Cedar Children’s Academy is proud to celebrate its achievement of the Silver: Rights Aware Rights Respecting School Award, granted by UNICEF UK. This recognition reflects the school’s strong and growing commitment to placing children’s rights at the centre of its culture, curriculum, and community.
The accreditation report confirmed that “Cedar Children’s Academy has met the standard for UNICEF UK’s Rights Respecting Schools Award at Silver: Rights Aware.”
During the assessment, UNICEF’s accreditor observed that pupils, staff, and families across the academy are building a shared understanding of children’s rights, with the report noting that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child “is becoming known to children, young people and adults.” This understanding is beginning to actively shape relationships, behaviours, and decision‑making throughout the school. The assessor highlighted that actions and decisions “are starting to be rooted in, reviewed and resolved through rights” and that the community is working together to uphold values of “equality, dignity, respect, non‑discrimination and participation.”
The report also celebrated the strength of pupil voice at Cedar, noting the wide range of leadership opportunities that allow children to influence school life. These include the Student Council, Thinking Drive team, play leaders and peer mediators, all of which help pupils shape meaningful improvements. As the assessor wrote, a “range of pupil leadership opportunities […] provide opportunities for pupils to contribute to school life.”
Pupils spoke confidently about the inclusive culture they help foster, with one child remarking, “everyone in our school is equal, we all know the value of everybody.”
Leadership at Cedar Children’s Academy was praised for its child‑centred approach. During the visit, headteacher, Tracey Baillie, shared the school’s commitment to empowering pupils by saying, “We want them to be more listened to and more involved with what happens here.” Families also acknowledged the impact of the school’s rights‑based ethos, with one parent stating that “my daughter talks about rights all the time and what they learn in assemblies.”
Tracey continued to celebrate the pupils saying; “This award is all about our children. We are so proud of the way they use their voices, show kindness and respect to one another, and help make Cedar a welcoming and inclusive place to learn. “It is also a testament to the dedication of our staff in championing the principles of rights, respect and responsibility, creating a culture where every child can thrive.”
Tracey continued to celebrate the pupils saying;
“This award is all about our children. We are so proud of the way they use their voices, show kindness and respect to one another, and help make Cedar a welcoming and inclusive place to learn.
“It is also a testament to the dedication of our staff in championing the principles of rights, respect and responsibility, creating a culture where every child can thrive.”
Philip Carey, Assistant Headteacher at the school, reflected on the accreditation journey, commenting; “Reaching Silver has been a really positive step for our school. Our pupils have embraced learning about their rights and have grown in confidence as they’ve learned how to use their voices to bring about positive change. “I’ve been amazed at how our children have used the knowledge of their rights in a positive way to stand up for what is right and wanting to make a change in their community.”
Philip Carey, Assistant Headteacher at the school, reflected on the accreditation journey, commenting;
“Reaching Silver has been a really positive step for our school. Our pupils have embraced learning about their rights and have grown in confidence as they’ve learned how to use their voices to bring about positive change.
“I’ve been amazed at how our children have used the knowledge of their rights in a positive way to stand up for what is right and wanting to make a change in their community.”
We're proud to have a number of our schools on their Rights Respecting School journeys, with many holding bronze, silver and gold awards. Learn more about what it means to be a Rights Respecting School and how this supports our schoolsto embed children’s human rights in their ethos and culture.
What does it mean to be Rights Respecting?