Category: Rights Respecting Schools

The Rights Respecting Schools Award puts children’s rights at the heart of schools in the UK and uses the UN Convention On The Rights Of The Child (UNCRC) to ensure that children are respected, their talents are nurtured and they are able to thrive.

There are four key areas of impact for children at a Rights Respecting school; wellbeing, participation, relationships and self-esteem, making a positive impact on the whole community and ensuring that:

  • Children are healthier and happier by promoting the values of respect, dignity and non-discrimination
  • Children feel safe by empowering them access to information that enables them to make informed decisions about their learning and health and wellbeing
  • Children have better relationships based on mutual respect and valuing everyone’s opinion
  • Children become active and involved in school life and the wider world based on equality and respect, enabling them to become engaged and responsible members of society

Whole School Assembly 23.05.25

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Today we held our monthly whole school assembly where we focus on Rights Respecting Schools and celebrating success.

We were delighted to share in the success of pupils who managed to cope with unexpected changes, engaged well in their learning, teamwork and friendship.  We also had star awards for staff who have gone above and beyond in supporting our learners.

Our focus right was Article 24 – ‘I have the right to good quality healthcare, to clean water and good food.’  We looked at our emotions, identifying ways to support our mental health and that of others. 

At the end of assembly, classes were set a challenge.  We will be on the look out for staff and pupils who help others, as well as acts of kindness and friendship taking place within the school and these will be acknowledged with special cards.

Here is a copy of our assembly slides, if you want to share them with your child at home.

Whole School Assembly

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This morning we held our monthly whole school assembly with a focus on celebration and Rights Respecting Schools. This month, we looked at Article 15 ‘ I have the right to meet with friends and join groups’.

We looked at some of the qualities that make a good friend and learned the Makaton signs for these and took part in a wee quiz to see which qualities were a good friend or not.

We then spent time celebrating all of the successes we have had in school. Class shared Star Awards for both pupils and staff. There was a very special Star Award for Lorraine who is retiring along with a special song written especially for her, which an be found in the slides.

Here is a copy of our assembly slides, if you want to share them with your child at home.

Have a wonderful holiday and we’ll see everyone on the 14th of April!

Whole School Assembly

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This morning we held our monthly whole school assembly with a focus on celebration and Rights Respecting Schools. This month, we looked at Article 31 ‘ I have the right to relax and play’.

We looked at the different activities people to to relax as well as types of toys we can play with and learnt some Makaton signs to support this

Here is a copy of our assembly slides, if you want to share them with your child at home.

We did it! Orchard Brae achieves Silver RRSA!

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We are delighted to share that today we had our Silver Accreditation visit with UNICEF to look at how we’re progressing our Rights Respecting School work. Our assessors enjoyed learning about the work that we do in Orchard Brae and the opportunity to meet with some pupils (thank you Room 19), parents and staff. A huge thanks to everyone that joined us virtually or in person.

Please enjoy the video that we shared to highlight some of our work.

We’ll share more about our next steps in future as we are keen to continue progressing, going for Gold in the longer term. For now, we’re delighted to have recognition as a Silver Rights Respecting School: Rights Aware.

Whole School Assembly

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Today we held our monthly Celebration and Rights Respecting assembly. It was great to say ‘well done’ to so many pupils for their hard work and efforts which included graduating from the MOVE programme, independent walking, building confidence and relationships, as well as developing life skills and enterprise!

We then focused on our right of the month from the UNCRC, which is number 27 – ‘I have the right to a proper home, food and clothing.’

We looked at the changing seasons from summer to autumn, and how this brings about changes in the weather and the types of clothing we need to wear. We also looked at how the change of seasons leads to harvest and the variety of foods available in autumn.

Here is a copy of our assembly slides, if you want to share them with your child at home.

Orchard Brae Achieve Bronze!

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We are delighted to share that we have just gained the Bronze Rights Respecting Schools Award from UNICEF UK. This is the first official step in our ongoing Rights Respecting Schools journey.

The Rights Respecting Schools Award promotes understanding and implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in schools. The convention itself consists of a range of articles that place a duty on governments, local authorities and all those supporting children to be ‘duty bearers’, upholding the rights of the children and young people in their care and ensuring that all those under 18 can access their rights, children being the ‘rights holders’. The convention underpins everything that we do as a school to ensure that all children and young people are valued, heard, and given opportunities to develop fully.

To gain our Bronze Award, a small group of teaching staff evaluated our progress against key outcomes before developing an action plan for moving forward as a school. We will look to sharing more news as we progress on our journey and would welcome involvement from families and associated professionals in taking things forward.

This poster provides an easy to read overview of the UNCRC. We will be sharing more information on these rights as we go forward on our journey, learning together.

Futures Event

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Thanks to all parents, carers and partners for supporting the Orchard Brae Futures Event last week. It was great to be back in person for this annual event and there was a lovely buzz in the hall as you took the opportunity to network and chat informally to the providers in attendance. The presentation from the event is below. Feel free to get in touch if you wish to discuss anything further.