Auchmuty High School

Rights Respecting School

UNCRC & Rights Respecting School at Auchmuty High School

At Auchmuty High School, we are proud to be on our journey as a UNICEF UK Rights Respecting School. We have submitted our application for the Bronze: Rights Committed stage and have already made substantial progress with the actions linked to Silver: Rights Aware, with clear next steps identified towards Gold.

What is the UNCRC?

The UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) is an international agreement that sets out 54 articles which describe all the rights that every child and young person under the age of 18 is entitled to, regardless of their background or circumstances.

These rights include (but are not limited to):

  • The right to be safe and protected from harm
  • The right to an education
  • The right to be heard and have views taken seriously
  • The right to play, relax and enjoy culture
  • The right to nutritious food, clean water and healthcare

All adults are “duty bearers”, which means they have a responsibility to help children and young people learn about, enjoy and exercise their rights.

Our Commitment at Auchmuty High School

Being a Rights Respecting School means that children’s rights are at the heart of our values, culture, policies and everyday practice. At Auchmuty High School we are committed to:

Making rights visible and understood

  • Whole-school assemblies focused on UNCRC and children’s rights
  • Termly Character Challenges which explicitly link to UNCRC articles
  • A large UNCRC wall installation outside our Assembly Hall and posters in offices and meeting rooms
  • Clear, easy-to-access information about UNCRC and RRSA on our school website

Embedding rights in our curriculum

  • S1 Social Subjects course on “Human Rights and Human Wrongs”, exploring children’s rights around the world
  • Regular opportunities in subjects such as RMPS and Modern Studies to discuss equality, inclusion and global citizenship
  • Class Charter in each subject area having been constructed as to how the Rights are understood in all curricular areas
  • An AHS UNCRC Inventory to map where rights are taught across the curriculum and to identify gaps

Building a rights-respecting culture and relationships

  • Our school values – Respect, Empathy, Achievement and Lifelong Learning – are closely linked to children’s rights
  • A strong Positive Relationships Policy, Anti-Bullying Policy and safeguarding procedures
  • Senior pupils trained as Peer Mediators and Mentors of Violence Prevention (MVP) to support positive relationships and resolve conflict

Pupil Voice and Leadership Opportunities for all learners (formal and informal)

Children and young people are central to our Rights Respecting journey. At Auchmuty High School:

  • We have moved from a small S6 leadership team to a full Learner Participation Network, with leadership roles for pupils in all year groups
  • We have a pupil-led UNCRC Steering Group, led by a dedicated school Vice-Captain for UNCRC
  • Pupil leaders work alongside staff on whole-school improvement priorities and regularly reflect on their leadership skills
  • Young people are actively involved in policy development, consultation and feedback through:
    • Pupil focus groups
    • Classroom Partnership (pupils observing learning and giving feedback)“People’s Views” windows and regular questionnaires - collating the views of all stakeholders

This ensures our pupils do not just learn about rights, but actively use their rights to influence decisions in school.

Rights in Action: Wellbeing, Inclusion and Community

Our commitment to children’s rights is also reflected in the way we support wellbeing, inclusion and equity:

  • Wellbeing & Inclusion
    • Breakfast Club and a Community Marketplace providing food, toiletries, clothing and schoolwear, with dignity and anonymity
    • A strong Cost of the School Day group, removing financial barriers where possible
    • Young Carers Group, LGBTQ+ Group (with Silver LGBT Charter Award), and NPA Level 5 Mental Health and Wellbeing opportunities for pupils AHS UNCRC Bronze Application
  • Community & Global Citizenship
    • “Classroom to Care Homes” projects, foodbank collections and local volunteering
    • Postcards and projects to welcome refugees and support inclusion
    • Pupil-led fundraising for local, national and international causes AHS UNCRC Bronze Application

Our Rights Respecting Journey

Now:

    • Bronze: Rights Committed application submitted
    • Majority of Silver action plan completed or in progress
    • UNCRC and children’s rights embedded in assemblies, curriculum, leadership and policy

Next steps:

    • Continue to deepen understanding of UNCRC across all staff, pupils and families
    • Further develop our AHS Rights Charter for staff and pupils
    • Extend creative approaches to reach our harder-to-reach learners, ensuring all voices are heard
    • Build on our work to move confidently towards Silver – and ultimately Gold