HUNDREDS of children and staff from four Rights Respecting schools in Canford Heath paraded in their community to raise awareness of children's rights and to campaign for a community charter against anti-social behaviour in the area.

Ad Astra Infant School, Canford Heath Infant School, Canford Heath Junior Schools and Haymoor Junior School, which make up the TEACH Trust, marched from their schools to Adastral Square to celebrate World Children's Day and the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on Wednesday.

Haymoor’s Rights Respecting steering group then presented the community charter for members of the community and guests to sign.

In her speech to the gathering schoolchildren, parents and residents, Executive Headteacher and CEO of the TEACH Trust Kate Carter said: “At the TEACH Trust we have embraced the Rights of the Child for the past 10 years when we started our Rights journey at Canford Heath Junior School in 2009 and became the first school in the TEACH Trust to become a Rights Respecting School, with Canford Heath Infant School achieving the award the following year.

“The positive impact this has had on our school community has been incredible and became so powerful that Haymoor Junior School and Ad Astra Infant School started their own Rights Respecting journey and I am delighted to let you all know that, right now, all four of our wonderful schools have achieved the Gold UNICEF award.”

Schoolchildren of the TEACH Trust were heard chanting the Rights Song, which they had written themselves, as they walked to the gathering point.

Representatives from the AFC Bournemouth Communities Trust, Neighbourhood Policing Teams, Poole Housing Partnership and UNICEF were all in attendance, as well as Mayor of Poole Cllr Marion Le Poidevin.

Professional Advisor for the South West Rights for Respecting Schools Award Jilly Hillier was also there and commended all four schools for achieving their Gold UNICEF awards.

She said: “I am especially proud that I am here with children and staff from four gold rights respecting schools.

“Children who know about children’s rights, who are committed to creating the best possible learning environment for children and which rights are respected and children who are standing up for the rights of others.”

Caitlin Dix and Evie Maton, two students for Haymoor Junior School read out a speech highlighting the importance of children’s rights and addressing the need to campaign against anti-social behaviour in Canford Heath.

The community charter, introduced by Haymoor Junior Head of School Lucy Waterhosue, stated that the children from the four schools were prepared to keep the environment safe, respect people’s right to play, protect people from being hurt or mistreated, speak kindly to people and looking out for people in the community.