Academy achieves UNICEF award

DUMFRIES Academy has been awarded the Silver Rights Aware accreditation from UNICEF UK’s Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA). The Silver Award is the second stage of the of the UNICEF RRSA. It acknowledges schools that have embedded the UN Convention on the rights of the child into their day-to-day policies, practice, and teaching, and demonstrated positive impact across the school community. Learning about rights have been woven into lessons, assemblies and themes across the school. The pupil council and rights-respecting group have held regular meetings, planning events and helped shape school policies.

Meanwhile, staff, parents and the wider community have been involved in rights-embedded events from the YPI to the Jane Haining project. Pupils at the school now feel more respected, heard and empowered. There is a culture of mutual respect with increased pupil voice in decision making. The Academy has since started their journey from silver to gold.