Knockavoe School RRS Twilight October 2016

To recap and refresh… What is the RRSA? The Rights Respecting Schools Award is a Unicef UK programme that aims to put children’s rights at the heart of schools. It focuses on embedding children’s rights in the ethos and culture of schools to improve well-being and develop every child’s talents and abilities to their full potential. Schools work with UNICEF and RRS assessors to help them on their journey to become fully Rights Respecting. The Award recognises a school's achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC or UNCRC) into practice within the school and beyond.

The award is based on principles of equality, dignity, respect, non- discrimination and participation. The initiative started in 2006 and schools involved in the Award reported a positive impact on relationships and well-being, leading to better learning and behaviour, improved academic standards and less bullying.

Knockavoe School are worthy recipients of ROC, RRSA Level 1 and Level 2

We are a RRS Level 2 as we… Demonstrated that we embed children and young people’s rights in our school practice and ethos. We implemented the four evidence-based standards that cover the leadership of the school, knowledge and understanding of children’s rights, ethos and relationships and the empowerment of children and young people. The journey to Level 2, the highest award granted by Unicef UK. Level 1 and Level 2 awards are valid for three years, after which time we will be re-assessed.

How does the RRSA link with other school initiatives? The RRSA programme should not be a stand alone identity as it unifies with a huge range of educational priorities in the curriculum and beyond. It is universal and cross curricular e.g. global links and awareness, social and emotional aspects of learning, community cohesion, CRED and sustainable development to name a few.

Some of the RRS activities we currently do at Knockavoe School Charters Student Council RRS Lessons and activities Newsletters Multicultural Week Anti Bullying Week Fair Trade Day Inclusion Wellbeing therapies Day For Change UNCRC Articles beside displays Community and global links and RR promotion and awareness e.g. Newspapers, joint projects Charity work e.g. Autism Awareness, Shoe Box Appeal Celebration of children's talents through assemblies, choir and performances Website

Moving forward… Fantastic work already being carried out. Keep it up! Continue with activities listed on the previous slide (Also read Shared RRS sheet for class files). Came a long way in our RRS journey. Classes are great at joining up with other classes e.g. for RRS activities and displays. This was hugely emphasised during the time we were working towards our RRS assessment and continues to be active practice now throughout the year for different things. Please continue to do this. Pupils love it and feedback on our collaborative learning activities is always so positive. Continue with our effective community links and expand e.g. Strabane Food Bank, local schools, Riversdale, Choir work etc. This was recognised and praised by RRS assessors. Progressing we need to ensure stronger global links… Think about what we already do and make it more palpable (Day for Change, Fairtrade, Shoebox appeal, St Pamachius link) Check global learning folder which was distributed to each class for further ideas. Each class has many unique personalities and abilities and varied preferred methods of learning therefore think of the best innovative activities to suit. All classes can get rewarding experiences from RRS activities.

We are so good at promoting our pupils rights and raising awareness of the UNCRC throughout school, in newspapers, newsletters, and shared events. It is not just those in poverty who have their rights denied. Unfortunately we all know of incidents where children's rights are denied such as the right to be heard (Article 12) or the right to a safe environment and food (Article 24 & 27). We owe it to our school and wider community to keep raising awareness and understanding. We work in such a fantastic school which is a great platform to continue to put Children’s rights and wellbeing at the heart of everything we do and to progress even further on our Rights Respecting journey!! (Article 3 & 42)