How Rights Respecting Education is Embedded in Our School

1. Linked to Our Big Ideas

The six Big Ideas structure our curriculum across the year:
Peace & Freedom, Sustainability & Environment, Equality & Social Justice, Diversity & Identity, Participation & Citizenship, Health & Wellbeing.

Each theme is linked to specific RRS Articles in the NN and RRS overview, ensuring children learn their rights in meaningful, relevant contexts. Examples include:

• Peace and Freedom – Articles 13, 16, 38, 39
• Sustainability and Environment – Articles 17, 24, 29
• Equality and Social Justice – Articles 2, 4, 22, 28
• Diversity and Identity – Articles 3, 8, 12, 29, 30
• Participation & Citizenship – Articles 7, 31, 32, 33, 40
• Health & Wellbeing – Articles 5, 6, 24

This ensures that in every term, and in every subject, children access rights‑based learning that develops global understanding, empathy, fairness and responsibility.

2. Linked to Assemblies

Weekly assemblies explicitly connect the Big Idea with one or more UNCRC Articles. For example:

• Diversity & Identity:
  • Week 1: “What makes you, you?” – Article 12
  • Week 3: Religion and belief – Article 14
  • Week 4: Respecting cultures – Article 29
    (from Big Ideas Overview – Spring 2, linked in NN and RRS)  
• Equality & Social Justice:
  • Week 1: Fairness – Article 4
  • Week 2: What does equality mean? – Article 2
    (from Big Ideas Overview – Spring 1, referenced in your curriculum sequence)
• Peace & Freedom:
  • Week 7: Freedom of speech – Article 13
  • Week 5: Children in war – Article 38
    (from Big Ideas Overview – Autumn 1, also included within NN and RRS)

Assemblies prompt discussion, build vocabulary, and help children apply rights to real‑life situations in school, the community and the wider world.

3. Embedded Across the Whole Curriculum

Throughout subjects such as History, Geography, RSHE, RE and Science, teachers plan opportunities to explore rights through:

• Case studies
• Real‑world global issues
• High‑quality literature
• Rights‑linked enquiry questions
• Cross‑curricular themes from the Big Ideas

Examples taken from NN and RRS include:

• History: Learning from past conflicts – Article 38; human dignity – Article 39
• Geography/Science: Climate change and environmental protection – Articles 24, 29
• RSHE: Identity, respect and healthy relationships – Articles 12, 14, 29
• Citizenship: Democracy, fairness and children's voices – Articles 4, 7, 31, 40
   

This ensures our curriculum develops responsible global citizens who understand their rights and the rights of others.

4. The Norfolk Navigators Learning Attitudes

Our Norfolk Navigators statements sit alongside the UNCRC Articles and strengthen rights‑based education.

• We are knowledgeable – understanding the world and learning from mistakes
• We are excited – appreciating the marvel of the world and caring for the environment
• We are resilient – challenging stereotypes and standing up for what is right
• We are inspired – learning from significant figures who overcame barriers
• We are curious – asking big questions about diversity and global issues
• We are ambitious – aspiring to be the best we can be
• We are articulate & reflective – expressing ideas clearly and setting personal goals

Each attitude helps children develop the character needed to uphold rights, protect the rights of others, and act positively within school and beyond