PUPILS hit the right note to scoop a top prize in a countywide songwriting competition judged by singer Billy Bragg.

As part of the UNICEF Rights Respecting School award, Dorset County Council’s Principal School Inspector David Powell and Billy Bragg launched a competition to encourage school children across the county to write songs about their rights and the responsibility they have to the rights of others.

During a celebration at the Springfield Hotel in Wareham, Beechcroft St Paul’s Primary in Weymouth and St Mary’s Middle School in Puddletown were announced as the winners.

Billy Bragg chose Beechcroft’s ‘Rights and Responsibilities’ and St Mary’s ‘Scarred for Life’ out of 14 entries and presented both groups with guitars after they had performed their songs live.

Billy said: “All the schools that entered did really well. I was really impressed by the quality of the songs and could see the hard work that they had put in.

“The lyrics were beautiful and will help spread the word about everyone’s rights and responsibilities.

“Songwriting is a great way to teach these values and can be very powerful. It also helps young people build confidence and express themselves.”

More than 70 Dorset schools are involved with the UNICEF Rights Respecting School award.

The award is a nationwide scheme that promotes the United Nations’ Convention on the rights of the child as a basis for enhancing teaching, learning, ethos, values, attitudes and behaviour.

David Powell said: “All children are born with defined rights and the award allows them to recognise these.

“It improves their understanding that all other children and adults have rights and responsibilities and helps them treat others with dignity and respect.

“Schools that are aiming to become ‘rights respecting’ find that behaviour, attitude to learning and respect for others improves.

“They are able to talk to each other about behaviour and bullying issues with a shared understanding of how poor behaviour in the classroom or playground affects the rights of others.”

Pupils took part in a number of workshops and activities including looking at what their schools, communities and the world could look like in the future.

Dorset County Council's cabinet member for children's services Toni Coombs added: “Well done to all the schools that took part and congratulations to both Beechcroft St Paul’s and Puddletown St Mary’s on their winning entries.”

All of the entries will now be recorded on to a special CD.