Dornoch Primary and Bonar Bridge Primary receive Silver award from Unicef for respecting children's rights
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Two primary schools in Sutherland have been recognised for their commitment to children's rights under a UN charter.
Dornoch Primary and Bonar Bridge Primary were awarded the Silver Rights Respecting School Award by Unicef UK, an agency of the United Nations.
The two schools collaborated to fulfil all the required aims of their Silver Action Plan, largely during the lockdown earlier in the year.
Cllr John Finlayson, chairman of Highland Council's education committee, said: “I am delighted to congratulate both primary schools on receiving this significant achievement.
"The staff and pupils of Dornoch Primary and Bonar Bridge Primary have worked hard together to further the recognition of young people’s rights in their schools and I am sure they are very proud to be receiving this award. I am also sure both schools will be successful as they work towards the Gold award in the near future.”
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.
Silver is given to schools that make excellent progress towards embedding the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into its ethos and curriculum.
Cllr Richard Gale, chairman of Sutherland county committee, said: “On behalf of the local members for the Dornoch Firth area, I would like to congratulate the pupils and staff at both Dornoch Primary and Bonar Bridge Primary schools on achieving this award.
"The pupils, staff and parents at both schools demonstrated their commitment to this work as they continued their learning and understanding of children’s rights across the globe during the coronavirus pandemic. I am proud both schools are receiving this prestigious award and representing our communities across Sutherland.”
Norman Ross, acting head teacher at Dornoch Firth 3-18 Campus, said: “Unfortunately, at the beginning of our Silver journey, we went into lockdown. Our wonderful parents, pupils and staff continued to complete our aims as part of the online learning delivered during lockdown.
"Our parents supported their children to build wildlife areas, complete sports activities, carry out research and investigate the 42 articles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. They completed creative projects, designed games, picked up rubbish in their home areas to name but a few of the activities.
“Since lockdown some pupils have exercised their democratic rights, holding elections and carrying out surveys to ensure our schools look after children’s rights; some have learned about persuasive writing and have written letters to their local MP and we’ve continued to fully include our pupils in as much of the decision making processes in our schools as possible. Our pupils and their parents have fundraised for charities both local and international and learnt about children in the world whose rights may not be supported.
“We are extremely proud of how the Dornoch Firth 3-18 Campus Community has supported the school to achieve this award."
