St John’s Catholic Primary is the first in Kent to receive Unicef award

18 January 2012

International recognition has come to a Kent school – through to a Unicef award.

St John’s Catholic Primary School in Gravesend is the first school in Kent to receive the prestigious Unicef Rights Respecting Schools Award.

The award recognises the way the school has put the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child at the heart of school life.

A school that has these priorities not only teaches about children’s rights but also models rights and respect in all its relationships: between all adults and all pupils.

Will Jackson, assessor for the award, said it was clear during the visit that everyone places a real importance on developing an ethos, throughout the school, based on a firm understanding of justice, equality and respect for others. He said: “Congratulations to all involved. St John’s becomes the first school in Kent to be accredited as a rights respecting school.”

Headteacher Ann Marie Ratcliffe said: “This is a tremendous accolade for the school and I would like to congratulate and thank the children and staff who were involved with the assessment. Everyone at St John’s is particularly proud to be the first school in Kent to become a Unicef Rights Respecting School and I would recommend the programme to other schools in the county.”

Patrick, a Year Six pupil at the school, said: "This award is important because we can get involved in helping children who have been denied their rights."

Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Education, Learning and Skills, Mike Whiting, said: “I am really pleased for everyone at St John’s and warmly congratulate Ann Marie and everyone at the school. This is a much-deserved award and one which underpins the values we want our young people to grow up with.”