Our Lady of Lourdes: A Rights-Respecting School                                                                                                                                              

Respecting Rights at Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School helps to foster a healthy, safe and engaging learning environment. By supporting pupils to learn about their rights and upholding them, Our Lady of Lourdes helps to improve pupil wellbeing, relationships and participation in school life. These core skills are then easily transferred into adult life.

Enhanced wellbeing and safety:

Our Lady of Lourdes has a culture of Respect for self and others and this helps to create a sense of belonging which in turn leads to happier, engaged pupils who feel they belong. Respect is one of our school values. Pupils feel safe and able to discuss concerns. School operates a Five Safe Adult system whereby pupils choose 5 adults across the school that they feel particularly safe with in case of need. They know that these adults will help and support them with any concerns/ problems they may have or share special moments in their life. Through being a Rights Respecting School, pupils feel able to challenge and question injustice and this in turn helps to create the secure learning environment at our school.

Better relationships:

As a core value, Respect is threaded through our curriculum and is evident through direct and discreet learning, both in the classroom and outside of the classroom. This enables positive relationships between pupils and their peers as well their relationships with staff. An example is the exemplary behaviour across the school and the fact that pupils support each other across all year groups.

Increased engagement and participation:

Through learning about the Rights Respecting Charter and also our School Values, pupils are involved with their learning and take responsibility for their rights and those of others. This links strongly to our Religious Education curriculum and also the Catholic ethos of our school. It helps to reinforce the strong sense of belonging and community within our school and encourages pupils to be involved both in school life and the wider world around them. Some examples include charity fund raising, local litter picking and our Junior Duke initiative. Over the past few years there has been greater emphasis on Catholic Social Teaching and this helps to support the concept of pupils becoming global citizens, whereby they understand global issues in an age-appropriate manner and are therefore more likely to take action to support the rights of others. This complements the strategic vision for our pupils in that we want them to be givers of society and not takers.

Positive impact on learning and achievement:

Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School offers a Rights focussed education which means that pupils feel accepted and respected; this leads to an inclusive learning environment where pupils learn about their rights and those of others, as well as developing empathy, communication skills and the ability to think critically. These skills align with our Curriculum Intent.