Milford Haven School is proud to announce that it has become the first secondary school in Pembrokeshire and the seventh in Wales to be awarded the prestigious UNICEF Gold Rights Respecting School (RRS) Award.
This accolade celebrates the school’s outstanding commitment to placing the rights of children at the heart of its ethos, policies and practice.
The UNICEF Gold Rights Respecting School Award is the highest achievement given to schools in the UK for embedding children’s rights into every aspect of school life. Schools that achieve Gold have demonstrated that children and young people feel safe, respected, and have a strong sense of belonging. Milford Haven School has shown an unwavering dedication to nurturing a culture of mutual respect, inclusion, and active participation of pupils.
Ms Morris, Headteacher of Milford Haven School, expressed her pride in the achievement: “This is a momentous occasion for our school and our community. Achieving the Gold Rights Respecting School Award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff, pupils and community.
“It reflects our commitment to creating a learning environment where every pupil feels valued, heard and empowered. We believe in fostering a culture of respect and responsibility, and this award validates our efforts to ensure that children’s rights are central to everything we do.”
The Rights Respecting Schools Award recognises schools that have fully integrated the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into their ethos.
The assessment process includes evaluating how well schools promote respect for rights, equality, and the active participation of pupils in shaping their educational experience. Milford Haven School demonstrated excellence in all areas, earning the coveted Gold status.
Representatives from UNICEF praised the school for its remarkable efforts. They highlighted the pupil-led initiatives, collaborative projects, and ongoing commitment to promoting global citizenship and human rights education.
Miss Reynolds, Assistant Headteacher at Milford Haven School and the lead on of their Rights Respecting Schools work, expressed immense pride in the dedication and hard work of the pupils and staff.
“This award is a reflection of the whole school community’s dedication to promoting children’s rights and creating a respectful, inclusive environment. The recognition highlights the ongoing commitment to pupil wellbeing and development as part of the school’s ethos.
“We look forward to sharing with you in the coming months how we are going to continue the fantastic work we have been doing at Milford Haven School,” she added.
Milford Haven School pupils have been instrumental in driving the Rights Respecting agenda. The school’s pupil voice groups have worked tirelessly to ensure that every pupil understands their rights and the importance of respect and equality. These groups have led campaigns, organised events, and contributed to decisions that affect school life, helping foster a stronger sense of ownership and responsibility within the pupil voice.
One pupil said “being a part of a Rights Respecting School means that we have the opportunity to speak our minds, we know as young people that our voices are going to be heard and our ideas listened to. That gives us the confidence to action change and make a difference.”
The whole school community is celebrating this achievement, Director of Education Mr Steven Richards-Downes said: “Milford Haven School has consistently improved Children’s Rights at the school and this has culminated in the achievement of the Gold Rights Respecting Schools award. The school is putting those rights at the centre of everything that they are doing which brings significant benefits for its learners.”
