Middleton Primary and Nursery School has become one of only 250 schools in the UK and the first in Nottingham or Nottinghamshire to be recognised with the highest level UNICEF “Rights Respecting Schools Award”.
Lilian Greenwood MP will be joining children, staff, parents and governors at a special celebration event on the afternoon of Thursday 26 November. The festivities will include a special assembly, the planting of a tree in the school grounds and parties in every class. All 500 children, parents and staff will be holding hands to form a circle all the way round the school to symbolise the theme – One World:Our World with musical entertainment provided by local Steel Band – “The Steel Magnolias”.
The Wollaton school has been recognised for its work in four areas. Putting the best interests of children as the top priority; working for global justice and sustainable living; working together to make sure that everyone’s rights are respected and giving children the confidence to speak out and to be active learners.
As well as celebrating the school’s achievement, the children will be raising money for UNICEF’s Refugee Appeal by wearing blue UNICEF colours instead of school uniform. They will also be releasing their messages of hope for the children of the world on paper doves
Nine year old Mary Reader is a member of the school’s RRSA Steering group. She says – “Achieving the Level 2 RRSA award will be a memory of success and triumph for our school for years to come. I have been on this amazing journey since the very start, when I was 5 years old. I believe so strongly in equality and for every single child in the world to have their rights”.
Pete Strauss, Head Teacher, commented – “We are proud of our school and proud of our children. Children at Middleton have family connections with 45 different countries and between them speak 27 different languages. One of the special features of our school community is how we focus so much on educating these children to be self-confident global citizens and we are delighted that our work has been recognised by UNICEF”.