GREENWOOD Academy has been given a major award from UNICEF for their work in respecting the rights of children.

The United Nations group awarded them the Rights Respecting Schools Recognition of Commitment status in recognition of the school’s vast efforts to place children’s rights at the heart of our policies, practices and everyday relationships.

A school spokesperson said: “At Greenwood Academy, we believe that children’s rights and positive relationships should be at the heart of the school community.

“We aim to improve the wellbeing of all members of our school community through nurturing the development of every child’s talents and abilities to their fullest potential.

"To assist us in this aim, we ensure that the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is at the heart of the school culture and ethos.” Greenwood has empowered a brigade of pupils as Rights Respecting School Ambassadors.

These pupils from S2-S6 have worked with immense motivation and energy to raise awareness of children’s rights within the Greenwood community.

They have led and supported a variety of different projects across the school: Rights Respecting Schools Ambassdors led focus groups of pupils with the aim of gaining an insight into the amount of knowledge and awareness that pupils had of children’s rights.

This involved liaising with the Pupil Councils and the Cross Year Group Council – Voices of Change.

They also worked with the Music department to participate in the #EVERYVOICECOUNTS initiative, #Imagine.

#IMAGINE is a UNICEF initiative uniting millions of people in song to raise awareness and funds for children’s rights globally.

The staff and pupils of Greenwood Academy, in collaboration with David Guetta and Yoko Ono, joined in as the world came together to create the largest singing performance ever created!

The lyrical melody of ‘Imagine’ was a fitting song for the world to sing and Greenwood Academy recorded their video which was dubbed with celebrity voices.

This was then uploaded to UNICEF who used Greenwood voices was part of the unique ‘world version’ of Imagine which was released on New Year’s Eve 2014!

This was a fun, moving and thought-provoking experience which brought children’s rights into the heart of our school community.

Rights Respecting Schools Ambassadors also embraced the UNICEF ‘Day for Change’ on the week leading up to February 6 by encouraging the school community to donate their ‘spare change’ with the aim of raising a mile of pennies.

Daily accumulated totals were announced throughout the school which kept staff and pupils focused on our target.

The grand total of 37698 pence was raised which stretched over 2/5 of a mile!

Alongside fundraising, pupils engaged in discussions on UNCRC articles and the work of UNICEF and their ambassadors during PSE lessons.

Activities covered aspects of global citizenship and promoted the importance of the positive impact of pupil voice.

Rights Respecting School Ambassadors also attended the S3 Parents Evening providing information on the work of Rights Respecting Schools at Greenwood Academy and the ‘Day For Change’ fundraising event.

As part of the development of Rights Respecting School, all pupils engage in articles from the UNCRC through a calendar of International Days and Events during ACE periods.

Through starter activities, a variety of children’s rights are visited encouraging the school community to Stop, Think and Be Aware and promote Global Citizenship.

Next week’s focus is Fair Trade Fortnight!

As part of the P7 Transition Programme, Rights Respecting School Ambassadors and Greenwood staff delivered sessions to groups of primary pupils to raise awareness of the Rights Respecting School work within the school and introduce pupils to the UNCRC.

Pupils engaged in a variety of activities to support the transition to secondary school by involving incoming pupils in activities to promote the positive value of the pupil voice.

A spokesperson added: “Rights Respecting School Ambassadors are very excited about leading and inspiring others with our plans to achieve RRSA Level 1 in the coming session.

"We have many exciting times ahead in our journey to promote respect, values, rights and relationships and we are looking forward to sharing all of these with you all!” For more information please visit www.greenwoodacademy.co.uk or follow the school on Twitter @Greenwood_Acad.