UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools Bronze Award

Students and staff at Holcombe Grammar School are celebrating receiving the UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools Bronze Award!

We began our rights respecting journey in September when members of staff and parents were informed of our ambition to become a Rights Respecting School. Since then we have formed a Steering Group of students and members of staff who have begun to educate the school community about rights. Our decision to embark on this journey is based upon the fact that the RRSA involves young people and the school community learning about children’s rights and putting them into practice daily. Rights respecting is not only about what children do but also, importantly, what adults do.

The Bronze award is the first stage of the RRSA and recognises that we are, Rights: Committed, and that the foundations are in place for our journey towards Silver: Rights Aware.

Next, we begin our work towards the Silver Award. This will include ensuring The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) underpins our values and decision making. The whole school will learn about the CRC and how the articles can be exemplified in all we do by:

• Promoting knowledge and understanding of the Convention throughout our school community.
• Empowering the young people in our community to see themselves as rights respecting global citizens.
• Instilling advocacy for fairness and children’s rights within the school community, locally and globally.

Principal’s message:

“I am thrilled that we have achieved this award so early in the year. This is a great achievement considering we only started this journey in September. I am hugely grateful to all those staff and students who have played a role in achieving this award. We now turn our attention to achieving the Silver Award and we will keep you updated.”