Wolverhampton school retains UNICEF Gold Award

By hiyastar.co.uk news desk

Published: 2 June 2026

Uplands Junior School in Wolverhampton has retained UNICEF UK’s Gold status under the Rights Respecting School programme, the highest level awarded through the scheme.

The recognition is given to schools that show children’s rights are built into school life, including leadership, classroom practice, relationships and pupils’ understanding of their own rights and the rights of others.

Wolverhampton school retains UNICEF Gold Award

Gold status for children’s rights

UNICEF UK’s Rights Respecting Schools Award is based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Schools work through evidence-based strands covering leadership, knowledge of rights, school ethos, relationships and the empowerment of children and young people.

Gold is the programme’s top award. According to the source announcement, Uplands Junior School is one of around 600 schools across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales to have reached the Gold standard.

Uplands pupils praised in assessment

UNICEF’s assessment report praised pupils at Uplands as “very articulate children” who showed good knowledge and understanding of rights and confidence in discussing the concept of rights.

The report also said children’s rights continued to be embedded across the school and underpinned school life.

Headteacher Suzanne Webster-Smith said the school had worked with UNICEF for a number of years and was pleased to have sustained its Gold assessment. She said the result reflected the emphasis on rights and respect that underpins the school’s work.

Council response to the award

Councillor Jacqui Coogan, City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said schools in the programme work toward recognition that children’s and young people’s rights are embedded in practice and ethos.

She congratulated pupils and staff at Uplands Junior School on retaining the accreditation, saying the school had worked hard to keep the award.

Source: City of Wolverhampton Council

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source trail

This local brief is based on the City of Wolverhampton Council announcement released on 2 June 2026.

Checks

Confirmed the named school as Uplands Junior School.
Confirmed the award as UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools Gold status.
Checked the named roles for Suzanne Webster-Smith and Councillor Jacqui Coogan.
Kept the reported UNICEF assessment language attributed to the source announcement.

City of Wolverhampton Council Check wider coverage