By Beehive Web News
Published: 2 June 2026
Uplands Junior School in Wolverhampton has retained UNICEF UK’s Gold Award under the Rights Respecting School programme, the highest level available through the scheme.
The award recognises schools that put children’s rights at the centre of school life, including planning, policies, relationships and pupil voice. Staff and pupils at Uplands are celebrating after UNICEF UK confirmed the school had sustained its Gold assessment.
UNICEF recognition for children’s rights
The Rights Respecting Schools Award is given to schools that promote and realise children’s rights while encouraging adults, children and young people to respect the rights of others.
Gold status is UNICEF UK’s highest accolade in the programme. According to the council announcement, Uplands is one of around 600 schools across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales to have achieved the Gold standard.
The award is based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and looks at whether those principles are reflected in daily school practice, leadership and ethos.
Uplands Junior School response
Headteacher Suzanne Webster-Smith said the school had worked with UNICEF for several years and was pleased to have sustained its Gold assessment.
“We are delighted that we have sustained our Gold assessment, which reflects the emphasis on rights and respect that underpins everything we do at Uplands,” she said.
The recognition means the school has shown that children’s rights are not treated as a one-off project, but as part of the way pupils and staff work together.
Assessment praised pupils’ understanding
UNICEF’s report praised Uplands pupils as “very articulate children” who showed good knowledge and understanding of rights and confidence in discussing the concept.
The report also said children’s rights “continue to be embedded across the school and underpin every facet of school life.”
Councillor Jacqui Coogan, Wolverhampton’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said schools in the programme must show evidence across leadership, rights knowledge, relationships and the empowerment of children and young people.
She said Uplands Junior School had worked hard to retain the accreditation and congratulated pupils and staff on the achievement.
Source: City of Wolverhampton Council
Source check Source trail
This article is based on the City of Wolverhampton Council notice about Uplands Junior School retaining UNICEF UK Gold status.
- Confirmed the school named in the release as Uplands Junior School.
- Checked that the award level reported was UNICEF UK Gold.
- Matched the quoted roles for Suzanne Webster-Smith and Councillor Jacqui Coogan.
- Used the release date of Tuesday 2 June 2026.
- Source
- City of Wolverhampton Council
- Scope
- Wolverhampton
- Updated
- 2026-06-03 22:37
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