What Are Rights Respecting Schools?
Rights Respecting Schools is a programme run by UNICEF that aims to place the rights of children at the heart of school culture. By teaching pupils about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and how these rights apply both locally and globally, the programme empowers young people to become confident, active learners who respect and uphold the rights of others. Through this approach, schools are encouraged to integrate children’s rights into their policies, practices, and everyday life, promoting a more inclusive and respectful environment for everyone.

How William Ford is involved
At William Ford, we are committed to nurturing a community that values respect, empathy, and responsible citizenship. In line with this commitment, we have embraced the Rights Respecting Schools framework and integrated it into our curriculum and wider school activities. Pupils learn about their rights and responsibilities through lessons, assemblies, and various projects, strengthening their understanding of the world around them and their role in it. The programme helps deepen our school’s ethos of caring for one another and promotes respect for every individual in our community.

Celebrating our bronze accreditation
We are thrilled to announce that, within the first three months of running this scheme, William Ford has been awarded the Bronze Accreditation for our Rights Respecting Schools work. This fantastic achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire school community—especially our lead coordinators, Mrs. Buckingham and Mr. Lazarus. They have been instrumental in guiding our pupils and staff in recognising and championing children’s rights in school. We look forward to continuing this journey toward Silver and beyond, ensuring that rights awareness remains a core part of our school’s culture.