An exemplary report was the result for an island primary school when it applied for a special award.

Children at Dhoon School received the school’s Investing in Children award, at a special assembly, from the independent validator, Nigel Bennett.

Mr Bennett told the assembly: ’The group of children I met was unanimous in the fact that they are listened to, their opinion counts and they can, and do, make changes within the school.

pleasure

’It was a pleasure to spend time with the group who were mature, articulate and showed a real sense of enjoyment for their time in school.’

Investing in Children is a UK initiative that promotes the human rights of children and young people.

Over the last 21 years, it has developed a range of different ways in which children and young people are supported to say what they want to say, and help to improve services used by them, by discussing their ideas with adults who run the services.

Organisations applying for the award have to demonstrate dialogue with young people which leads to change.

Following the assessor’s visit to Dhoon School, head teacher Maxim Kelly said: ’Everyone at Dhoon School is proud to be part of the Investing in Children movement.

’This is an accredited membership that we work hard to maintain and we have now held it for six years, which says a lot about how much we value pupil voice, inclusion and participation.’

Recommending the Dhoon School’s continued membership of Investing in Children, Mr Bennett offered congratulations to all the staff for their hard work to make their pupils’ learning experience so exciting.