Rights Respecting Schools Award

Dungannon Primary School is proud to be recognised as a Gold Rights Respecting School by UNICEF, a global leader in advocating for children’s rights. This prestigious award reflects our deep commitment to placing children's rights at the heart of everything we do.

At Dungannon Primary School, we believe that every child deserves to feel safe, valued, and empowered. Through our partnership with UNICEF, we’ve created a learning environment where respect, dignity, and opportunity are central to school life. Our pupils are encouraged to express themselves, develop their talents, and grow into confident, responsible citizens.

The Rights Respecting School Award helps us embed these principles into our daily routines, relationships, and curriculum. It supports our mission to nurture happy, healthy learners who understand their rights and respect the rights of others.

What is the Rights Respecting Schools Award?

The Unicef UK Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) supports schools across the UK to embed children's human rights in their ethos and culture.

UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation working for children and their rights. Every child, no matter who they are or where they live, has the right to grow up safe, happy and healthy. 

The award recognises achievement in putting the UN Convention on the Right of the Child (UNCRC) at the heart of a school’s practice to improve well-being and help all children realise their potential.

Steering Group

The Rights Respecting Steering Group are 14 children from P3-P7 who are passionate about children's rights. They work with Miss Leitch to ensure that the whole school community knows about the rights that every child is born with and to ensure that these rights are being respected. Our Steering Group is elected annually. Pupils write a manifesto as to why they believe they should be part of the Steering group and put forward ideas and new initiatives they would like to implement. The pupil voice is paramount at Dungannon Primary School reflecting every child's right to have their voice heard. 

Class Charters

At the start of each new school year, each class works with their teacher to create a class charter.  They choose focused Articles from the UNCRC to explore and include in their charter, however they do investigate all rights through various lessons throughout the year. The class charter is a way of ensuring that we work together to ensure everyone is able to enjoy their rights.

How can parents/carers support what children are learning about rights at school?

• Take the time to ask your child what he/she has learned recently about children’s rights. 
• Chat about the ideas learned in class, and try to think of examples from your own experiences, or from the media, of rights being respected or denied. 
• Discuss how your child or your family can promote respect for rights, or help those whose rights have been violated. 
• Ask your child’s opinion on children’s rights.