Highland Schools Celebrate Rights Respecting Schools Award Gold Success

Several Highland schools have been recognised at the meeting of The Highland Council’s Education Committee last week (Thursday 12 September) for their commitment to children’s rights with the prestigious Rights Respecting Schools Award. The award, issued by the UK Committee for UNICEF, celebrates schools that have successfully embedded children’s rights into their daily practice.

The Rights Respecting Schools Award encourages schools to create safe and inspiring learning environments where children are respected, their talents are nurtured, and they can thrive. By using the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) as a guiding framework, schools in Highland have demonstrated a deep commitment to promoting and realising children’s rights.

Education Committee Chair, Cllr John Finlayson said: “Receiving this award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire school community.

“By putting children’s rights at the heart of everything we do, we can create a positive and inclusive learning environment where every child feels valued and respected.”

The award recognises schools that have made significant progress in implementing the UNCRC principles within their school and beyond. Schools must demonstrate a strong commitment to children’s rights in areas such as wellbeing, participation, relationships, and self-esteem.

The following Highland schools have recently achieved the highest level of the Rights Respecting Schools Award, the Gold Award:

• Balnain Primary
• Cannich Bridge Primary
• Drakies Primary, Inverness
• Inverness Royal Academy

You can find out more about their success in this short video on our YouTube channel.