As the academic year draws to a close, Cardiff has reached a significant milestone in its journey to embed children’s rights across education. Today, half of all schools in the city have achieved Silver or Gold in the Rights Respecting Schools Award.
This means that in more than 50 percent of Cardiff schools, children are learning every day in environments where their rights are not only taught but upheld in practice. These are schools where children are safe, respected, and treated as equal partners in shaping their education and their communities. They know their voices matter and that their views lead to meaningful change.
The impact is clear. Pupils in Rights Respecting Schools show increased confidence, stronger self-esteem, and greater awareness of the world around them. Relationships across the school community are grounded in mutual respect, and children feel empowered to advocate for themselves and others.
This progress is the result of the continued efforts of school staff, pupils, and coordinators who have worked with care and commitment to build a culture where rights are lived and not just learned. Their time, energy, and passion have made a lasting difference to the lives of children and young people across the city.
Ongoing Support for Schools
Cardiff is the first local authority in the UK to fully train local officers as UNICEF-accredited Silver assessors. This means the Child Friendly Cardiff team is now able to provide tailored, face-to-face support for schools that are not yet engaged or are currently at the Bronze stage.
Schools can also continue to access support directly from UNICEF UK. The Child Friendly Cardiff team is always available to talk through options, offer guidance, and help any school take its next step. To arrange a conversation or request support, please contact:
Robin Bonar-Law, Child Friendly Liaison Officer
Email: robin.bonarlaw@cardiff.gov.uk
Upcoming RRSA Conference: A Child Rights Approach to Inclusion
This autumn, UNICEF UK will host the RRSA Conference 2025, with a focus on how schools can uphold the rights of every child while supporting the wider school community.
The keynote speaker will be Professor Laura Lundy of Queen’s University Belfast, who will present ideas from her paper Children, classrooms and challenging behaviour: do the rights of the many outweigh the rights of the few? The conference will also feature Professor Carol Robinson from the University of Strathclyde, who is leading new research into the impact of RRSA on inclusion in schools. The event will conclude with a panel discussion featuring school RRSA leaders and Programme Director Martin Russell.
The RRSA Conference is open to all school staff and is particularly relevant for those in leadership roles or leading RRSA work in their setting. It is also suitable for staff exploring RRSA for the first time, or anyone with an interest in children’s rights and inclusive practice.
Conference Details
Date: Early October 2025
Time: 9.30am to 12.15pm
Location: Microsoft Teams
Cost: Free for RRSA member schools (all maintained schools in Cardiff)
Booking link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rrsa-conference-2025-a-child-rights-approach-to-inclusion-tickets-1333899682859
Cardiff’s progress this year shows that rights-based education is not just a vision, but a lived reality in classrooms across the city. With continued collaboration and support, every school in Cardiff can become a place where children’s rights are embedded, upheld, and celebrated.