School Awards

Rights Respecting School Award - UNICEF​

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St. John’s Primary and Nursery School Achieves the Silver Rights Respecting School Award - March 2025

We are delighted to announce that St. John’s Primary and Nursery School has been awarded the Silver: Rights Aware Rights Respecting School Award by UNICEF UK. This achievement recognises the strong and embedded commitment across our school community to placing children’s rights at the heart of our ethos, curriculum, and relationships.

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The Silver Award reflects how confidently our children and staff speak about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), and how rights-based language and values are becoming a natural and visible part of daily school life. Assessors highlighted how children understand that rights are universal and unconditional, with one pupil expressing, “Rights are in you and make you who you are.” Assemblies, classroom learning, literature, and our restorative approaches all contribute to a culture where respect, dignity, and fairness are actively promoted.

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We are especially proud of the way our pupils use their voices to shape our school. From Learning Ambassadors sharing ideas to whole-school campaigns and charity work, children at St. John’s play an active role in making positive changes for both their school and the wider community.

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Achieving the Silver Award is an important milestone in our Rights Respecting journey. It demonstrates our dedication to fostering an environment where every child feels safe, valued, and empowered. As we look ahead to the Gold Award, we will continue to deepen our work on inclusion, dignity, equity, and global citizenship - ensuring that the principles of the UNCRC are truly lived and experienced by every member of our school community.

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We invite families, partners, and the wider community to continue supporting us on this inspiring journey. Together, we are building a school where children’s rights are understood, respected, and championed every day.

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December 2023 - Bronze Award

We are thrilled to announce that St. John's Primary and Nursery School has been awarded the Bronze Rights Respecting School Award, a testament to our commitment to fostering a culture of respect and understanding among our whole school community. This achievement reflects our dedication to incorporating the principles outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into our school community. 

 

The Bronze Rights Respecting School Award recognises our efforts in teaching children about their rights and responsibilities, as outlined by UNICEF. Through engaging and age-appropriate activities, we empower our students with the knowledge and understanding of the UNCRC, promoting a sense of social responsibility and global citizenship. 

 

Our journey towards the Silver Award is a demonstration of our ongoing commitment to embedding the principles of the UNCRC further into our curriculum and school ethos. We aim to create an environment where every child's voice is heard, respected, and valued, fostering a sense of inclusivity and equality. 

 

At St. John's Primary and Nursery School, we believe in nurturing compassionate and informed young minds who recognise the significance of human rights. Our dedication to the Rights Respecting School initiative aligns with our mission to provide a holistic education that not only focuses on academic achievement but also emphasises the importance of empathy, respect, and understanding. 

 

We invite our school community, parents, and stakeholders to join us on this empowering journey as we work towards the Silver Rights Respecting School Award. Together, we can create an environment where the rights of every child are championed, and the principles of the UNCRC become an integral part of our school's identity. 

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School of Sanctuary

​​What is a School of Sanctuary?

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• A school, nursery or sixth-form that fosters a culture of welcome and safety for people seeking sanctuary, including asylum seeking and refugee families.

• A school that educates the whole school community about the experiences and realities of people who have been forced to flee to foster empathy and understanding.

• A school that plays an active role in building a culture of welcome by connecting with and supporting local refugee organisations, collaborating with other institutions to raise awareness and advocate for a kinder approach towards those seeking safety.

 

In June 2023, St John's Primary & Nursery School were very proud to be re-accredited as a School of Sanctuary, after submitting evidence of the work we do in school and our ethos of inclusion, tolerance and acceptance of all. A School of Sanctuary is a school that is committed to being a welcoming and safe place for all, especially those seeking sanctuary. This could be people who have troubles at home, whose lives were in danger in their own country or who are just looking for a place of safety.

 

Here is the feedback received from our appraisal:

 

“Congratulations on an impressive submission. Thank you for facilitating such a helpful and interesting visit to your school. It was wonderful to meet with staff and pupils. The tour of the school provided a wealth of evidence that you are truly a School of Sanctuary.

 

You shared a very detailed overview of your curriculum and how the children across the age range learn about what it means to be seeking sanctuary. You also ensure that children learn about individuals who are role models that have been refugees and asylum seekers.

 

It is clear to see that the school values the wealth of languages spoken in the settings. There are examples of a range of languages on display throughout the school and the displays reflect a wide range of diverse communities. You have clearly engaged with a wide range of materials to support your curriculum (including Refugee Week resources). 

 

It was an absolute pleasure to meet with your Learning Ambassadors as well as an individual pupil with lived experience of moving to Southampton and learning English as an additional language. You facilitated this interview well and the use of Google translate was very helpful.

 

Thank you so much for agreeing to support other settings with your excellent practice. It was an absolute pleasure to spend the morning with you. This is a very well-deserved re-accreditation.”

 

-Julie Wharton, June 2023