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Rights Respecting

Allens Croft Primary School is committed to The United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and are pursuing this award with a recognition of commitment. We uphold all of its principles and seek to educate our children about such.  This is an international statement of the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of children. This promotes every child’s right to be healthy, to be educated, to be treated fairly, to be listened to and to have a childhood protected from harm.

UNICEF works with schools in the UK to create safe and inspiring places to learn, where children are respected, their talents are nurtured and they are able to thrive. The Rights Respecting Schools Award embeds these values in daily school life and gives children the best chance to lead happy, healthy lives and to be responsible, active citizens. The Award recognises a school’s achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into practice within the school and beyond.

There are four key areas of impact for children at a Rights Respecting school; wellbeing, participation, relationships and self-esteem.

The difference that a Rights Respecting School makes goes beyond the school gates, making a positive impact on the whole community.

There are three levels to the Award:

Bronze: Rights Committed - Achieved 

Silver: Rights Aware - June 2024 

Gold: Rights Respecting

Our Rights Respecting Bee that you’ll find around the school. 

If you would like more information on the award, click here to visit the UNICEF website.

School of Sanctuary

What is a School of Sanctuary?

A School of Sanctuary is a school which is committed to being a safe and welcoming place for those seeking sanctuary.

It is a place for those whose lives were in danger in their own country, who have troubles at home or are just looking for a place where they feel safe.

It is a school which helps its pupils, staff and wider community understand what it is like to seek sanctuary.

It is a place which extends a warm welcome to all and values everyone as being equal, valued members of the school community.

It is a school which is proud to be a place of safety and inclusion for all.

A School of Sanctuary is a school that helps its pupils, staff and wider community understand what it means to be seeking sanctuary and to extend a welcome to everyone as equal, valued members of the school community. It is a school that is proud to be a place of safety and inclusion for all.

Schools of Sanctuary is a growing network with more than 350 primary and secondary schools all committed to supporting the thousands of young people seeking sanctuary in the UK, creating a culture of welcome, and raising awareness of the issues faced by refugees and asylum seekers.

The City of Sanctuary's organisational pledge is:

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“We support the ‘City of Sanctuary’ vision that the UK will be a welcoming place of safety for all and proud to offer sanctuary to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We endorse the City of Sanctuary Charter, and agree to act in accordance with City of Sanctuary values and apply the network principles within our work (as far as our specific context enables us to).

We recognise the contribution of people seeking sanctuary. Sanctuary seekers are welcomed, included and supported within our context. We expect our branches or local groups (if any) to support their local City of Sanctuary group if one exists, and will facilitate contact between them and their local City of Sanctuary group.”

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At Allens Croft we have a vast range of language spoken and we have children and families from many different countries. We hope that everyone feels welcome, safe and a valued member of our school community. Our curriculum provides opportunities for children to learn about a wide range of cultures through stories, RE, history topics, assemblies and in PSHE.

October 

Little Amal, a young refugee, has embarked on a remarkable journey – an epic voyage that is taking her across Turkey, across Europe. To find her mother. To get back to school. To start a new life. Will the world let her? Can she achieve what now seems more impossible than ever? 

At the heart of The Walk is ‘Little Amal’, a 3.5 metre-tall puppet of a young refugee girl, created by the acclaimed Handspring Puppet Company. Representing all displaced children, many separated from their families, Little Amal is travelling over 8,000km embodying the urgent message “Don’t forget about us”. 

The team behind the project encouraged school children to write letters which will be passed onto the European Parliament in October.  

Refugee Week 

As part of Refugee Week, the children in the School Council organised a Blue and Yellow event to raise awareness for Ukrainian Refugees.

Children across the school have also been learning about refugees this week in lessons.

Children in Turtles class took part in an art project called “The Sea is Big” run by Location 29 Art Gallery in the Jewellery Quarter.

“We and all the people who saw the exhibition, were amazed at the creativity and very moved by some of the messages and the images they portrayed.

The launch day saw over 70 guests, from a wide spectrum, visit the exhibition – local businesses, councillors, magistrates, voluntary organisations etc. The children’s work gave a powerful message. During the following two weeks we hosted upwards of 200 people.”

Refugee Week 2024 will be held the week beginning the 16^th June. Keep your eye out for what the children get up to.