Small Isles Primary on the Isle of Jura has been working hard to promote children’s rights and their efforts have paid off, having just received a prestigious Silver Rights Respecting Schools Award from UNICEF.
The school has embedded teaching and learning of rights across the whole school community, involving parents, staff and pupils every step of the way to drive forward school improvements through curriculum design and working groups.
Pupils have also been learning about their place as global citizens through fundraising initiatives, and have helped raised money for a community in Nigeria to build their own basic toilet, access clean water and learn about hygiene as part of Toilet Twinning – an international project that helps save thousands of lives each year.
Congratulating the school, Ƶapp Council’s Policy Lead for Education, Councillor Yvonne McNeilly, said: “The aim of the Rights Respecting Schools Award is to create safe and inspiring places for children and young people to learn, where they are respected, their talents are nurtured and they are able to thrive. It is based on principles of equality, dignity, respect, non-discrimination and participation – all things that are a vital part of our education strategy and that help our children and young people to realise their potential.
“Small Isles Primary is yet another triumph in our aspiration to become a Rights Respecting Education Service. The school has worked exceptionally hard to achieve this award. They have come up with some great initiatives along the way, all of which place children’s rights at their core, and everyone involved should be very proud.”