SCOTLAND’S newly appointed Children and Young People’s Commissioner chose Canonbie Primary for her first official school visit.
Nicola Killean, who is based in Edinburgh, took over the statutory, but independent, role recently and is tasked with championing the interests of younger age groups and ensuring human rights are protected.
She saw first-hand how a pupil-driven Rights Respecting School Committee raised awareness of children’s rights and issues and their practical application.
The project has helped earn the school a United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) rights respecting schools’ bronze certificate.
During her visit the commissioner spoke about her role and answered numerous questions from the children.
“You are my boss and I’m here to serve you,” she told pupils.
Dumfriesshire MP David Mundell accompanied Commissioner Killean and said afterwards: “I was delighted that Nicola accepted an invitation to visit Canonbie and see first-hand the confidence building, and educational work carried out surrounding these important issues. She had a terrific rapport with the children.
“Bearing in mind the Commissioner’s wide remit covering from inner cities to the remotest islands in Scotland, it was tremendous she took time so early in her term-of-office to gain a perspective from a small, successful rural school like Canonbie.”
