By Aileen Maclennan
Kilcreggan Primary School has become the fifth school in Argyll and Bute to receive gold accreditation in UNICEF UK’s Rights Respecting School programme.
The Rights Respecting Schools Award is presented 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.
Pupils and staff at Kilcreggan have been working hard to gain the prestigious title, and accreditors highlighted the following strengths at the school:
- Children understand how their rights are connected to their lives within school as well as their local and global community;
- Consistent messaging about rights and respect and this underpins every dimension of the school’s work;
- A strong ethos of staff valuing and respecting children’s views and contributions towards positive change within school, with a range of pupil-led groups, linked to rights, for all children to participate.
- Children have a good understanding of global issues that affect their rights, and are empowered to campaign for the rights of others.
Argyll and Bute Council’s Policy Lead for Education, Councillor Yvonne McNeilly, pictured left, said: “Kilcreggan Primary School truly deserves this award.
“The whole school community has been working tirelessly to promote children’s rights, and ensure pupils feel equal and able to express themselves freely.
“Children and young people need to know they have a voice; they need to know they have equal status in society; and they need to be aware of their rights. This is something we are focussed on embedding across all our schools and I would like to congratulate Kilcreggan on their fantastic efforts.”
Top picture: Rosneath and Kilcreggan peninsula from Helensburgh. Picture by Bill Heaney