Author Archives: Amy

Pupil Voice: Respecting Rights at our School⤴

from @ Reach

At most schools, there’s lots of talk about children’s rights. Rights are like promises to make sure that you are treated fairly, kept safe, and have what you need to live a good life. Learning about your rights at school can help you feel more cared for and in control of your future.

You might have questions about what rights are and why they’re such a big deal. Questions like… What rights do I have? What does it mean to respect everyone’s rights at school? Are my wants and my needs always the same as my rights? What happens when children’s rights are denied?

These are all good questions.

UNICEF rights respecting school logoThe charity UNICEF helps school to explore more about what rights are with their ‘Rights Respecting School’ award. 

Here’s what a few pupils at Ross High have to say about their school being a rights respecting school:

‘It has had a huge positive impact on my learning and I have a greater awareness of my rights and how that impacts my education.’ Hannah, S4

‘Moving from primary, to a rights respecting school, I have made really good relationships with my friends and teachers. I have learnt more about my rights and how it affects me and my family.’ Euan, S1

‘People are more aware of their rights and are putting them to practise.’ Leiha, S2

Ross High rights respecting schoolHere’s what Ailiya and Emma in S4 at Ross High shared with Reach:

“Our school is very proud that we successfully achieved our Level Two Rights Respecting Schools award, the first Secondary School to do so in East Lothian.

Being in a Rights Respecting School gives all the pupils a voice and a platform where pupils can express their opinion. For example we have our Pupil Council, Junior Leadership Team and Senior Leadership teams.

Being in a Rights Respecting School means everyone is aware of their rights as it is taught and applied in class but also shown with class displays and posters throughout the school.

We also have the privilege of having a mural outside our school, that was created by the Children’s Parliament . A group of our pupils went to a primary school to see how the mural was being made but also meeting the children behind it. This was a great opportunity to interact with younger years and find out their view on rights.

Ross High School is a place where pupils, teachers and the community have great respect for each other and their surroundings.”

Rights respecting school journey

Find out more about the bronze, silver and gold rights respecting schools awards, and how children’s rights can be a lived reality in your school. 

 

The post Pupil Voice: Respecting Rights at our School appeared first on Reach.

If you get support at school, you should be involved in planning the help you need⤴

from @ Reach

Planning questions like where, when, who...

If you get support, the school should have a learning support plan for you. You have the right to be involved in deciding what goes in this plan.

Find out more about learning support plans and your rights to have a say. 

The post If you get support at school, you should be involved in planning the help you need appeared first on Reach.

Making sure the right people know what support you need after you leave school⤴

from @ Reach

Parachutists passing on rolled up paper

 

 

 

 

 

 

6 months before you leave school, info about you and your needs should be passed to people who could support you after you leave. This is to try to make sure the support you need will be in place. Find out more about what info should and shouldn’t be passed on. 

The post Making sure the right people know what support you need after you leave school appeared first on Reach.

LGBT+ pupil: “I am recovering from depression and anxiety… mainly because of bullying at school.” ⤴

from @ Reach

Getting bullied at school because of your sexual orientation is just SO wrong. It is your right to be educated without fear and your school has a duty to look after you. But the sad truth is that prejudice against being lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans still goes on, and it takes its toll on young people’s mental health.

LGBT rainbow flag The good news is that a group of young people at LGBT Youth have been campaigning for change, as Zee – one of the young campaigners – explained to Reach. Zee has even had the chance to speak about the ‘Mind our Health!’ Campaign on STV. Zee is passionate about making sure more LGBT+ pupils don’t go through the same thing as this young person, who shared with the campaigners that “I am recovering from depression and anxiety… mainly because of bullying at school.” Here’s what Zee told us about the campaign:

“Mental health issues affect young people more than adults, and even more so for those with an LGBT+ identity. LGBT+ young people often find it very difficult to access mental health services because of the stigma they face both for being LGBT+ and having mental health problems. Our research shows that doctors often mistakenly believe that it is young people’s LGBT+ identities that cause mental health issues, when really the root of the problem is the discrimination that they face. LGBT+ young people aren’t always unaware of their rights when accessing support services, and are unsure as to whether the service that they are accessing is treating them fairly.

With our campaign work we want to educate teachers, doctors and politicians on how to make sure mental health support services are LGBT+ inclusive. We also want to make sure that LGBT+ young people feel safe and confident accessing help.”

LGBT Youth banner 'Sometimes need a chat?'

If you’ve got questions about your sexual identity and coming out, or need to talk to someone about relationship issues, bullying or sexual health, you can have a 1-t0-1 online chat in private with a youth worker at LGBT Youth.

There is also lots of good advice on the LGBT Youth website, and there’s a ‘HIDE ME’ button in case you want to quickly move away from the site in case you don’t want other people to know.

 

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“We are the young people, we are the experts, and we really want to be heard”: Inclusion Ambassadors⤴

from @ Reach

“It feels very low to be left out”. “We need to be treated equally”. “I’d need to trust the people I’m asking for help”. Words of wisdom from a group of young people with diverse support needs campaigning for everyone to be included, no one left out.

The post “We are the young people, we are the experts, and we really want to be heard”: Inclusion Ambassadors appeared first on Reach.