End of 2022

2022 has seen some huge steps forwards for the Rights Respecting Schools Award.

Being a Rights Respecting Schools is about more than change on a school level. It is about a step-change in education within the UK and using children’s rights to reshape young people’s experience of learning.

That is why we have been delighted this year to share that message though our first ever online conference and further still following the Scottish Government’s decision to fund RRSA for all schools in Scotland. We are also pleased to have accredited more schools than ever before, 200 at Gold and over 275 at Silver with still more to come in December. Please contact your Professional Adviser if you would like to book your 2023 assessment.

This year has also offered the chance to reflect on our practice. We launched our membership model and have recently published a paper on the impact that child rights education made during Covid-19 and the period since lockdown.

Both myself and the team have no doubt that 2023 will see even more change for children in UK schools.

At the end of the year, I will be moving on from my position as Programme Director for RRSA and taking up a new position as Interim Director of UK Programmes for UNICEF UK.

This position offers me the opportunity to oversee all three of UNICEF UK’s UK Programmes. So, while I will have less involvement in the day-to-day running of Rights Respecting Schools, I won’t be going far. We will announce a new Programme Director in the new year.

In the meantime, please explore:

• Article of the Week – Article 14
• Research Report: Two Years on From Covid-19
• Training dates for the new year

As this year draws to a close, from myself and all of us at RRSA, we wish you a relaxing holiday and look forward to working with you in the new year.

Best wishes,

Frances Bestley,

Programme Director, Rights Respecting Schools