Rights Respecting School Award

UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation working for children and their rights collaborating with schools in the UK.

UNICEF creates safe and inspiring places to learn, where children are respected, their talents are nurtured, and they are able to thrive. The Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) embeds these values in daily school life and gives children the best chance to lead happy, healthy lives

As a school, we have joined this initiative, delivering weekly lessons to our pupils on the conventions of rights of a child. These sessions help pupils develop oracy and vocabulary skills, and also help to embed values in daily school life and sets them up to lead happy, healthy lives. We hope to achieve the Bronze and then Silver status, recognising a school’s commitment and action in relation to championing the rights.

At Diamond Academy, we work very hard to support our pupils to understand, appreciate and uphold their own rights and that of other children, through discussions, assemblies, use of class charters, campaigns for change and a wide range of activities.

There are four key areas of impact for children at a Rights Respecting School; wellbeing, participation, relationships and self-esteem. The difference that a Rights Respecting School makes goes beyond the school gates, making a positive impact on the whole community. Children;

- Are healthier and happier

- Feel safe

- Have better relationships

- Become active and involved in school life and the wider world.

Our Student Council

Our school has a Pupil Leadership Team led by our Head Pupils and consists of members from across each year group.

We have launched the Smart Schools Council which involves our pupils in weekly debates about various topics including school improvements and current affairs. We believe that pupil voice is extremely important and putting plans in place to encourage these forms of dialogue helps lead to change.

We also have a number of groups that our pupils can get involved in, including an Eco Action Team, Attendance Action Team and Charity Action Team. These work towards bringing about change within their school, in the local community and wider afield with support from our teachers.