Oldham school receives prestigious UNICEF UK Gold Award

Woodlands Primary Academy in Oldham has been awarded Gold by UNICEF UK’s Rights Respecting School programme.

UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation working for children and their rights.

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.

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.

There are over 500 schools across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales that have received Gold, and Woodlands are the first in Oldham to receive this level of accreditation.

The school, part of South Pennine Academies, has been working with UNICEF UK since September, 2020, receiving their Silver certificate in November, 2021.

The school works with children from 2-11 and their families to ensure that they have access to the best possible start in life.

Serving a community with high levels of deprivation adds to the drive staff have to ensure their children know their voices carry power and should be heard.

Coming just a few months after being recognised by Leeds Carnegie’s School Mental Health Award, as a leading school nationally for its work around mental health and wellbeing, Woodlands are continuing to make a positive contribution to the lives of local children and their families.

Principal of Woodlands, Mrs Catherine Sharpe, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have been recognised by UNICEF in response to work that has taken place over the past two years to fully embed children’s rights into our ethos, curriculum and strategic planning.

"Being a Rights Respecting School has had a significant impact on our whole school community, putting children’s rights at the heart of everything we do and adding power and meaning to the voices of our children.

"The has truly been a community wide process and we will continue to work with colleagues, parents, carers and the wider community to advocate for the rights of children, not only at Woodands, but across Oldham, the UK and globally.”

Vice Principal and Rights Respecting Lead, Laura Humble, added: “The Rights Respecting Steering Group, made up of staff, children and parents, have driven this agenda from day one.

"They have enabled a culture where children experience the realisation of their rights every day.

"There is fairness and equity in interactions between children and staff and the curriculum offer from pre-school to Y6 is underpinned by the continued commitment to ensure respect and dignity are afforded to our children.

"We couldn’t be prouder to be a Rights Respecting School.”

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