Rights Respecting School

At Maypole Primary School, we are on a journey to becoming a UNICEF rights respecting school. In July 2023, we received the brilliant news that we have been awarded our Silver award to show that we are a rights committed school. We are proud of this achievement and now we are working towards achieving our Gold award. 

Through our engaging and creative curriculum, as well as assemblies and themed days, we learn about their rights as stated in the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child. As a school, we aim to provide opportunities for children to exercise their rights and to be global citizens who campaign on issues that are important to them. We aim for our children to be inspired and encouraged to become change-makers who feel passionate about campaigning and raising awareness of global and local issues.  

As a school, we have decided on seven key rights that are central to all that we do: 

• Article 2 (Non-discrimination) All children have rights regardless of ethnicity, race, religion, language, abilities or any other status. They should be protected from discrimination. 
• Article 12 (Respect for the views of the child) The right to express views and to have them taken seriously.  
• Article 14 (freedom of thought, belief and religion) The right to think and believe what you choose and to follow your own religion. 
• Article 19 (Protection from violence, abuse and neglect) The right to be safe. 
• Article 24 (health and health services) The right to the best possible health. 
• Article 28/29 (right to an education and goals of education) The right to education so you can be the best that you can be. 
• Article 31 (leisure, play and culture) The right to play and relax.   

Our work towards our gold award is spear-headed by a group of pupils who are ‘rights ambassadors’. These children have been elected to their role by their peers after an application process. Our dedicated team of rights ambassadors meet weekly to discuss important issues, organise campaigns and set up charity events. They also play an active role in assemblies, parent events and feedback to their classes, often gathering the opinions of their peers.