Whitby's Airy Hill School earns Rights Respecting Gold Award
Whitby’s Airy Hill Primary school has been awarded Gold by UNICEF UK’s Rights Respecting School programme.
The school has been working with UNICEF UK since 2021 and received a silver certificate in December 2023.
More recently, the school was awarded the gold certificate.
Gold is the highest accolade given by UNICEF UK and shows a deep and thorough commitment to children’s rights at all levels of school life.
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.
Head Sam Butters said: “Becoming a Rights Respecting Gold School has been truly transformational.
“Pupil achievement and personal development have flourished because children know their voices matter.
"It has revolutionised playtimes too, with pupil‑led ideas such as a boom box, go‑karts, scooters and trained play leaders transforming the playground.
"Alongside quiet, purposeful classrooms and even our resident chickens, these changes were all championed by pupils and brought to life through our Rights Respecting Steering Group.”
The UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools initiative is aimed at schools across the UK, including those in an early years setting.