The  Rights Respecting School 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 and shows a deep and thorough commitment to children’s rights at all levels of school life.

The East Kilbride school is the only secondary in South Lanarkshire to have achieved Gold alongside Biggar and Chatelherault primary schools.

Head Teacher Annette Alexander said: “This is not an overnight success, but a huge team effort over the years, promoting our Pupil Voice and Leadership opportunities, developing our curriculum, and demonstrating a strong commitment to our values and ethos in ensuring we have an aspirational, supportive and inclusive learning environment for all.”

The report highlighted that the school has passionate pupils and passionate staff in an environment where Pupil Voice, children's rights and pupil wellbeing are central.

It also stated that pupils and staff expressed a clear sense that all rights are respected and promoted across the school community and that pupils feel empowered to use the language of rights to talk to staff should they need to raise any concerns.

Pupils also felt safe, had positive relationships and felt valued which the school said was the “foundation stone for relationships, ethos and values”.

Depute Head, leading its Pupil Voice and Leadership Strategy, Ashifa Naseer, added: “Pupils contribute to whole school improvement - it’s their school.

“There are well established year group captains and whole school captains who all contribute to the pupil leadership plan.

“The school listens to the opinions of everyone.”

The school has also recently won the Children in Scotland’s Success Looks Different Award - the ASN Base having been chosen as the winners of the secondary category for the pupils’ fantastic achievements and successes.

Councillor Lynsey Hamilton, the chair of the council’s Education Committee, said: “Congratulations to Head Teacher Annette Alexander and all her staff for working so brilliantly with all the pupils to achieve this whole school accolade.

“This is not only fantastic news for the school but a huge well done must go to every pupil for working so hard to ensure Duncanrig rose to every challenge to achieve this remarkable Gold award.”