Rights Respecting School Award

Since 2023, when awarded silver, we have identified ways in which our pupils and school community can commit to the UNCRC charter as well as embed the principles of this across our school. We continue to implement an action plan which puts the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child at the forefront of our approach to education and ethos in Dalziel.

We have developed from a Pupil Council of 8 to a Pupil Parliament of 20 in the 2025-2026 session. This session, 2026-2027, this has increased to 40 pupils. All pupils have been elected either as part of the school captain voting, house officials voting, class officials voting, or representatives from pupil working groups.

Our Pupil Parliament is made up of our School Captain, School Vice-Captain, House Captains, representatives from different groups, year group representative from S4, class representative from each S1 – S3 class.

The Pupil Parliament meet regularly, and this is chaired by our School Captain, Max McCafferty, and minutes taken by our School Vice-Captain, Amy Russell. At each meeting one article of the five chosen for the year is discussed. As a group, our Pupil Parliament discuss three questions: What do we think this article means? What does this look like at Dalziel? What could we do to improve or make positive change in Dalziel and the school community?

This session, the Pupil Parliament have voted to focus on the following UNCRC articles:

• Article 2 - Non-discrimination
• Article 3 - Best interests of the child
• Article 12 - Respect for the views of the child
• Article 14 - Freedom of thought, belief and religion
Article 31 - Leisure, play and culture
• Article 28 will also be discussed throughout as this highlights the right to an education.

The Pupil Parliament, alongside staff, create presentations to deliver at each year group assembly. Members of the Pupil Parliament have delivered at assemblies throughout the year, and we will continue to do this moving forward. We have also been involved in raising funds for charity including Children in Need and the Christmas Jumper appeal.

Our Pupil Parliament is supported by our Rights Respecting Staff Steering Group.

Click the link below to access the Pupil Parliament 2026-26 Booklet.