A PRIMARY school in Holywell has successfully completed the first stage of the process to becoming a Unicef UK Rights Respecting School (RRSA).

Staff and pupils at Ysgol Maes Y Felin have been working towards the award for around six months and are delighted to receive the bronze reward in recognition of the work that has already been done to embed children’s rights into everyday practice.

The Bronze Award means that the school has introduced the RRSA Three Strands into the school community – which focus on teaching and learning about rights, learning through rights and education for rights.

Teachers Rhiannon Evans and Tamsin Nellist are the ambassadors for the rights respecting committee and support the children to lead the UN convention on rights of the child through school.

Mrs Nellist said: “Ysgol Maes y Felin aims to be a school where children’s rights are at the heart of our ethos and culture, to improve well-being and to develop every child’s talents and abilities to their full potential. As part of this plan we are working towards recognition as a ‘Rights Respecting School’.

“Our pupils will learn about their rights by putting them into practice every day. A Rights Respecting School models rights and respect in all its relationships.

“We really hope that parents and carers will support our school on our journey towards becoming a Unicef UK Rights Respecting School.”

The scheme also ensures that the senior leadership team understands what is involved in the award and is committed to embarking on the Unicef UK rights respecting journey.

It also ensures that the right foundations are in place for the school’s journey to the second stage of the award.

The school has an elected rights respecting committee made up of pupils from all year groups who are working with staff to implement the award.

In becoming a Rights Respecting School, children acquire the vocabulary to express themselves and to challenge the way they are treated. They are also able to challenge injustices for other children and know how to access information that enables them to make informed decisions about their learning, health and wellbeing.

Children are treated as equals both by fellow pupils and by adults in the school and are involved in how the Award is implemented in the school as well as in decisions about their own learning and well-being.

Through being active and involved in school life and the wider world, children develop the confidence to make informed decisions and healthy relationships.