Rights Respecting School
What is the Rights Respecting School Award?
We are proud to announce that in February 2026, Alloa Academy achieved the Silver Award as part of our UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools Award. This is a wonderful milestone and reflects the commitment of our pupils, staff and wider school community to creating a safe, inclusive and respectful environment where children's rights are understood, valued and lived every day.
A Rights Respecting School is one that places children's rights at the heart of school life. Based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the award supports schools to build a culture of respect, kindness, dignity and equality. By becoming a Rights Respecting School, we help our pupils to develop confidence, empathy and a sense of fairness, while encouraging them to become thoughtful, active citizens who understand both their rights and their responsibilities.
Achieving Silver is an important step in our journey, and we are excited to continue building on this success. Our goal is to become a Gold Rights Respecting School by 2027, further embedding children's rights across our curriculum, values and daily practice.
Rights Ambassadors
Our Rights Respecting Schools Steering Group have been absolutely amazing throughout this journey. Their passion, commitment and hard work have played a huge part in helping us achieve the Silver Award. From leading projects and sharing children's rights with others, to making sure pupil voice is heard, they have been fantastic ambassadors for our school and we are incredibly proud of them.
Where did it all begin?
Below are some pictures from our Pupil Parliament meetings, where action planning took place, and Article 12 was promoted - Respect for the Views of the Child. Through working with pupils across every year group and house group, we were able to form an authentic platform for pupils to share their concerns, ideas, and feedback on school policies.
A number of committees were formed, chosen by the young people. The Rights Respecting School Committee is responsible for promoting rights and helping evaluate our action plan.
What are the benefits of a rights-based approach?
Becoming a RRSA school provides numerous benefits, including improved student well-being, a positive school culture, and enhanced student voice. Improved student well-being through a safe and supportive environment. A stronger sense of community and belonging for all members of the school. Increased student engagement and participation in decision-making.
What's going on around the school?
There is already lots of work taking place which includes a number of our young people. for example, the school’s pupil parliament increases participation in decision-making, assemblies, lessons and House Group ‘article of the week’ allows pupils to bring rights to life, and having fun through events like our ‘soccer aid’-style unicef fundraiser to raise awareness and support the rights of others around the world.
16 Days of Activism
Here are some examples of links being made across the curriculum to the '16 Days of Activism' theme.
16 Days of Activism
This initiative focused on raising awareness around the theme of violence against women and girls. There were lots of examples of activities and workshops taking place across the school over the 16 days.
Right to Play UNICEF Fundraiser
A number of pupils led a fundraiser for UNICEF, aiming to raise awareness of the organisation's work and the rights abuses taking place across the world.
Right to Play UNICEF Fundraiser
The young people wanted to have fun. They organised a staff vs pupil football match, in the style of 'Soccer Aid'. Everyone had lots of fun, and a good amount of money was raised for charity too!
Pupil Voice
Our Rights Respecting School Committee analysed survey data from pupils across the school based on RRSA themes such as safety, respect and voice.
Our MYSP Ben Moore hosted a Parliament-style debate and vote on pupil-led proposals designed to tackle some of the key issues identified by the group.
This was entirely pupil-led. The proposal carried forward requires leaders in Alloa Academy to consult a wide range of young people when making significant changes. This will be made transparent via a "You said, we did..." display board in the social area.
This is a perfect example of young people using their rights.
Free Period Products
S6 girls helped Miss O'Neill promote our Free Period Products Campaign. Pupil Parliament's views on how best to impement this were sought. A number of pupils expressed a desire to start this campaign, citing that having access to these products supported all girls to access their rights (e.g. Article 24: Access to Good Health).
Committee Chairs and Senior Mentors
The group of S1-4 Committee Chairs and their S5-6 Mentors, all of whom participated in the Columba 1400 programme, developing their leadership skills and qualities. Here you see them receive their certificates of attendance!
A goal of of our Silver Action plan is to achieve better relationships between pupils across different year groups. This initiative alloweed senior pupils to act as role models for their junior counterparts, whilst working to acheive a common goal.
This has created a much more inclusive, respectful environment at our Pupil Parliament meetings which we hope will translate across all areas of school life.
Article of the Week & Assemblies
Each week a new UNCRC article is shared at House Group. Article of the Week allows pupils to deepen their knowledge and understanding of different rights and issues connected to them.
In addition, House and Year Group Assemblies will often be contextualised through the lens of the UNCRC to add greater purpose.
Young people have many oppoprtunities to feel more aware of their rights, which in turn will bring many of the benefits outlined above to their Alloa Academy experience.
How can parents and carers get involved?
As the school continues to work towards achieving the award, engaging and involving parents and carers will be vital.
This is already happening through the school website and social media accounts. Information is regularly shared at Progress Information Evenings, and we intend to host UNCRC workshops for parents/carers in the near future.
Parents/carers are encouraged to discuss rights with young people.
Parents/Carers Information Handout
