Trinity Fields School in Ystrad Mynach has become the first school in Caerphilly County Borough to achieve a coveted award from global children’s charity Unicef.
The school has been awarded a Level 1 certificate in the charity’s Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA). The award recognises achievement in putting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child at the heart of a school’s planning, policies, practice and ethos.
Sarah Hook, Unicef’s Professional Adviser for Wales, said: “Trinity Fields School has led and implemented the ethos of RRSA in a creative and meaningful way which always puts the pupils at Trinity Fields at the centre to ensure all adults act in their best interests. It is clear that the school makes an excellent effort to ensure pupils access and understand their rights. RRSA underpins the entire school ethos and permeates the whole school.”
Ian Elliott MBE, headteacher at Trinity Fields School, said: “Our school vision states that we will ensure that all learners have a ‘voice’ and that their views are taken seriously and contribute to whole school improvement planning. As a school we are firmly committed to this ethos. Pupils are at the heart of everything we are about and do.”
He continued: “I am delighted that we have achieved Level 1 of the RRSA, and I look forward to achieving Level 2 and becoming the first school in Caerphilly County Borough to achieve this.”
Cllr Rhianon Passmore, Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, praised the school for its award.
She said: “All staff and learners at Trinity Fields School must be congratulated for achieving this very commendable award. All at the school have clearly demonstrated their commitment to embedding the values and principles of the Rights Respecting Schools Award into its ethos and curriculum, and should feel very proud of this achievement.”