Seniors at Linlithgow Academy have been congratulated by councillors for receiving Gold status by UNICEF UK’s Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA).
Three seniors who worked on the project spoke to a meeting of Linlithgow Local Area Committee, joining headteacher Grant Abbot on Tuesday morning.
Responding to a question from Labour veteran Tom Conn one of the students said that having the confidence to express your beliefs could be done so while respecting the views of others.
She told the meeting “I think the people in our school are very respectful and they know that just by expressing themselves, that doesn’t mean they have to take down anyone else or disrespect anyone else.”
In their presentation the student, Katie, Rosie and Martha paid tribute to former seniors who paved the way toward the Gold Award with their work in school to achieve the Silver last year.
UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation working for children and their rights. The Rights Respecting Schools Award is granted to schools that show commitment to promoting and realising children’s rights and encouraging adults, children and young people to respect the rights of others in school. Gold is the highest accolade given by UNICEF UK.
As the third and final stage of the Award, Gold recognises that children’s rights are fully embedded throughout a school’s policy, practice and ethos and are integral to daily life for both pupils and staff.
Linlithgow Academy previously received their Silver Rights Respecting Schools Award certificate in June 2023 and have been working consistently towards Gold since then, strengthening its whole‑school commitment to embedding the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) within learning, relationships, leadership and decision‑making.
Following a successful accreditation visit in March 2026, assessors recognised the school’s strong rights‑respecting ethos, inclusive culture and meaningful pupil participation, alongside the positive impact on relationships, wellbeing and engagement across the school community.
Chairing the meeting of the committee Councillor Sally Pattle said: “I just wanted to say a massive thank you because it’s not easy to come along and speak in front of a room like this when it’s not a format you are familiar with. You are so articulate I think you are a credit to the school and to the community and it’s probably not a surprise that Linlithgow Academy is the first to achieve the Gold accreditation so congratulations on all the work and we hope that you carry it on.
“I’d also like to say Mr Abbot congratulations on a fantastic set of results.”
By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter
