SOMERDALE Educate Together Primary School in Keynsham has been recognised for its efforts to promote children’s rights.
It is to be re-accredited ‘gold’ by UNICEF UK’s Rights Respecting School programme, the first and only school in the county to achieve this accolade.
UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation working for children and their rights.
The Rights Respecting Schools Award is granted to schools that show commitment to promoting and realising children’s rights and encouraging adults, children and young people to respect the rights of others in school.
Gold is the highest accolade given by UNICEF UK and shows a deep and thorough commitment to children’s rights at all levels of school life.
More than 600 schools across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have received gold. Somerdale Educate Together is the first and only school in Bath and North East Somerset to achieve this award.
Chris Thomas-Unsworth, headteacher of Somerdale Educate Together, said: “We are incredibly proud to have been re-accredited with the UNICEF UK gold award. This recognition reflects the dedication of our pupils, staff, and wider school community in placing children’s rights at the very heart of everything we do.
“The Rights Respecting Schools approach has had a profound impact on our school, fostering a culture where every child feels valued, listened to, and empowered to make a difference. Achieving gold once again is a testament to the commitment and passion of our whole community, and I would like to thank our pupils, families, staff, and governors for their unwavering support in ensuring Somerdale Educate Together continues to be a place where children’s rights are lived and celebrated every day.”
The award recognises achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child at the heart of a school’s planning, policies and practice.
The director of the UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools Programme, Martin Russell, said: “Somerdale is a very inclusive school where children report feeling valued and safe irrespective of their background.
“Pupils also have many genuine opportunities to have their views heard and influence key aspect of school life, in turn creating a positive learning environment.
“It was also clear that children had an excellent grasp of children’s rights and social justice, and so did school staff, parents, carers and the school’s governors. Everyone should be very proud of their achievement.”
Pictured, children from Somerdale Educate Together share the good news alongside their headteacher, Chris Thomas-Unsworth, deputy headteacher, Sam O’Regan, and Bob, the Rights Respecting Gnome
Keynsham school leads the way on children’s rights
