St Helen’s RC Primary School Awarded RJC Registered Organisation Status
The Restorative Justice Council is pleased to announce that St Helen’s RC Primary School has been awarded RJC Registered Organisation Status, recognising the school’s sustained and well-evidenced commitment to the embedding of restorative practice.
This award reflects the culmination of a six-year period of development, during which restorative principles have been systematically embedded within the school’s culture, policies, and day-to-day practice. Throughout this time, St Helen’s RC Primary School has demonstrated a clear and consistent commitment to professional learning, reflective practice, and continuous improvement, ensuring that restorative values inform all aspects of school life.
The registration process evidenced that restorative practice at St Helen’s is not confined to individual initiatives but is embedded across the whole school community. Staff, pupils, and wider stakeholders share a coherent and clearly articulated vision grounded in respect, accountability, and the importance of strong, positive relationships. This collective ownership was identified as a key strength through the assessment process.
The school applied for Registered Status at a point where restorative practice was demonstrably embedded and routinely applied. Evidence reviewed during the registration process highlighted the positive impact of this approach on pupils’ communication skills, their ability to resolve conflict constructively, their sense of responsibility, and the quality of relationships across the school community. These outcomes were consistently evident in both documentation and everyday practice.
The registration process also supported further reflection and development. It provided the school with an opportunity to revisit the foundations of its restorative journey and to ensure that core principles continue to be applied consistently and with integrity. As a result, St Helen’s strengthened its systems for monitoring restorative interventions and revisited the principles underpinning restorative circles. This led to the introduction of peer observation, supporting professional dialogue and consistency of practice across the staff team.
In addition, the process supported forward-looking planning. The school identified opportunities to further strengthen engagement with families for whom English is an additional language and to develop restorative resources that support social communication. This demonstrates a clear commitment to inclusion, responsiveness, and ongoing development.
The assessment was conducted in line with RJC registration standards and through a supportive and collaborative professional dialogue. The assessor worked closely with the school to understand its context and to ensure that practice was assessed fairly, robustly, and proportionately, with a focus on quality and sustainability.
Commenting on the award, James Simon, RJC Chief Executive Officer, said: “I would like to offer my warmest congratulations to St Helen’s RC Primary School on achieving RJC Registered Status. This recognition reflects a sustained and principled commitment to restorative practice, embedded thoughtfully and consistently over time. The school’s work demonstrates how restorative approaches, when owned collectively and applied with integrity, can create positive, inclusive, and relational school communities.”
Sophie Sanchez, speaking on behalf of the school, added: “We are absolutely delighted to be recognised as an accredited restorative organisation. This award reflects six years of commitment, learning, and growth, and the collective dedication of our entire staff team to embedding a shared vision built on respect, accountability, and strong relationships. I couldn’t be prouder of what we have achieved together.”
The RJC congratulates St Helen’s RC Primary School on achieving Registered Status and commends the school for its sustained, reflective, and principled approach to restorative practice. This achievement represents a strong example of effective, whole-school implementation of restorative values within an educational setting.
Ready to Join Them?
Becoming an RJC Registered Organisation is more than a process – it’s a statement of your organisation’s commitment to quality and restorative values. If you want to stand out as a trusted leader in restorative practice, now is the time to take that step.
Visit https://restorativejustice.org.uk/practice-registration to learn more and start your journey towards achieving the gold standard in restorative training.