Lady Joanna Primary School is a Rights Respecting School who has earned the Silver Award. (February 2020 & reaccredited Summer 2023) 

At Lady Joanna, we believe it is essential for all children to know their rights and understand them as part of the UN Conventions for children (UNCRC). As Duty Bearers, all adults at Lady Joanna Thornhill, know that they are responsible for ensuring that children's rights are upheld, respected and protected at all times.  All children have the right to know their rights and that is why we are a Unicef Rights Respecting School.

Rights are taught through weekly assemblies and PSHE lessons. The children are encouraged to talk about their rights with the article number and link their rights to learning in other areas of the curriculum. For example, in Year 4, one  one of the texts we use for writing is The Boy at the Back of the Class. Many themes addressed in this book link to the children's rights. 

In our curriculum design, we have linked our learning about our Rights with our PSHE curriculum which focuses on six themes throughout the year. Here are some examples of the links we have made.

Lady J Action on Climate Change 

As a Rights Respecting School, we are participating in OutRight 2023/24. This year's theme hopes to empower children and young people to learn how climate change threatens children’s rights and how we can protect them!

We have looked at innovative ways that children’s rights are being protected from the impacts of climate change through adaptation and campaigning for climate action. 

So far, we have done lots of learning about climate change and how it has affected children's rights, including the right to education, the right to clean water, the right to healthcare, the right to food and the right to life. 

The School Council looked at the priorities for tackling climate change that all the classes came up with last year and have decided upon 5 initiatives that the school will be introducing throughout the academic year 2024/25. These initiatives are:

1) Lady J Ditch the Car Day;

2) better composting and recycling facilities at school;

3) a litter picking club;

4) promoting local produce and

5) a tree planting day.

Watch this space to find out more!

Celebrate World Children’s Day and Lady J Ditch the Car Day!

Pledge today to make a difference for tomorrow

On Wednesday 20^th November 2024, Lady J is excited to mark World Children’s Day, a day dedicated to recognising and celebrating children’s rights worldwide. Established in honour of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, World Children’s Day is a powerful reminder of the rights every child holds—rights to safety, education, health, and a clean environment.

To celebrate, the School Council has organised a special initiative: Lady J Ditch the Car Day! This event is about doing our part to protect the planet and help ensure a sustainable future for all children. By choosing alternative ways to travel—taking public transport, walking, biking, or even car sharing—we’ll lower our school’s carbon footprint, showing solidarity with children around the globe whose rights are affected by climate change.

We understand that not everyone will be able to leave their car at home on this day, but even small actions add up! If more of us choose alternative ways to travel, we’ll collectively make a positive impact on our environment.

We’re inviting our entire school community—families, staff, governors, and friends—to take part in this effort by pledging to Ditch the Car! By making a pledge, you’ll join others who are committed to creating a greener, healthier future for children everywhere.

Ready to make a difference? Click here to make your pledge: https://forms.office.com/e/mTJkZ2iBQe

Thank you for joining us in this meaningful step towards a better planet!