What is the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child?
The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) consists of 54 articles. A ‘child’ is defined as every human being below the age of 18. The key provisions are:
- The right to a childhood (including protection from harm)
- The right to be educated (including all girls and boys completing primary school)
- The right to be healthy (including having clean water, nutritious food and medical care)
- The right to be treated fairly (which includes changing laws and practices that discriminate against children)
- The right to be heard (which includes considering children's views)
Who is UNICEF?
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. UNICEF UK raises funds for UNICEF’s emergency and development work around the world and advocates for lasting change for children worldwide. This includes working to change government policies and practices that restrict child rights in the UK and internationally. They are a UK registered charity, supported entirely by voluntary donations.
Rights Respecting School
In April 2015 we were awarded UNICEF’s Level 1 Rights Respecting Schools Award. The inspectors commented that "it was particularly notable that the college has established an ethos of mutual respect with a strong sense of community and care in which everybody is valued equally".
When interviewing students, they found that several students described how the charters helped create a positive learning environment: "they make everyone aware of children’s rights", and "teachers support us to respect rights by pointing to the charter for guidance." Other students commented that knowing about the Convention "has made us stronger… more of a community because it makes us think and encourages us to help each other out" and "it make us less insular … more aware of others and not just our own needs."
We had been working towards the award because it is all about ensuring that each student is working in an environment where they can reach their full potential and thrive, not just within the college but in the wider community. For this to be sustained and for us to move towards level 2, we are continuing to build a positive ethos in our school environment. From the language we use towards one another to the spaces in which we work, we are fostering a culture of respect where individuals feel safe and valued.
A rights-respecting school not only teaches us about children’s rights but also models rights and respect within all its relationships: between parents, students and staff. Your understanding and support in this initiative can help make the drive towards level 2 a success.
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Level 1 Awarded
RESPECTING rights is at the heart of a Felpham school. Michelle Kelly, assistant headteacher, said: “The rights of the child lie at the heart of all we do in education and this award not only raises awareness of those rights but looks at developing an ethos of respect throughout the college where all feel valued and make a genuine contribution to our community.”
The school is making strong headway towards achieving the RRSA level 2, with the final assessment booked for summer this year. The school community - which includes staff, parents and governors - are all committed to embedding the ethos of the award. Work is also being co-ordinated by the school’s student Councillors who have put in huge amounts of time and effort to ensure that the UNCRC is embedded within our college ethos.
An act of Craftivism
All students and staff have taken part in acts of craftism to highlight the importance of the UNCRC and to gain an understanding of rights (preparing for the Outright 2016 work enabled students to be proactive in promoting the rights of migrant children and to lobby MP Amber Rudd with letters outlining the need for her to act to support migrant children)
Fortnightly Articles keep us informed
Rights Respecting Schools information evening
As a level 1 Rights Respecting school, we have been working towards a sustainable environment in which the rights of children drive and underpin the behaviour of each and every one of us; students, staff and parents alike.
Different Languages, Same Rights
As part of a wider global community, our students embrace the diversity and richness that our multi cultural world holds. our international schools award having been renewed in July 2017 recognises our commitment to celebrating the rights of every child in every country throughout the world.
Learning about the UN Global Goals
In learning about the rights of the child our school community has come to embrace its role as a global citizen. As individuals, small changes can contribute towards a positive impact on global issues.
Global Goals Craftivism
Students were encouraged to explore the small differences they could make to facilitate big change. Reminders of these have been displayed as an active prompt to remind us what we have signed up to do.
Campaigning for Change
Learning about our rights empowers us to become active citizens, standing up to injustice, inequality, indifference. At FCC we pride ourselves on being outward looking and on using our voice to campaign for those unable to:
Fair Funding
Students have been actively involved with the WorthLess campaign to secure fairer funding for schools. Alongside letters to MPs and visits to Downing street, they have organised and publicised a youth action group, culminating in securing a question time style debate with conservative MP, Nick Gibb.
Make your Mark press release / email ???
Supporting PURPLE for POLIO
PURPLE4POLIO Community Event at FCC - a big success!
Felpham Community College has joined forces with the Rotary Club of Bognor Regis in their campaign to eradicate Polio (a crippling and potentially fatal disease), by making sure the vaccination can be made available to people all over the world.
On the 29th March, FCC hosted a community tea party to celebrate the campaign and the flowers coming into bloom. Guests included representatives from local schools, the Parish Council, Arun District Council and the school nurse service, as well as students, parents, staff and Governors from FCC.
Students from Felpham worked with the Rotary Club to campaign for change and planted a crocus bulb for every student across the school campus, with 1400 bulbs planted in total at the beginning of November. Mr and Mrs Pavard from the Rotary Club Bognor Regis attended the event and supported the planting.
Michelle Kelly, Assistant Headteacher : “Felpham students feel strongly about campaigning for change and this was an ideal opportunity to get involved and to raise awareness of an awful disease that needlessly still affects so many people. Bob and Mary Pavard joined us to help with the planting around the school site; when spring arrives we will have a sea of purple!”
Make your Mark
Each student in the school had their chance to vote for the issue they felt should be debated by the Youth Parliament at the Houses of Commons this year. Issues included votes at 16; a curriculum to prepare us for life; First Aid Education for all; mental health; transport; stopping cuts that affect the NHS; body image; funding for our youth services; raising awareness of sexual harassment in schools and tackling racism and religious discrimination.
ARUN YOUTH COUNCIL DEBATES EVENT
The students, joined by Dan O’Kane, History teacher at FCC, took part in a number of debates focusing around current news. These included relaxing American gun laws, should parks be statutory? and a heated debate about whether the UK should reintroduce grammar schools. Four local schools from the Felpham and Bognor area attended the event and students enjoyed having the chance to use their voice and get their opinions heard.
Mark Anstiss Headteacher commented: “Student voice at FCC is very important. We have a Student Leadership team, Student Council and a Rights Respecting Schools steering group. We take student opinion seriously and students are influential in making decisions. Our student representatives who attended this event were a credit to FCC with the enthusiasm and input they provided on the day and the mature and responsible way they projected their views”.
Isabelle Saunders and Alyx Keen, commented: “We are both on the Rights Respecting Schools Steering Group. We appreciate and enjoy the fact that our views matter at FCC and we can help make things change. The debate event was really good and we were impressed with how much we were allowed to voice our opinions. The Arun Youth Cabinet ran the event and they gave valuable input as well as chairing us all. We particularly enjoyed the gun law and grammar schools debates and that’s where we voiced our strongest opinions. We don’t want grammar schools!”
Inspirational day for Felpham Community College Students
Year 10 and 12 students from Felpham Community College experienced an inspirational day in London yesterday. They attended the national WE event, held in Wembley Arena. WE is an organisation and charity aimed at inspiring people to work together to make change. Their mission is to work with developing communities to free children and their families from poverty and exploitation, with the vision expanded to include empowering young people at home, connecting them with global issues and social causes, and partnering with schools to inspire young change-makers from within the classroom. WE day is an international event held in London and across venues in America, bringing together world-renowned speakers and performers with millions of young people and families to celebrate and inspire.
Speakers included Kate Winslet and Bruce Dickinson (from rock band Iron Maiden) with performances from Jessie J and Conor Maynard. Shannon Noble, a Year 12 student, said: “The day was excellent. All the speakers were brilliant, I especially liked Kate Winslet as she spoke about her acting career and how she has used this to make a difference. I am in the FCC charity committee and this has definitely inspired me to do more and to think outside the box on what I can achieve!” Nicole Matthews, year leader for year 7, said: “It was an amazing day, really inspiring. The main message was that everyone can make a difference to our community, whether on a local or global scale. All the speakers gave really motivational speeches and the students could relate to both the speakers and the performers. It was great to be invited to attend.”
Article 19 (Protection from all forms of violence):
Anti-bullying workshop held at Felpham Community College
Year Eight students at Felpham Community College enjoyed a workshop with an important message, looking at the world of bullying learning how to stay safe but most importantly that it is a right they poses.
Sustainable Garden Project
Students are working on a sustainable garden project, constructing a quiet space from pallets for vulnerable students to encourage mindfulness and to grow crops for the food technology lessons.
Where do the child's rights fit in with Science...
MFL Respecting the Rights of all
There were several expected aims for this International week of languages. Firstly, the main aim was to give our students the opportunity to do something they would not have the chance to otherwise. The range of languages offered for this activity was different from what the students would normally have. The salsa and karate taster sessions were also something to widen their horizons and opportunities. The films chosen for the movie night were also films that our students would probably not choose independently. We wanted them to realise that there is a wide range of films and activities that they can take part in. We also wanted to create a 'buzz' around the Modern Languages department. We wanted students to realise about the importance of language learning.
Credits:
Created with images by edgarwinkler - "un flag internationality foreign trade summit global"