A BLAENAU Gwent school is the first in the area to win a UNICEF award, in recognition of its sector-leading work teaching and promoting human rights.

In 1989, governments across the world promised all children the same rights by adopting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. These rights are based on what a child needs to survive, grow, participate and fulfil their potential.

Abertillery Primary School was awarded the Rights Respecting Level 2 Award by the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Keith Towler, for their work promoting the rights of the child.

In order to achieve the award the school was assessed against a wide range of criteria and the report received from UNICEF was glowing about the schools work, its impact on the community and other schools.

The school was given the award in recognition of its working putting Rights of the Child at the heart of the school’s planning, policies, practice and ethos.

As a rights-respecting school, Abertillery Primary not only teaches about children’s rights but also models rights and respect in all its relationships - between teachers / adults and pupils, between adults and between pupils.

The school was also the first school in Blaenau Gwent to be recognised as Rights Respecting.

The commissioner said: "My job as Children’s Commissioner means I travel all over Wales visiting schools. I was so impressed with what I saw today.

"It was brilliant to see how much appreciation children have of rights. I’m not surprised UNICEF awarded the school with a Level 2 rights Respecting Award.

"It's a fantastic achievement and very well deserved."

Dean Taylor, headteacher at the school said: "We were really pleased that Mr Towler was able to join us. He spent time chatting to the children and listening to their knowledge of rights and how they form a solid grounding to all of our policies and procedures.

"I am very proud of our school’s achievements."

The UNICEF report followed the schools recent Estyn Inspection report where the school achieved three excellent grades, and where it’s work on well being and the Rights of the Child was recognised as sector leading.

James Harris, Director of Education said: “This award is a fantastic achievement for the pupils and staff at the school. It is an example to primary and secondary schools within Blaenau Gwent and the recognition by the Children’s Commissioner for Wales is extremely welcome."