Meath School in Surrey receives prestigious UNICEF UK Gold Award for putting children’s rights at the heart of school life

Meath School, a Speech and Language UK specialist school, is celebrating after being awarded Gold by UNICEF UK’s Rights Respecting School Award for its exceptional commitment to promoting and embedding children’s rights at all levels of its community. 

Located in Ottershaw, Surrey, the school – which also offers residential services –  helps children aged 4 to 11 with complex speech and language challenges to build the foundations they need to thrive. 

Gold is the highest recognition granted by UNICEF UK and reflects the school’s dedication to ensuring that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is fully embedded across its planning, policies, and practices. Meath was awarded a Silver accreditation last year and the transition to Gold reflects the school’s continuous efforts to integrate children’s rights into every aspect of its life. 

Of over 32,000 schools in the UK, fewer than 700 have received Gold status, and Meath School is proud to be the fourth in Surrey to have received this prestigious accolade. UNICEF officials praised the school’s staff at all levels for being passionate advocates for ensuring children have access to their rights. They also noted that children’s voices are listened to and taken seriously — which is especially important for those with speech and language challenges. 

To achieve this award and create positive change for other children, the Meath students organised a significant number of projects and campaigns.  These included a toy collection with items donated to the children’s ward at St. Peter’s Hospital, as well as a community project to knit hats for St. Peter’s Hospital NICU.  

They also researched the issue of local food poverty and completed meal planning on a low budget. They visited a food bank, which led to them writing to Runnymede and Weybridge MP, Dr Ben Spencer, who came into school to talk to them about food poverty. 

Majella Delaney, Principal of Meath School, said:

“Every child deserves an environment where they feel understood and where their rights are respected. Receiving the Gold Rights Respecting Schools Award is a significant achievement for Meath. It is a testament to the hard work of our dedicated staff, pupils, and families in creating a school where children’s rights are not only respected, but are central to everything we do. For our students, many of whom already face significant barriers, this award provides them with an additional layer of protection – to safeguard themselves and their voices. It empowers them to know they have the right to speak up, to be heard, and to advocate for themselves and others.” 

Jane Harris, Chief Executive of Speech and Language UK, said:

“There are 1.9 million children in the UK with speech and language challenges – a record high. We are incredibly proud of Meath School for their dedication to ensuring the children they teach aren’t limited by their environment and instead are given every opportunity to thrive. This recognition is far more than an accolade for these children who so often go unheard. It’s an affirmation of their right to speak, be heard and have their voices respected.” 

Martin Russell, programme Director at UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools,
said:

“Children at Meath School Surrey understand and are strongly committed to children’s rights. They are listened to, participate fully in school life and have a strong understanding of the wider world. It is clear that the school’s Rights Respecting work has created positive and empowering learning environment for all and we are very pleased to award them Gold: Rights Respecting.”

To mark its outstanding achievement, the school will celebrate with students, staff and parents by hosting a Golden Garden Party complete with a golden cake and a dress-up theme on 28th March 2025. 

A Rights Respecting School is a community where children’s rights are learned, taught, practised, respected, protected and promoted. 

 

–ENDS– 

 

Notes for editors: 

For media enquiries about Meath School or Speech and Language UK, please contact: 

Hannah Sherrard: hannah@thisisstand.com|SpeechandLanguageUK@thisisstand.com 

Amelia Moran: amelia@thisisstand.com | SpeechandLanguageUK@thisisstand.com 

For further details about UNICEF UK and RRSA, please contact: 

Samantha Bradey, UNICEF UK Resources, Communications and Stewardship Manager + 44 (0)20 7375 6119 SamanthaB@unicef.org.uk   

 

About Meath School  

Meath School helps children aged 4 – 11 with complex speech and language challenges build the foundations they need to thrive. We have been rated Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ since 2007. The school is part of Speech and Language UK, whose mission is to give children and young people the skills they need so they are not left behind, waiting to be understood.  

About Speech and Language UK 

For at least 1.9 million children in the UK, learning to talk and understand words feels like an impossible hurdle. We work to give every child the skills they need to face the future with confidence.  We design innovative tools and training for thousands of nursery assistants and teachers to use in their classrooms. We run two special schools for children with complex speech and language challenges, Dawn House in Nottinghamshire and Meath in Surrey. We give families the confidence and skills to help their children. And we put pressure on politicians to prioritise help for speech and language challenges.  

We demand a country in which every child with challenges in talking and understanding words has the skills they need to face the future with confidence. Together we can achieve it. 

 

About the UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools Award 

UNICEF works with schools in the UK to create safe and inspiring places to learn, where children are respected, their talents are nurtured, and they are able to thrive.

The UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools initiative is aimed at schools across the UK, including those in an early years setting. Our Rights Respecting Schools Award embeds these values in daily school life and gives children the best chance to lead happy, healthy lives and to be responsible, active citizens.

Currently, it works with nearly 5,000 primary schools, secondary schools, schools for children and young people with special educational needs and pupil referral units across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Schools have reported a positive impact on pupil behaviour, relationships and well-being by enhancing pupils’ self-esteem, leading to less truancy and bullying, better learning and improved academic standards. 

About UNICEF 

UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation for children, promoting the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.   

UNICEF UK raises funds to protect children in danger, transform their lives and build a safer world for tomorrow’s children. As a registered charity we raise funds through donations from individuals, organisations and companies and we lobby and campaign to keep children safe. UNICEF UK also runs programmes in schools, hospitals and with local authorities in the UK. For more information, visit unicef.org.uk.