Rights Respecting School Award

We are very proud to have achieved UNICEF’s ‘Rights Respecting Schools Level 2 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 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’ (see overleaf).  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. 

Every Friday we hold a Celebration Assembly when every class celebrates the rights they have been respecting that week by being awarded a special ‘leaf’ to hang on our ‘Thank you tree’. 

Artsmark - Bringing learning to life through arts and culture

Following an in-depth assessment process in 2018, we are delighted to have achieved the ‘Artsmark Silver Award’. Artsmark is a creative quality standard for schools, accredited by Arts Council England that enables schools to develop, celebrate and strengthen our commitment to arts and cultural education.

Every child in our school is encouraged to enjoy and achieve in the arts through Art and Design, Dance, Drama, Music and Creative Writing within our creative curriculum. Staff and children are given the opportunity to work with professional artists and arts organisations. Through the Arts, pupils gain in confidence and self esteem and learn to work both as team members and independently.

Travel Award

We are all very proud to have received Travel Mark Award Scheme Level 3 in 2012.  This is West Sussex County Council's highest 'Travelwise' standard and is only given to schools that are committed to ongoing excellence in safe and sustainable travel.  The Gattons is the first school in Burgess Hill to receive this award. 

Healthy School Award

We have retained our Healthy School Award, which recognises our work to promote a healthy lifestyle for all children.

Eco-school Award

We are proud to hold a silver level Eco-school Award, which reflects our young children’s works to ensure that we look after our environment.

Fair Active School Award

We have achieved Fair Active School status which demonstrates our commitment to Fair Trade in our school community.