1 Valuing the importance of school culture

1.2 Example 1: Rights respecting schools

Figure 2: Rights respecting schools (UNESCO, since 2004)

This UNICEF quality initiative has been in place in the UK since 2004, rewarding children's rights lived out in everyday school life, implemented in the school mission statement, curricula and in the form of co-determination, respectful relationships and inclusive school culture. Their evaluations show that all persons in the evaluated schools are fully aware of children's rights and that the relationships between the groups of persons involved (pupils, parents, teachers and other staff) have improved among themselves and between each other. Furthermore, positive effects on identity, trust, empathy, social behaviour, conflict resolution skills and disruptive social behaviour can also be identified (Robinson &Sebba, 2010).