well as in education.

"The award is not just about what children do, but also what adults do, with staff and children working together to reach these goals together to help young people to realise their potential.

“Well done to everyone involved. I know how much work goes on behind the scenes to make this happen.”