Phew! Reaccreditation Day is Over!
Yesterday, Tuesday 15 March, was Reaccreditation Day at Riverbank. It was the day that UNICEF’s RRSA Assessors were visiting us to reassess us for RRSA Level 2 Accreditation. The two assessors, David Innes, Head Teacher at Harlaw Academy and Lilian Field, Head Teacher at Strathdon School, joined us at 9.00am and were with us until 2.30pm.
Our visitors were met and greeted by some of our pupils. Mr Innes and Mrs Field then met with the Management Team before going on a tour of the school. The pupil guides showed them the Riverbank School Charter and took Mr Innes and Mrs Field into classrooms to meet staff and pupils. The children also explained about our Hub, House Meetings, Play Pals, Peer Mediators, Gardening Group, Pupil Council, Library Group, Eco Group, RRSA Steering Group and many other things. Our assessors were keen to find out about clubs and activities which are available for the children to participate in.
After drawing breath for a ‘wee’ break, the pupils showed the Riverbank DVD which gives a great flavour of what Riverbank is like as a Rights Respecting School.
After that quick sit down to watch the DVD, the visitors met with a group of sixteen children. These children answered and asked questions based around Riverbank as a Rights Respecting School.
Following on from the children, a group of people from the community with strong links to the school met with the assessors. We would like to thank Rev Jim Weir, Bill Mitchell from the Tilly Vision Project, John Merson from the Lighthouse, Russell Anderson from Aberdeen Football Club, Graeme Burnett from PDA, Sarah Maitland from Family Learning and Rachel Youngson, Laura Mitchell and Aga Krawczyk from the Parent Council for giving up their time to come and meet with David and Lilian. The assessors were keen to find out what these people thought of Riverbank.
A short lunch break then followed before the pupils wound up our evidence, as to why we thought we should be reaccredited at Level 2, by narrating for the PowerPoint of evidence. This took quite some time. I was getting nervous just listening to all the things which we’ve been involved in, in fact I was amazed at just how much our children have done in the three years since we were last assessed.
Mrs Field and Mr Innes were then given some time, alone, to discuss and review everything they had seen and heard. We all waited, anxiously, to hear what they had to say. Very soon, they called us back, pupils and Management Team, to hear some very positive feedback. Our visitors were very happy with what they had seen and heard but they explained that they would send off their report to the UNICEF and RRSA Committee in London and we would have to wait for their final decision. This could take a good few weeks so we may not know the final outcome until after the Easter holidays. We’ll wait patiently and hopefully until then and we’ll be sure to let you all know what the final decision of the Committee is.
Just in finishing off, this reporter would like to thank ALL the staff at Riverbank for their help in maintaining such a high standard of Rights Respecting School. A thank you to all our partners in the community, parents and Parent Council for supporting Team Riverbank and a special thank you and congratulations to all of our pupils and especially to those who were so closely involved in informing and guiding Mr Innes and Mrs Field during their visit to Riverbank and to Mrs Sunley for her lead!
Great work, Team Riverbank!
UNCRC / RRSA
Article 3 – The best interests of the child must be a top priority in all things that affect children.
Article 12 – Every child has the right to have a say in all matters affecting them, and to have their views taken seriously.
Article 13 – Every child must be free to say what they think and to seek and receive all kinds of information, as long as it is within the law.
Article 15 – Every child has the right to meet with other children and to join groups and organisations, as long as this does not stop other people from enjoying their rights.