St Cuthbert’s celebrates gold: Putting children’s rights at the heart of school life
06/02/26
Schools North East is always proud to champion the incredible work happening in classrooms across our region. Our schools are places where values, inclusion and ambition come to life every day, and where young people are supported to grow into confident, compassionate citizens.
St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School in Seaham is a shining example of this commitment, and their latest achievement shows just how powerful a rights-based approach can be for children, staff and the wider community.
A special accolade
The school has been awarded the UNICEF Gold Rights Respecting Status – for the second time – for their commitment to ensuring every one of its “articulate, passionate and confident” pupils have a deep understanding of their rights and the rights of other.
UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation working for children and their rights. The Rights Respecting Schools Award is granted to schools that show commitment to promoting and realising children’s rights and encouraging adults, children and young people to respect the rights of others in school. Gold is the highest accolade given by UNICEF UK and shows a deep and thorough commitment to children’s rights at all levels of school life.
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 and practice. A Rights Respecting School is a community where children’s rights are learned, taught, practised, respected, protected and promoted.
Chris Zarraga, Director of Schools North East, said: “St Cuthbert’s is a fantastic example of the values we see across the North East — schools that place children, dignity and inclusion at the heart of everything they do.
“Achieving Gold Rights Respecting Status for a second time reflects a whole-school commitment to empowering young people, amplifying their voices and helping them to understand the role they can play in creating a fairer society. We are incredibly proud to celebrate this success.”
Success that reflects the commitment of all staff
Head Teacher Nicola Noble said: “We are delighted to achieve the Gold Rights Respecting Award for the second time.
“Our pupils are articulate, passionate and confident in their understanding of children’s rights, recognising both how rights should be protected and how they can be denied. Rights Respecting is embedded across our curriculum, with pupils seeing rights in action everywhere in our school.
“This success reflects the commitment of all staff, who ensure every child feels listened to, valued and at the centre of school life. We are so proud of our pupils who are compassionate, informed young people who use their knowledge of rights to make a positive difference.”
Year 4 pupil Seve said: “I like learning about our rights. Knowing I have the right to an education, the right to be listened to and the right to play is important to me.”
Lleyton, in Year 6, said: “As well as learning about rights in school, we get to campaign and live them out, sharing what we know with others and raising awareness about local and global issues where we can.”
Jacob, also in Year 6, said: “I am proud that we are still a Gold Rights Respecting School because it shows at St Cuthbert’s we treat others fairly, we are listened to and you are never alone or left out at our school.”
Congratulations to everyone involved on this remarkable achievement.
St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School is a Schools North East Partner School. If you’d like to find out more about our Partner School membership, click here.
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