Whinstone is a Gold Rights Respecting School.

The award by UNICEF acknowledges that Whinstone has a very positive child centred ethos which is underpinned by children’s rights. They stated that particular strengths of the school are:

  • Children have a good knowledge and understanding or rights personally, locally and globally.
  • Relationships are respectful and these are underpinned by rights respecting language.
  • Pupil voice that is encouraged, respected and acted upon, resulting in pupils feeling valued and supported.
  • Children are confident that they are safe and valued and that there are procedures in place to support this.

What is the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child?

The CRC sets out the human rights of every person under the age of 18 and is the most complete statement on children’s rights treaty in history. It was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1989 and is the most widely adopted international human rights treaty in history. The UK ratified the CRC in 1991.

The Convention has 54 articles that cover all aspects of a child’s life and set out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights that all children everywhere are entitled to. It also explains how adults and governments must work together to make sure all children can enjoy all their rights.

Every child has rights, whatever their ethnicity, gender, religion, language, abilities or any other status.

The Convention must be understood as a whole: all rights are linked and no right is more important than another. The right to relax and play (article 31) and the right to freedom of expression (article 13) are as important as the right to be safe from violence (article 19) and the right to education (article 28)

UNICEF has shown that when children are taught about their rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, they are more respectful of the rights of others.

  • Improved self-esteem and feelings of being valued and listened to.
  • Increased levels of respect for each other, leading to improved relationships with other pupils and with staff.
  • A sense of security as rights-respecting language and behaviour is used consistently throughout the school.
  • Improved attainment and attendance, and a reduction in exclusions.
  • An understanding and respect of religions, cultures, beliefs and abilities different to their own.
  • A wider and deeper understanding of the world in which they live.

All adults (parents, teachers or the government) are known as Duty Bearers. It is our responsibility to make children aware of their rights and to act if their rights are not being met.

Children understand that their rights are inherent, universal, unconditional, inalienable and indivisible. Here is a short summary of what these words mean:

Inherent – Rights are inherent meaning they are yours because you are born a human.

Indivisible – Rights are indivisible meaning no right is more important than another one. They are equal and linked.

Inalienable – Rights are inalienable meaning you cannot give them away or sell them and no one can take them away from you.

Universal – Rights are universal meaning they are for all children (under 18), everywhere, all the time.

Unconditional – Rights are unconditional meaning they are not a reward and not dependent on a responsibility or performing an action to get them.

How can parents support their child to learn about the Convention at home?

  • Take the time to ask your child what he/she has learnt recently regarding children’s rights and how they may show respect for those rights.
  • Discuss the ideas learned in class, and try to think of examples from your own experiences, or from the media, of rights being respected or denied.
  • Discuss how your child or your family can promote respect for rights, or help those whose rights have been violated.
  • Model using rights and respect language with your children.
  • Ask your child’s opinion on children’s rights

Child Friendly Rights