When the principles and values of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) are introduced and reinforced throughout school life, children and the wider school community benefit.
As schools implement the RRSA standards they enable children and young people to make informed decisions and to grow into confident, active and responsible citizens.
The pattern emerging from self-evaluation by schools and local authorities, by RRSA education officers and assessors and by external researchers is consistent for all types of schools in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The main areas of impact are:
- Improved self-esteem and well-being
- Improved relationships and behaviour (reductions in bullying and exclusions and improved attendance)
- Improved engagement in learning
- Positive attitudes towards diversity in society and the reduction of prejudice
- Children and young people’s enhanced moral understanding
- Children and young people’s support for global justice
- Children and young people become more involved in decision-making in schools
Parents have also reported support for the values and principles of the CRC. This is based on the beneficial impact they see on their children when they adopt rights-respecting language and behaviour.
In 2007 a UNICEF report on child well-being in rich countries placed the UK bottom out of 21 of the world’s richest nations when looking at child well-being. Schools using the values of the CRC to underpin their ethos and curriculum have found that it can have a significant, positive impact on important aspects of child well-being.
