What is the Rights Respecting Schools Award?
The Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) recognises schools that place children’s rights at the heart of school life. It is based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) – an international agreement that sets out the rights all children should have, simply by being children.
These rights include:
Our journey so far
Pinner Park previously completed the full RRSA journey and achieved Gold Award status. Children’s rights have remained an important part of our school culture ever since.
However, education – and the world our children are growing up in – continues to change. We have therefore chosen to undertake the RRSA journey again, allowing our current staff and pupils to explore the UNCRC afresh and embed it meaningfully in today’s context.
We are currently working towards Bronze accreditation, supported by:
What does being a Rights Respecting School look like?
In a Rights Respecting School:
Rights Respecting Rangers
Our Rights Respecting Rangers are pupil representatives who help promote children’s rights across the school. They support assemblies, discussions and activities that help make rights visible and meaningful for everyone.
Through this role, children develop:
Working in partnership with families
Being Rights Respecting is not just about school – it’s about building a shared understanding between children, families and staff.
We believe that the values at the heart of the UNCRC – respect, kindness, safety and fairness – are ones we hold in common with our families. We regularly share our RRSA work through newsletters, assemblies and school events, and we welcome parents and carers as partners in this journey.
Looking ahead
As we progress through the award, we will continue to:
Read more
The Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) recognises schools that place children’s rights at the heart of school life. It is based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) – an international agreement that sets out the rights all children should have, simply by being children.
These rights include:
- the right to be safe and protected
- the right to learn and develop
- the right to be listened to and taken seriously
- the right to be treated fairly and with respect
Our journey so far
Pinner Park previously completed the full RRSA journey and achieved Gold Award status. Children’s rights have remained an important part of our school culture ever since.
However, education – and the world our children are growing up in – continues to change. We have therefore chosen to undertake the RRSA journey again, allowing our current staff and pupils to explore the UNCRC afresh and embed it meaningfully in today’s context.
We are currently working towards Bronze accreditation, supported by:
- a local network of Rights Respecting schools
- guidance and training from UNICEF UK
What does being a Rights Respecting School look like?
In a Rights Respecting School:
- children learn about their own rights and the rights of others
- respect, dignity and fairness are actively promoted
- At Pinner Park, this approach supports our wider aims around:
- positive behaviour and relationships
- emotional wellbeing and mental health
- inclusion, equality and belonging
- children’s voices are encouraged and valued
- positive relationships underpin behaviour, learning and wellbeing
Rights Respecting Rangers
Our Rights Respecting Rangers are pupil representatives who help promote children’s rights across the school. They support assemblies, discussions and activities that help make rights visible and meaningful for everyone.
Through this role, children develop:
- leadership skills
- confidence in speaking up
- a deeper understanding of fairness and responsibility
Working in partnership with families
Being Rights Respecting is not just about school – it’s about building a shared understanding between children, families and staff.
We believe that the values at the heart of the UNCRC – respect, kindness, safety and fairness – are ones we hold in common with our families. We regularly share our RRSA work through newsletters, assemblies and school events, and we welcome parents and carers as partners in this journey.
Looking ahead
As we progress through the award, we will continue to:
- embed children’s rights across school life
- support children to understand how rights link to responsibilities
- share updates and developments with families
Read more
- Click here to download a copy of the UNCRC
- UNICEF UK's website: www.unicef.org.uk/what-we-do/un-convention-child-rights
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
Click the image to download a pdf version.
Click the image to download a pdf version.
