UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools Silver Award

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Budehaven Community School has officially been awarded the UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools Silver: Rights Aware accreditation.

This achievement recognises our commitment to putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) at the very heart of our school’s culture, policies, and daily life.

What is a Rights Respecting School?

The Rights Respecting Schools Award is a national framework that helps schools embed a community based on equality, dignity, respect, non-discrimination, and participation. Achieving Silver means that our students and staff are actively learning about rights and using this shared understanding to improve student well-being, relationships, and whole-school inclusivity.

Highlights from our Report

The official UNICEF assessment report praised the fantastic progress made across our whole community. Here are a few standout excerpts from the assessor's reflections:

"Budehaven Community School has made strong progress on its journey towards becoming a Rights Respecting School. It is clear that children's rights are increasingly shaping the life of the school..."

"The school has worked hard to make rights visible and meaningful, and this is reflected in the consistent evidence of rights-based learning across year groups and subject areas..."

"All at Budehaven Community School should feel proud of the positive steps it has taken to place children's rights at the heart of its ethos and practice, creating a community where young people are increasingly empowered, respected and heard."

Our Headteacher, Mr. Wilkes, noted in the report how the school has "threaded rights through the curriculum, enabling us to explore rights through real life experiences, it underpins our ethos and values as a school."

What’s Next?

Morale across the school is incredibly high, and this award belongs to every single pupil, staff member, and family who makes Budehaven such a collaborative team. We aren't stopping here - with Silver officially secured, we are already launching our staff and student working groups to hit the ground running as we begin our 12-month journey toward the Gold Award!

Thank you all for your continued support in making Budehaven a community where everyone is respected and heard.