THE world’s leading children’s charity has granted one Warrington school a prestigious award.

UNICEF UK, an agency responsible for providing humanitarian aid to children in the most deprived areas of the world, has handed Latchford St James Primary a Rights Respecting Schools Award.

The silver award has been given to the school to recognise its commitment to promoting and realising children’s rights and encouraging adults, children, and young people to respect the rights of others in school.

Silver is given to schools that make excellent progress towards embedding the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into its ethos and curriculum.

There are more than 1,300 schools across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales that have achieved Silver and over 600 schools that have been awarded Gold, the next step up and highest accolade granted by UNICEF UK.

Speaking of the honour, head teacher of Latchford St James, Andy Hayes said: “We are thrilled to be the first school, primary or secondary, in Warrington to achieve this accolade. 

“We think it’s important for children to know their rights because it empowers them to know what they are entitled in this world and how they can contribute in a positive way to those less fortunate than themselves. 

“Rights Respecting is woven through all areas of school life; through lessons, assemblies and special days such as the European Day of Languages where we celebrated the wide range of languages and cultures represented within the school.

“We achieved the Bronze award less than a year ago and have been working extremely hard ever since to achieve this Silver award. 

“Thanks must go to all the staff and children, and especially Miss Hannah Lea who has worked so tirelessly to embed the rights of children into the very heart of all we do.”

The Award recognises achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child at the heart of a school’s planning, policies and practice.

A Rights Respecting School is a community where children’s rights are learned, taught, practised, respected, protected and promoted.

UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools programme director, Martin Russell, added: “We are delighted to award Latchford St James as a Silver: Rights Aware School.

“The Award recognises the school’s achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into practice within the school and beyond.

“Nearly 5000 schools up and down the country are working towards the Rights Respecting Schools Award and we hope that the work of Latchford St James will inspire other Warrington schools to follow their lead.”