We are very proud to have achieved UNICEF’s Level 2 ‘Rights Respecting Schools Award’ (RRSA). This is a national award that promotes the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), a convention recognised by all but two countries in the world. There are a large number of schools across the country who have achieved or are working towards this award.

The Rights Respecting Schools programme teaches children about ‘The Rights of the Child’, which were originally laid down by the United Nations. It encourages children to understand that all over the world children have the same rights.

At The Gattons, children learn that they have a responsibility to respect and uphold their rights and those of other children. They also learn how wants differ from needs. Most importantly, they learn that it is their needs that correspond to their rights; not their wants.

As a school we have created a School Charter, which the children have played an integral part in establishing. This is called ‘Our Rights Respecting Rainbow’. It focuses on the rights of the child and the responsibilities associated with those rights. The rights on our rainbow are taken from some of the articles in the UNCRC. We have chosen a rainbow as our rights respecting symbol so that each right and responsibility can be associated with one colour from the rainbow.

‘Our Rights Respecting Rainbow’ forms an integral part of our school reward system throughout the school. Every Friday we hold a Celebration Assembly when children who have been  chosen for behaving in a responsible way by respecting their own rights or the rights of others are awarded a special ‘leaf’ to hang on our ‘Thank you tree’. If your child is chosen you will be invited to attend this special assembly.

The general behaviour of the children is a matter of great importance in the running of the school and the well-being of the community.  Qualities of honesty, kindness and fair-dealing are constantly encouraged,  whilst politeness and thought for others are regarded as the basis of relationships between children and teachers.

Children are expected to be responsive to discipline and to observe the shcool rules and parents are consulted at an early stage when pupils' behaviour causes concern or if bullying is suspected.  We will not tolerate bullying.  All parents are asked to sign the Home-School Agreement which supports the school in the management of behaviour problems.

Good behaviour is encouraged through a system of rewards and sanctions.  Our normal form of sanction is the removal of some appropriate privilege.  A decision to exclude a child will only be taken in consultation with the parent and only for serious breaches of the school behaviour policy.