Primary schools are important since they act as a foundation of my peoples’ life. This research paper evaluates the aims, values, and activities in Holy Rood catholic primary school, and their relationship to the mission of UNCRC. It aims at finding out what this school does to achieve its objectives. To accomplish this, an interview with the headmaster of the school was conducted. The website of the school was also important in getting important information that was used in the study. The findings of the research show that the school is doing the best to achieve its objectives like any other school. However, discrimination on who is admitted to the school and its emphasis on catholic religion at the school is something that should be reconsidered by the management.
1.0 IntroductionThis research paper is based on a study that was carried out in Holy Rood primary school. This is one of the catholic primary schools in United Kingdom. The research data was collected from an interview that was conducted in the school. The head teacher of the school was interviewed to collect the data that was required.
The objective of the study was to find out the values, objectives, and policies within the institution and their relationship to United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Child rights have been ignored in some countries, and it is vital to find out whether this happens in some schools in United Kingdom (Gowen, 2000, p.19).
Holy Rood admits children from the age of three years. These children are allowed to attend the school either during the morning or evening sessions. These children are in school for at least three hours each day from when they can start attending the normal school hours. This ensures that these children are prepared early enough to go through the primary education.
I first contacted the school through the number provided on the school website. I made an appointment with the head teacher, and when we met, I explained that I needed to carry out a research in their school. I explained why the research was needed, and after the head master had agreed to my request, I booked an appointment. I chose a time that was convenient to the head teacher after some discussion.
The research paper is organized into four parts. The first part is the introduction that informs readers what the paper is all about. The second part discusses the organization, its aims, what they do, and their values. The third part discusses the opportunities, challenges, and barriers in the implementation of the organizational aims and policies.
2.0 methods of data collectionThe data that was required in this study is mainly qualitative. There were no figures or facts that were required in the study, and this dictated the data collection methods that were used. It was important to interview the head teacher from the school and get more information about the school. As the most senior person in the school, it was believed that he was conversant with various issues about the school. Some information was also collected from the internet through the school website. It was found unnecessary to ask for information that would be easily collected from the website. The two data collection methods complemented each other.
Before meeting with the head teacher, a questionnaire was designed. Consultations were made in coming up with the questionnaire to ensure that it could collect the information that was needed in the research. It was also designed in such a way that it was not leading which would make the information collected to be biased.
Interview was chosen as the method of collecting information because one would ask more questions apart from those in the questionnaire whenever clarifications were needed. Interviews also give a chance to capture more information that would not be captured if the respondents had been required to fill the questionnaires themselves.
2.1 School values and Aims
Holy Rood primary school admits students both of catholic background and other denominations. However, the Catholics are given a greater priority than other denominations with 66 percent of the students admitted coming from the catholic religion. The inclusion of children from other denominations in this catholic school is necessary in ensuring that other children in the society get a chance to achieve their learning objective in the school. It is an indication of recognition of other denominations and religions. The school believes that education is a right to children, and they should not be denied this right on the basis of their religious backgrounds.
The aim of the school is ensuring that academic excellence is achieved. It wishes to provide a happy and vibrant environment for the children to study. The school wishes to inspire the children so that they can have a clear objective in their learning activities and their future lives. The school also aims at ensuring that the children are disciplined individuals. This is the basis for having responsible citizens in the future. The school also aims at bringing up citizens who are God fearing and obedient. This explains the reason for teaching catholic principles right from the time the students enrol into the school.
The school value gospel highly. To fulfil this, catholic principles are taught throughout the life of the children in the school. It is believed that if these children follow the teachings of the gospel, they are likely to be highly disciplined. Another core value in the organisation is promoting respect of all the stakeholders in the organization. There are parents, teachers, students, and support staff in the school and all these play a great role in the progress of the school. In that case, respect for each stakeholder is of vast importance (Halstead, 1996).
Acceptance of diversity in the school community is another key value. The organisation is aware that the people in the organisation come from different denominations, families, and social classes. However, coexistence is of great importance and the administration puts great efforts in ensuring that diversity is well embraced.
The school is also committed to ensuring that there is no child abuse in the society. It facilitates this by ensuring that the employees of the organisation are selected carefully. They are also required to report any instances of child abuse for proper actions to be taken.
The school aims at providing a Christian environment where issues relating to bullying are highly discouraged. There are policies put in place that ensure that cases of bullying are carefully handled. In general, the school is committed towards ensuring that the children are challenged so that they can work hard to achieve their objectives (Maynard & Thomas, 2004).
According to Devine (2003), this school infringes the rights of the children. In a democratic country like United Kingdom, the freedom of worship should be respected by all organisations. This catholic school does not do this. Even though the school aims at providing religious education to the students, it should not make it mandatory for students to attend catholic programs. It is a good initiative to admit children from other religious backgrounds. However, it would be better if each individual was allowed exercise the religious beliefs of their choice.
Ensuring more than half of the students are catholic means that some children are not able to get a to learn in the school due to their religious backgrounds. Discrimination of this nature should not be allowed in the current century. The society would appreciate if their children had equal chances of getting vacancies in the school. According to Gowen 2000, the practice by the school can cause hatred in the society which can interfere with the security of the region.
2.2 School Projects and Activities
The school has various strategies of achieving its set objectives. In the first place, the school ensures that highly trained and experienced professionals are hired. These people should also have indisputable character to ensure that the children at the school are safe. Such people are expected to look after the welfare of the children at school as well as guide them. These employees and volunteers also take the children to the field of play. This keeps the children active and happy, which is an essential school objective.
The other important activity is preparation of children to join the upper school. Children of the age of three years are prepared to join the other classes. They learn three hours a day and this help them familiarize with the normal school activities. The starting point of the children affects the future performance of children, and this explains the management’s concern for the implementation of this project.
Another program in the school is preparation of food for the children. There are employees at the school who ensure that the children have the required balanced diet. Food is a basic need and the school make sure it feeds all the students. Qualified people are employed to ensure that sanitation and health of the students is taken care of.
The cooperation between the various stakeholders in the school is highly valuable for the implementation of various projects at school. Each stakeholder is required to carry out his/her responsibility as required to ensure that the projects are effectively implemented.
2.3 Analysis of the School Policies In Relation to UNCRC
The many actions taken by the Holy Rood primary school are in line with the recommendations of UNCRC. According to UNCRC (1989), children have a right to get quality education. The school aims at ensuring that the children do not only get an education but quality education. This makes them competitive in the job market (UNCRC, 1989).
According to UNCRC (1989), children should get healthy food. Providing the children with food is also an important move by the school. Denying them this right is contrary to the mission of UNCRC. The school also facilitates the freedom of association as required by UNCRC. This is enhanced by ensuring that the children have adequate time to play. These children interact during this time making them lively. Fight against bullying ensures that the children have the confidence to express themselves and interact easily. This enhances the development of the children socially according to Devine (2003).
Employing qualified, and reputable individuals is also important in that such people are aware of the children rights, and they are likely to protect these rights. This is another thing that shows that the school is in line with the requirements of UNCRC (UNCRC, 1989).
The school has good aims and objectives that are recommended in primary schools. According to Maynard (2004), studies should not e the only objective of primary schools. Children have different talents, and a good environment is necessary to help them discover these talents. The school is doing well in providing this environment hence is in line with the recommendations of most scholars.
3.0 Opportunities, barriers, and challenges to the implementation of organizational aims and policies3.1 Opportunities
The responses from the head teacher indicate that parents and the church offer all the financial support required in the implementation of the projects in school. This gives the administration a humble time and resources required to implement their projects to achieve their aims and objectives. The resources in terms of teachers and support staff are readily available. Therefore, the school has all it takes to achieve its policies and objectives.
3.2 challenges and barriers
In the course of implementing the school objectives, several challenges are encountered. In the first place, the non-catholic students and staff feel as if they are pressurized to adopt the catholic beliefs. This is unfair to this group considering that people have a right to choose a religion. This group cannot be left out since this would be discrimination, which is not fair in a democratic society.
Another challenge comes in because children are talented differently. Poorly performing students feel inferior to others. Even though the school emphasizes on good performance, the poorly performing students cannot be withdrawn from the school since this would be inhuman. This is a great challenge to the teachers and the school in general.
4.0 conclusionPrimary schools are highly important in that they form the foundation, which determine the future of the children. Great efforts should be made in ensuring that the children have a good environment to identify their best careers and talents that they have. The diversity that exists in the society should be accepted and managed effectively in the schools for the benefit of each child. Their religion and social class should not hinder them from achieving their life goals. Holy Rood primary school is doing its best in helping children. The management is committed to ensuring that the children have a bright future regardless of their differences. This should act as an example to both private and public schools in United Kingdom. The various stakeholders in schools should be encouraged to play their roles effectively to ensure that the children get the best they can from the primary schools (De Cicco, Hargrave, & Farmer, 1999).
5.0 ReferenceDe cicco, E., Hargrave, c., & Farmer,M. 1999. Activities for using the Internet in primary schools. London, Kogan Page.
Devine, D. 2003. Children, Power and Schooling: How Childhood is Structured in The primary School. Stoke on Trent: Trethan Books.
Halstead, J. M. 1996. Values in Education And Education In Values. London [u.a.], Falmer Press.
Hill, D., & Robertson, L. H. 2009. Equality in the primary school: promoting good practice across the curriculum. London, Continuum.
Holy Rood Catholic Primary School. Retrieved July 25, 2013 from http://www.holyroodcatholicprimaryschool.co.uk/ourschool.php
Gowen, S. 2000. Community Safety. London, Community Links.
Maynard, I. & Thomas, N. 2004. An Introduction to Early Childhood Studies. London: Sage Publications.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [UNCRC]. 1989. A summary of the of United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved on 25 July, 2013 from http://www.unicef.org.uk/Documents/Publication-pdfs/UNCRC_summary.pdf
