At KTS, one of our central principles is ‘Always Respect Yourself and Others’.

By doing this, we are embracing the UNICEF Convention on the Rights of the Child. 

The UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) is based on principles of equality, dignity, respect, non-discrimination and participation. The RRSA seeks to put the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child at the heart of a school’s ethos and culture to improve well-being and develop every child’s talents and abilities to their full potential. A rights-respecting school is a community where children’s rights are learned, taught, practised, respected, protected and promoted. Young people and the school community learn about children’s rights by putting them into practice every day 

The award is based on principles of equality, dignity, respect, non-discrimination and participation. The initiative started in 2006 and schools involved in the Award have reported a positive impact on relationships and well-being, leading to better learning and behaviour, improved academic standards and less bullying. 

The staff at KTS Academy are committed to the principles contained in the RRSA. Students learn about children’s rights through lessons and assemblies. Assemblies and many PSHE lessons are based on a ‘Right of the Week’ which is written in child friendly language. Where appropriate, children are encouraged to use language associated with their rights. The Student Council meets regularly and acts as the RRSA Steering Group. This group identifies ways rights are upheld around the school and beyond. Students are also encouraged to think of the rights and needs of other children around the world. 

In 2019, we became a Gold Rights Respecting School, the highest stage of the Award, meaning we have fully embedded children's rights throughout our school's policy, practice and ethos. This was confirmed in a reaccreditation ‘visit’ in 2022.

Particular strengths of the school identified in the 2022 report were:

• Highly effective leadership of the rights related work at all levels, including from young people, leading to consistent messaging about rights and respect underpinning the school’s work.
• Happy, confident children who demonstrated good knowledge and understanding of rights. They knew a wide range of articles and were confident in the concept of rights.
• An ethos that places positive relationships based on mutual respect and trust at the heart of school life.
• A common language of rights which is used across the school and supports children to explore and discuss a range of issues.
• A school with inclusion at its heart, where pupils feel safe and secure and where the values of dignity and respect are lived and valued by children and staff.
• The school’s respect for and empowerment of the children is extremely clear and highly effective. Pupils are listened to and involved in decision making at all levels and are confident that their views are taken seriously. 

We are one of only two schools in Redcar and Cleveland to have achieved the Gold Award.

Chris Race (RRSA Co-ordinator)

Please click on the link below for more information or read the guide provided below.