School wins UNICEF silver award for promoting rights

A SCHOOL in Caversham has won an award for putting children’s rights at the heart of what it does.

The Heights Primary School in Upper Woodcote Road received the silver UNICEF accreditation for for being a rights respecting school after being assessed by a professional adviser.

Teacher Elena Cook said: “We have focused on teaching human rights within the curriculum and on topics such as global justice.

“The pupils have been putting this into practice by learning about the school’s ethos and the importance of morals, such as anti-discrimination.

“They have also been campaigning on behalf of various charities, fundraising for Jeans for Genes Week, local food banks and the people of Ukraine.

“The pupils also lobbied teachers for improvements within the school grounds, getting approval and funding for a permanent canopy and benches.”

Pupil Lara Fox, 10, said: “We have put so much effort into working towards the silver award so now we have it, it is very exciting.” Brodie Gilkerson, seven, said: “We have done a lot for charity this year. We raised money and we made a charity box for things that would help people in Ukraine.”

Rowan McLaren, 10, said: “I like how we have added small stuff to our school. In the playground, we now have more space to play as all our belongings are put away.

“We also have people who are selected monitors for lost property.”

In recognition of the award, the children were visited by Councillor Isobel Ballsdon, who represents Caversham Heights on Reading Borough Council, the education authority.

She spoke to the school council about the importance of rights.

Cllr Ballsdon said: “The council helps protect children and ensures they get a school place, which every child should have the right to, and as a good as an education as possible.”

The school will now begin working towards the gold award, which is the third and final stage of the schools respecting rights award scheme.