Rights Respecting Schools
In London
Become a Rights Respecting School
Over 630 schools in London now benefit from Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) funding for UNICEF UK’s Rights Respecting Schools Award. Find out how your school could get involved.
State-funded schools in London are able to register for the Rights Respecting Schools Award and access all training, support, and accreditations for free until March 2028. This removes any financial barriers and gives any London state school or education setting interested in becoming Rights Respecting the opportunity to do so, creating a lasting impact for children in London.
This project is offered by the VRU as part of London’s Inclusion Charter. The Charter seeks to support young people in education to feel that they are safe, that they belong, and ultimately that they are in a place where they can thrive.
Children’s rights are at the heart of the London Inclusion Charter, as set out in this strategic guide. Evidence shows that the shared language of rights builds stronger, more inclusive school communities. Read more about the impact of RRSA here.
Briefing Sessions for colleagues interested in RRSA
We are running online briefing sessions for colleagues in state-funded schools and education settings in London to find out more about the Rights Respecting Schools Award and what this funding will cover. These sessions are suitable for those who are new to RRSA and also those who are already involved. There will be an opportunity to ask questions.
Current briefing dates:
If you are a state funded nursery, primary, secondary or all-through school (including special schools, alternative provisions and PRUs) in Greater London, you can register for RRSA and access training, and support and accreditations for free until March 2028. Newly registering schools will receive a starter pack of resources worth £175 to support your implementation of the work. (Starter packs are only available for schools registering with RRSA for the first time.)
If you’re ready to begin your Rights Respecting journey, use our general registration form. Just make sure to tick the option indicating your school is in London to avoid being asked for bank details or being invoiced.
From now until March 2028, you can progress your Rights Respecting journey at no annual cost, with accreditations, e-learning, training courses and support workshops for free. You don’t have to register again or take any other action to access the support.
If you have any questions, please contact your Professional Adviser or [email protected]
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Over the first year of the funding (April 2024 to March 2025) the number of schools involved in RRSA in London increased to over 625, and nine Local Authorities have established steering groups to strategically drive a child rights-approach in their schools. 101,634 London pupils are now learning in a Silver or Gold Rights Respecting School.
Read more about what has been achieved over the first year of the funding.
You can read about the impact of RRSAÂ here.
You can promote your school’s work to embed children’s rights using the VRU’s film by its Young People’s Action Group and share your school’s journey on social media through #LondonsInclusionCharter and #RRSA.
You can also access the RRSA closed community Facebook group where you can connect with teachers all over the UK taking part in the Award.
The Rights Respecting Schools team works with London’s VRU to provide support and a framework for London local authorities to manage RRSA within their local network. Facilitating schools within a borough to take part in the Award will help to grow the number of schools involved, through shared practice, and will help to develop an approach that is sustainable beyond the lifetime of the funding.
Our downloadable pdf guide outlines a framework for managing RRSA within a local authority, with support from UNICEF UK. Every local authority will have their own approach, so included in this guide are case studies from authorities that are already developing their work with RRSA.
The long-term aim, both with the guide and approach to partnership, is to empower London Boroughs to see that establishing and sustaining child rights education is both achievable and sustainable locally and can contribute to ongoing school improvement and the building of inclusive communities.
- London Boroughs of City of London, Enfield, Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest: Helen Trivers [email protected]
- London Boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Camden, Haringey, Harrow, Hillingdon and Islington: Isobel Mitchell  [email protected]
- London Boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Ealing, Greenwich, Hammersmith and Fulham, Havering, Kensington and Chelsea, Lewisham, Redbridge, Southwark and Westminster: Iddanella Sarmiento  [email protected]
- London Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Hounslow, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Merton, Richmond upon Thames, Sutton and Wandsworth: Aaron Young, [email protected]