Rights Respecting GOLD Award
St Catherine’s College Achieves Prestigious UNICEF Gold Rights Respecting Schools Award
St Catherine’s College Armagh has proudly earned UNICEF UK recognition by achieving the coveted Gold Rights Respecting Schools Award. This prestigious award is awarded to schools which have shown that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) has been fully embedded into its ethos, leadership, school policies and culture. As a GOLD Rights Respecting School, the entire school community has shown its commitment to actively adopting and living a children’s rights-based approach.
Having previously attained Silver status, St. Catherine’s College has worked hard to embed rights- based language, principles and actions into all aspects of school life. Pupils have been empowered to use their voice, not only to inform decision-making, shape school practices and initiatives but to advocate for the rights of other children as active global citizens.
Several successful rights respecting initiatives have been implemented by the school in the last number of years, with the student- led Rights Respecting Team, representing every year group in the school, at their helm.
From the Period Dignity Campaign, offering free feminine hygiene products to all pupils and staff, to the promotion of inclusion and diversity evidenced in the annual Culture Day celebrations, the school has worked hard to identify and address rights related issues which impact upon the lives of young people today.
Working alongside local community groups and showing a deep respect for children’s rights, the school has fostered partnerships with local food banks, charities and social rights organisations to ensure that the pupils of St. Catherine’s College see themselves as rights respecting citizens who are advocates for social justice, fairness and children’s rights in their own communities and globally. Pupil- led assemblies, workshops and presentations have also firmly focused upon rights-related issues.
One of the highlights of the Rights Respecting journey to date was last year’s innovative collaboration with the school Eco Club, which saw the pertinent global issue of fast fashion being addressed through a series of educative workshops delivered by pupils and culminating in a fashion showcase entitled ‘Wear your Values’. Working together, the Rights Respecting Team and Eco Club merged environmental activism with the UNCRC and UN Sustainable Development Goals, illustrating advocacy for the rights of children in developing countries, raising awareness of child exploitation and encouraging more sustainable approaches to fashion and consumerism. This highly successful project also led to the acquisition of a number of environmental accolades which included: Eco Unesco Junior Waste Category winners, Eco Unesco Junior All-Ireland winners, Eco Schools Green Flag winner and Eco School of the Year 2026 presented by LiveHereLoveHere.
St. Catherine’s College is immensely proud to have achieved the prestigious Gold award which reflects the dedication of the entire school community - staff, pupils and families to fostering an inclusive and nurturing environment where all pupils feel valued, safe and empowered to use their voice for themselves and others.
As the new term begins, the Rights Respecting Team, led by Senior Teacher Mrs Louise McGilly, who is responsible for the Rights Respecting Schools Award, and ably assisted by Mrs Helen Donnelly, looks forward to embracing the many new initiatives and challenges which lie ahead.
