St Luke’s Primary School has been awarded UNICEF UK’s Gold Rights Respecting School accreditation.
The Gold award is the highest recognition available through UNICEF UK’s Rights Respecting Schools programme, which recognises schools that place children’s rights at the heart of their culture, policies and everyday practice.
The school will mark the achievement with a gold-themed celebration on Friday 25 September, including a whole-school assembly, classroom activities and events aimed at bringing pupils together.
Assessors praised St Luke’s for its focus on inclusion, pupil wellbeing and giving children a voice in school life.
Particular recognition was given to the school’s work around neurodiversity, adaptive teaching and wellbeing support, as well as initiatives designed to help pupils feel included, confident and supported.
The assessment also highlighted the school’s efforts to celebrate diversity and encourage children to engage with issues affecting their local community and the wider world.
Headteacher Adam Turner said the award reflected the commitment of pupils, staff and the wider school community.
He said: “We are absolutely delighted to have received our Gold Accreditation, which reflects our commitment to embedding children’s rights at the heart of everything we do at St Luke’s.
“This achievement is a testament to the dedication of our children and staff, and the continued support of our wider school community.”
Education Minister Catherine Curtis also congratulated the school. She said: “Congratulations to everyone at St Luke’s Primary School on achieving UNICEF UK Gold accreditation. It is particularly encouraging to see pupils empowered to have a voice, contribute to their community, and champion important issues both locally and globally. St Luke’s should be immensely proud of this recognition.”
The Rights Respecting Schools Award is based on the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
UNICEF UK says its programme supports nearly 5,000 schools across the UK and Channel Islands, with the initiative linked to improvements in wellbeing, relationships, behaviour and educational outcomes.
To celebrate the accreditation, St Luke’s pupils will take part in a number of activities on Friday.
The school will hold a whole-school assembly from 9am, followed by Rights Respecting activities in classrooms, including writing poems and creating a Rights Respecting School song.
Pupils will also be invited to wear yellow or gold for a dress-down day.
In the afternoon, children will be able to bring games from home and play with different classmates, with the activity intended to encourage sharing and taking turns.
