RRSA Membership

The Rights Respecting Schools Award is a membership programme with an annual subscription charge.

The cost of subscription is based on the number of pupils enrolled at the school. Once a school has achieved full Gold: Rights Respecting status, the subscription fee is reduced. Additionally, certain nations, territories, and local authorities may cover these costs for schools. Further details regarding specific coverage can be found below. 

Membership provides comprehensive support to schools aspiring to become Rights Respecting.

This includes: 

• Accreditation at Bronze, Silver and Gold 

• Access to online training and workshops 

• E-learning opportunities for all staff 

• Access to resources and guidance 

• Support from a named Professional Adviser 

• Participation in the annual RRSA conference. 

You can learn more about what membership includes and what are our charges are here and read more about the impact of being a rights respecting school here. 

If your school is not yet registered for the Rights Respecting Schools Award, and you wish to join, you can register here. 

Subscription coverage for specific regions 

If your school is in London, Luton, Jersey, Guernsey, Manchester (schools under Manchester City Council only), Cardiff, in a Scottish LA with a funding agreement or part of the Irish border ‘COLOUR’ project please make sure to tick this option when filling out the below form. This will ensure that you will not be charged for membership and the funding body will be notified.   

If you are unsure whether your school is already a member or you have any questions about membership, then please contact [email protected]. 

Do you ever take an Award away from a school?

The Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA) is based on nationally agreed standards and uses a system of assessment that looks at all aspects of the school’s life and work. The decision to award Silver or Gold is made using the evidence a school presents in advance and the evidence gathered during the visit. Individual situations and experiences outside the assessment process cannot, on their own, determine the school’s accreditation as Rights Respecting but we do take concerns seriously. 

Like other accreditation processes, the award decision is based on what is observed at the time of the visit. Individual incidents or concerns that happen outside the assessment visit do not, on their own, automatically change a school’s award status. However, we do take any concerns raised about a Rights Respecting school seriously. 

If a school with Silver: Rights Aware or Gold: Rights Respecting status experiences significant events or circumstances that may conflict with its rights respecting values, the Programme Director may ask the school to be reaccredited earlier than the usual three eyear award period. This is intended to support the school at a challenging time and to ensure fairness and consistency across the RRSA programme. 

In very rare and exceptional circumstances, we reserve the right to suspend an award. 

This approach has been approved by the RRSA Accreditation and Standards Committee (ASC) and is explained clearly to schools when they apply for Silver or Gold accreditation.