CARDIFF is celebrating a major milestone in its commitment to children’s rights, with half of the city’s schools now recognised as Silver or Gold Rights Respecting Schools by UNICEF UK. Over the past five years, schools across the city have been working to embed children’s rights into every aspect of school life.
Today, one in four Cardiff schools have achieved Gold status, and another quarter have reached Silver. This means that in half of Cardiff schools, children are not only taught about their rights – they live them every day.
During 2025 Cantonian High School and Bishop of Llandaff High school joined 15 primary schools in successfully progressing to the next stage in their Rights Respecting Schools journey.
In Rights Respecting Schools pupils understand their right to be safe, to be treated equally, and to have their voices heard. They actively participate in decisions that affect them and see their views lead to real change. Staff in these schools embrace their role as duty-bearers, ensuring that every policy, decision, and interaction creates a culture where respect and dignity are the foundation of school life.
Cllr Sarah Merry, Cardiff Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, said: “This achievement reflects the incredible dedication of Cardiff’s schools to creating environments where children feel safe, respected, and heard.
“The impact is clear with pupils speaking confidently, bullying is reduced and relationships are built on mutual respect.
“Children can learn in an atmosphere of fairness and safety where diversity is celebrated, and they are empowered to make a difference both locally and globally.
“Gold and Silver Rights Respecting Schools are places where children thrive academically and personally because they know their rights, respect the rights of others, and are empowered to help shape a better world.”
Explore the map of Cardiff’s Rights Respecting Schools by clicking here.
Learn more about how Cardiff is becoming a better place for children and young people to grow up on the Child Friendly Cardiff news page.
