Gold Rights Respecting Schools Award

We are delighted to announced that we have been accredited as a Gold Rights Respecting School. 

UNICEF is the world's leading organisation working for children and their rights. 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. There are over 600 schools across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales that have received Gold.

The school has been working with UNICEF UK since 2014. They received their Silver certificate in 2018. St Margaret's has been awarded with the Gold certificate to mark their sustained focus on children's rights and having young people's voices at the heart of the school.

Headteacher of St Margaret's Academy, David Sheerin, said: "this award confirms St Margaret's as a school where the rights of young people are fully embedded in our ethos, curriculum, relationships and leadership. I am delighted that the judges recognised our school's inclusive culture, strong pupil voice, our positive relationships founded on dignity and respect, and the wide range of opportunities our young people have to influence decision-making. Our pupils actively champion the rights of others through servant leadership, charitable work and advocacy which is underpinned by our Catholic ethos and REACH values. This award is the culmination of many years of work by our hopeful and determined young people, supported by our dedicated staff."

The Award recognises achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child at the heart of a school's planning, policies and practice. A Rights Respecting School is a community where children's rights are learned, taught, practised, respected, protected and promoted.