Rights Respecting School – In Partnership with UNICEF

At Gorsey Bank Primary School, we are committed to the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

In February 2019, Gorsey Bank Primary School was awarded Bronze: Rights Committed status, in January 2020, we received Silver: Rights Aware status and in 2021 we become a Gold: Rights Respecting School.

Our aim is to ensure that the Convention on the Rights of the Child, along with the values of dignity, justice and respect, underpin all that we do at Gorsey Bank Primary School. We aim for our children to be passionate advocates for the rights of other children, whilst understanding that all adults are duty bearers and are duty-bound to help all children enjoy their rights. We believe that our children are the innovators and change-makers of our society; our investment in them is of upmost importance!

Pupil Parliament

Our Pupil Parliament consists of children across the school, each of these committees is designed to drive forward change in our school, support the local community, and raise awareness on global issues and the sustainable goals. The committee groups concentrate on one of the articles from the convention, which has developed our whole school charter.

The committees within our Pupil Parliament provide a key link between the children, teachers, and senior leaders within our school, along with the wider community, in order to take a lead in developing and delivering the school’s rights respecting action plan.

The members of Pupil Parliament are decided through a whole school vote.

The Treasury (School charities)

  • Fundraise for our school charity (CAFT)
  • Raise awareness of CAFT
  • Make links with and visit CAFT

The Home Office

  • Termly House Captain Elections
  • House Captions involved in events and assemblies – including a Christmas quiz
  • Support younger children by being a role model

Ministry of Justice

  • Promote an inclusive culture throughout the school
  • Ensure kindness and respect is shown at lunchtimes and breaktimes
  • Report any concerns around unkindness

Department for Education

  • Champion the love of reading throughout the school
  • Ensure a varied schedule of author visits throughout the year
  • Recommend books and look after the library environment
  • Arrange World Book Day

Department for Environment

  • Create an eco-friendly school environment
  • Maintain and design a sustainable school garden
  • Support community groups

Department for Sport

  • Promote exercise as a healthy lifestyle choice
  • Build a culture of active breaktimes and lunchtimes
  • Co-ordinate large sporting activities

Department for Health and Care

  • Promote mental health and physical health
  • Build a positive and supportive culture in the playground
  • Support lunchtime provision

The Arts Council

  • Promote a love of arts throughout the school
  • Provide performance opportunities for everyone
  • Contribute to the broadening of cultural capital

Department for Digital Culture

  • Promote digital wellbeing across the school and wider life of the school
  • Provide expertise on new devices across school and how they should be used

Article of the week

Each week, we focus on a different article of the UNCRC. Our Article of the week and the teaching of rights are communicated via our parent/carer weekly newsletter.

Please take some time to talk with your children at home about the Convention on the Rights of the Child and what it means to be ‘rights respecting’.

Termly Focus

Every term, each class focuses on a number of articles which link to our school character traits and selection of books on their Curriculum Bookshelf.

This has formed class charters which children will refer to when discussing their theme, characters in books and reflection on their own rights and rights of others globally. This ensures a progression of in depth learning about the articles, in an age-appropriate way.

Through learning about children’s rights, we believe that our pupils are more sensitive and empathetic towards others.