Tough School awarded Gold for work around children’s rights

Tough School near Alford has been awarded gold by UNICEF UK’s Rights Respecting School programme for its work promoting and realising children’s rights.

Teachers and pupils have been working with UNICEF UK for the past five years and received a silver award in December 2022. 

Following a successful visit in June, the school was awarded gold - currently one of only 11 schools in Aberdeenshire to hold the status.

The Rights Respecting Schools Award is granted to schools that show commitment to promoting and realising children’s rights and encouraging adults, children and young people to respect the rights of others in school.

The Healthy Respect Task Group, a pupil-led group, actively promotes rights across the school and even planned and taught lessons to younger pupils about their rights. 

Pupils held their own assemblies to teach about the global impact of the Rights of the Child, sharing lessons on discrimination and the challenges children face worldwide.

Gold is the highest accolade given by UNICEF UK and recognises achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) at the heart of a school’s planning, policies and practice.

The achievement reflects the commitment of the whole school community and links in with school vision that says by the time pupils leave school, they will be passionate learners, proud and confident, and include everyone.

Headteacher Kerry Porter said: “This award recognises the incredible hard work everyone here at Tough School has put in to ensure every child understands their rights under the UNCRC, and why these rights matter. 

“Our school emphasises the importance of positive relationships and finding solutions and problem solving together. Our pupils have led campaigns, taught lessons, run initiatives and shaped the culture of our school and are actively involved in running school life. That includes operating the Fruity Friday tuck shop, various lunch-time groups, and redesigning the school badge and bike shed.”

Joint headteacher Laura McAllister added: “We are so proud of our whole school community, including our very supportive parents and our hard-working staff, but most of all, we are so proud of our children for continuously flying the flag for how great small schools like Tough School are, and just what we can achieve when we all work together.”