UNICEF Gold Rights Respecting School

Sweyne Park is a UNICEF Gold Rights Respecting School, earning this recognition in November 2018 and gaining reaccreditation in December 2022 .

This award recognises that the school has fully embedded children’s rights throughout our policies, practices and ethos.  The award is based on the teaching of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and its associated principles, which can helpfully be remembered through the acronym ABCDE:

A – Rights are for ALL children (universal) 

B – Rights are there at BIRTH (inherent) 

C – Rights CANNOT be taken away (inalienable) 

D – Rights DO NOT have to be earned (unconditional) 

E – All rights are EQUALLY important (indivisible) 

All of the rights in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child are equal in importance (indivisible), but as a school, some are more directly related to the work that we do.  The following rights best encompass our purpose: 

• Every child has the right to say what they think in all matters that affect them, so long as they do not infringe upon another’s rights (Article 12) 
• Every child has the right to think and believe what they want, and to practise their religion, as long as they are not stopping others from enjoying their rights (Article 14)  
• Every child has the right to the best possible health, including healthy food and a clean environment (Article 24) 
• Every child has the right to an education (Article 28) 
• Education must develop every child’s personality, talents and abilities to the full (Article 29) 

You can access a summary of the full UNCRC at this link: https://www.unicef.org.uk/rights-respecting-schools/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2017/01/Summary-of-the-UNCRC.pdf

To find out more about the Rights Respecting Schools Award, please use the following link: https://www.unicef.org.uk/rights-respecting-schools/