On the 20th November 1989 the world made a set of promises for every child on earth. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is an international statement of all of those promises. UNICEF protects and promotes those rights.
These rights try to make sure that every child is healthy, educated, treated fairly and listened to. They also make sure that all children are protected from violence, abuse and exploitation.
“Rights” are things every child should have or be able to do. All children have the same rights. These rights are listed in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Look out for our RRSA rainbow around school and on our website.
You can read what the assessor thought of our RRSA work in our Gold Accreditation Report.
RRSA School Council
We have a Rights Respecting School Council that work to ensure every member of our school community is aware of children’s rights. As a Gold Rights Respecting School we are able to place the rights of each child at the heart of our school ethos.
The council consists of annually elected members representing each year group across school. The purpose of the council is to provide a voice for the children of Cockton Hill Junior School. They meet regularly and are proactive in improving life for children in the school by raising concerns that have arisen from discussions within their class council meetings. We respect the views and contributions made by our school council and aim to use these to make improvements to the school whenever possible. The School Council are excellent at identifying issues that are important to them and tackling them. They have recently had a say in curriculum development, playground improvements, personal care facilities and anti-bullying work.
RRSA Charters
We have a whole school charter to help us respect rights everywhere in school. Here is our Whole School Charter in place across school.
Each class also has their own class charter which has been drawn up by the children to state their rights and how they can be respected by pupils (rights-holders) and adults (duty-bearers). Here are some examples of our class charters:
RRSA Blog
Check out some of the activities and school events that the RRSA council have organised and led across school and within the local community.
Online Safety Event
Article 19: You have the right to be protected from being hurt and mistreated, in body or mind.
A big thank you to all our parents, relatives and carers who managed to make our online safety session in school last week. BT Openreach gave us quite a few things to think about and I hope everybody found it useful and informative. Anybody who missed out can keep an eye out for the next edition of Digital Parenting coming home in time for Safer Internet day.
Road Safety Awareness
Article 24: You have the right to a safe environment and information to help you stay well.
As part of Road Safety week, each class discussed the importance of road safety and what we need to do to make sure we stay safe when near roads. We then had a visit from a firefighter who discussed this with us further and asked the children what they already knew about road safety. We designed posters for a competition titled, ‘What is important to you about road safety?’ We had a winner from our class who will receive a trip to the fire station.
Mini Police Community Engagement
Article 24: You have the right to a safe environment and information to help you stay well.
Article 12: You have the right to your opinion, and for adults to listen and take it seriously.
Children took part in a walk to Butterwick Hospice through Cockton Hill and Woodhouse Lane. The children looked at anti-social behaviour hotspots and were able to identify different types of anti-social behaviour. When they arrived at the Hospice the children were split into groups and participated in litter picking, reflexology, physiotherapy, community engagement (folding raffle tickets). The children then met Santa who gave them all a selection box.
CHJS Mini Police had the honour of attending and speaking at the High Sheriff Awards held at Wynyard Hall. In front of an audience of over 150 guests, Alex, Dylan, Harley and Harvie shared their experience of being in the Mini Police on the stage whilst other members greeted guests, handed out badges and formed a guard of honour for the High Sheriff of Durham, Caroline Peacock and the Lord Lieutenant, Sue Snowdon.
Fantastic Friendships
Article 15: You have the right to choose your own friends.
Year 6 thought carefully about the true meaning of friendship and what it means to be a good friend. They worked throughout the day on different activities and thought about the qualities needed as well as different emotions and feelings our actions can cause. They enjoyed taking part in drama, art activities and listening to a story with important messages. Year 6 finished the day by handing certificates to a member of the group complimenting them as we did so.
Green Tree Bronze Award
Article 29: Your education should help you learn to protect the environment.
We have recently registered with the Woodlands Trust for their ‘Green Tree Schools Award’. The aim of the award is to encourage children to complete environmental projects and take part in outdoor learning, whilst inspiring them to appreciate trees. We gain points for completing activities and progress through bronze, silver and gold awards to the prestigious platinum level. We recently received our bronze award and are well on our way to silver. We have completed tasks including visiting a local woodland and taking part in Switch Off Fortnight to save energy.
Sports Relief
Article 23: You have the right to the best health care possible, safe water to drink, nutritious food, a clean safe environment and information to help you stay well.
We celebrated Sport Relief by completing various sporting activities. Some played dodgeball, showed hoola hooping skills, penalty shoot out, ran relay races, completed sprinting challenges and some participated in team games. We all had lots of fun joining in and keeping fit, whilst raising money for children who cannot always enjoy their rights.
UNICEF Outright Campaign
Article 22: You have the right to special protection and help is you are a refugee.
The whole school took part in the UNICEF Outright campaign which is focused on the rights of refugee children. Children completed a project where they developed their knowledge and understanding of children’s rights, learned about the impact of the refugee crisis on children’s right to protection and right to family reunification and finally campaigned to our local MP to fix the family reunion laws. This project empowers pupils to speak out about the importance of children’s rights. We started the project on World Children’s Day through an assembly introducing the Outright campaign to our school. This explained to children why it is important for children and young people to get involved. We then read the story of Paddington Bear and discussed the theme of family separation and thought of any questions which we had about child refugees. We then focused on learning about two articles from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and how these two rights affect refugee children in the UK today, and refugee children trying to reach family in the UK. We looked at the terms ‘refugee’ and ‘migrant’ and discussed what people may think when they hear these words. This led us to a discussion about thinking critically about things we hear in the news and other places about refugees. We played a thumbs up thumbs down game to discuss which statements were true and which were lies. We thought about the challenges, difficulties and dangers that refugees face internationally and the UK.
Interfaith Week
Article 30: You have the right to practice your own culture, language and religion.
As part of Interfaith Week, we looked at the importance and understanding of diversity and differences in religious beliefs. We each made a peace mala bracelet to reflect on the importance of tolerance and diversity. We discussed the statement ‘Treat others as you would wish them to treat you’. We enjoyed making our peace mala bracelets and learning about the different religious represented by each colour bead.
Fairtrade Fortnight
Article 2: The Convention applies to everyone whatever their race, religion and abilities.
Article 24: You have the right to good quality health care, clean water, nutritious food, a clean safe environment and information to help you stay well.
Pupils celebrated Fairtrade fortnight beginning with an assembly to introduce and remind pupils of the importance of Fairtrade. This allowed us to share issues that face our global society, where our food comes from, interconnectedness, sustainable development and the power of the individual. Children explored the meaning of Fairtrade and why we should buy Fairtrade products. Children then took their learning home and completed a range of activities to show their understanding of protecting the rights of farmers, ensuring a fair income and good working conditions. Pupils completed activities such as: writing an acrostic poem about Fairtrade, creating a Wordle, designing a T-shirt, making a new logo, making smoothies using Fairtrade fruit and exploring shops in our local area which sell Fairtrade products. Here are some photos of some of our work:
Commonwealth
Article 2: The Convention applies to everyone whatever their race, religion and abilities.
Children in Year 3 participated in the Commonwealth Class project to celebrate the Commonwealth Games. This helped children explore the world beyond their classroom and learn more about the Commonwealth values. Children explored the Commonwealth firstly through an assembly on Commonwealth Day where they were given information about what the Commonwealth is. hey explored the countries in the Commonwealth through a quiz where they had to identify the countries and guess the connection between them. We looked at the history and the current work of the Commonwealth. They used the ipads to explore and carry out some research on a Commonwealth country of their choice exploring the landmarks, capital city and languages spoken.
British Gas Assembly
Article 24: You have the right to a safe environment and information to help you stay well.
This week we had a visitor from the Gas works to let us know that some important work will be taking place in our area in the next few weeks. We discussed the importance of staying safe at this time, and how we might do this. Our visitor talked through all of the possible dangers and what we must do as members of our community. We listened well and asked some brilliant questions.
RRSA Family Quiz
Article 42: You have the right to know your rights! Adults should know about these rights and help you learn about them too.
Our Rights Respecting School Council designed a RRSA quiz for the parents to test their knowledge of children’s rights. We had lots of entries back and the winner (with the most correct answers received an Easter prize!
Pupil Voice
Article 19: Your education should help you develop your talents and abilities.
We carried out a whole school survey into after-school clubs. These were presented to staff and now all Summer term clubs are based on what you asked for!
Anti-bullying Event
Article 19: You have the right to be protected from being hurt and mistreated, in body or mind.
During anti-bullying week we prepared and presented an assembly to the whole school informing them how to look out for bullying and what to do if you or someone else is being bullied.
Playground Developments
Article 31: You have the right to play and rest.
After completing a whole school questionnaire on how to improve play times. School council wrote a letter to Mrs Stevens and the Friends of the School to ask for some help funding some new playtime equipment. We now have a new climbing wall and lots of new playtime resources!
E-safety Assembly
Article 24: You have the right to a safe environment and information to help you stay well.
E-cadets designed and presented their own assembly to the school all about cookies.
Being a responsible dog owner
Article 24: You have the right to a clean and safe environment.
This week in assembly we had a visit from Durham County Council. We found out about the importance of being a responsible dog owner and the effects that dog fouling has on the community. We found out lots of important information, including why we should microchip our pets. We found out that anyone who is caught not picking up their dog mess could be fined £100!
Learning about Rights
Article 42: You have the right to know your rights!
Across school we continuing to learn about our rights and put these into action across school. School Council have been taking an active role in ensuring their classes have a good understand of their rights. They have been leading lessons all about rights! This week the presented a PowerPoint and carried out a ‘find the rights’ activity with their classes. We had lots of fun finding the rights on the poster.
E-cadets leading assembly
Article 17: You have the right to get information.
E-cadets designed and presented a very informative assembly all about copyright. We found out what copyright is and completed a quiz to check what we had learned.
RRSA Quiz
Article 42: You have the right to know your rights! Adults should know about these rights and help you learn about them too.
Our Rights Respecting School Council designed a RRSA quiz for the parents to test their knowledge of children’s rights. We had lots of entries back and the winner (with the most correct answers received an Easter prize!).
RRSA Event
Article 42: You have the right to know your rights! Adults should know about these rights and help you learn about them too.
Thank you to everyone who attended our RRSA event. Everyone had a great time working alongside parents and relatives to share some of the Rights Respecting work which goes on in our school. Year 6 leaders led the afternoon and were assigned a work station to run. They were excellent role models for the school and it was great to share our RRSA journey with you. We completed lots of activities including finding the rights, wants and needs and creating home charters with our adults. We ended with a Kahoot quiz to see what we had learned!
Send my friend to school
Article 24: You have the right to a clean and safe environment.
Article 28: You have the right to a good quality education.
Across school we took part in the Send My Friend to School campaign. We explored how schools should be safe havens for children. But unfortunately, for millions of children around the world school can be a place of violence or anger. We took part in the Send My Friend to School campaign to show our support towards making school safe.
RRSA Mascot
Article 42: You have the right to know your rights! Adults should know about these rights and help you learn about them too.
Each class entered a T-shirt design competition to design a Rights Respecting t-shirt for their class mascot. School Council then chose a winner from each class to have the design printed on the mascot’s t-shirt. We had some amazing entries and our mascots now have their own personalised Rights t-shirt.
RRSA Presentation to School Governing Body
Article 42: You have the right to know your rights! Adults should know about these rights and help you learn about them too.
Two members of the Year 6 School Council prepared and presented a presentation for our governors. They discussed all the benefits being a rights respecting school has on life every day at CHJS. They shared some of the amazing work which has been carried out across school towards becoming a Gold Rights Respecting School.
