Guidance

Join the risk protection arrangement (RPA) for schools

How public sector schools can join the risk protection arrangement (RPA), an alternative to commercial insurance, which may save time and money.

Applies to England

This page is for schools that are interested in joining the RPA. There is more information on how to make a claim if you are already a member.

About the RPA

The RPA provides comprehensive risk protection for public sector schools and is an alternative to commercial insurance for the education sector. Under RPA, the UK government covers the losses instead of commercial insurance.

It covers risks normally included in a standard school’s insurance policy and is priced per pupil or placement regardless of any claims.

Schools may join at any time of year. Multi academy trusts (MATs) are permitted to join the RPA in a phased manner where some academies in the MAT still have commercial insurance contracts in place.

The cost is reviewed annually to ensure breadth of cover and value for money are balanced. More information about the RPA can be found in this pre-recorded webinar.

Benefits of membership

Risk management is a continuous cycle that helps ensure strategic priorities and improvements plans for schools and trusts are maintained or met. RPA membership brings many benefits that can help protect your school and staff, including:

  • financial protection: the RPA will cover the cost of any losses that your school suffers, within the scope and up to the limits of your membership
  • peace of mind: knowing that your school is financially protected within the scope and up to the limits of your membership, so you can focus on teaching and learning
  • access to support: the RPA offers a range of support services to its members, including risk management advice and training

Join the RPA

If your school is classified as a public sector school, you can join the RPA using your DfE Sign-in account.

Converter academies and church schools

If your school is a converter academy, it will have been signed up to the RPA automatically, but you can opt out if you want to.

If your school is a church school and a church organisation allows the school to occupy their property, under RPA membership rules, its trustees:

  • are covered for losses and liabilities they may incur through you occupying their property
  • can make claims on your behalf for those losses and liabilities
  • can have those claims paid directly to them
  • can use the complaints and arbitration procedures with regard to those claims

Create or use a DfE Sign-in account

Follow the steps in this section. Each step also includes a video tutorial.

You can sign in to DfE as a local authority or MAT to manage your RPA membership and that of your schools. This will enable you to see all the schools linked to your organisation.

You can sign these schools up or download their certificates from your account. Trusts can also access their trust level certificate.

Step 1: Create a DfE Sign-in account if you do not have one

  1. Go to create a DfE Sign-in account and enter your name and work email address.

  2. Copy the code we have emailed you and paste it into the box on the verification page.

  3. Create a memorable password.

If you need further help, you can watch a video tutorial.

Step 2: Request access to the RPA

  1. Request access to your organisation and the RPA form.

  2. Ask your approver to approve your access to the RPA and the online collection service.

You can view who your organisation’s approvers are after you’ve added your organisation to your DfE Sign-in account. There’s more information about what approvers need to do in step 3.

If you need further help, you can watch a video tutorial.

Step 3: Give access to the RPA form (for approvers)

  1. Add the RPA to the online collections service.

  2. Go to the ‘manage users’ page and add a role to each user’s account.

  3. Choose ‘add services’ from the right-hand list. If a user already has access to the online collections service, choose this on the user’s page and add role ‘RPA’.

  4. Choose the services, roles and forms you want the user to have access to and save your changes.

If you need further help, you can watch a video tutorial.

Annual costs

Academies

The annual costs are:

  • £23 per pupil
  • £23 per place for special and alternative provision academies, special schools and pupil referral units

This covers the school for the current academic year, 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024.

The cost will increase to £25 for the next academic year, 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025.

Local authority maintained schools

The annual costs are:

  • £25 per pupil
  • £25 per place for special and alternative provision academies, special schools and pupil referral units

This covers the school for the current financial year, 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.

Additional cover and buying help

If there’s something you need cover for that’s not included in the RPA, use the Get help buying for schools free and impartial procurement service.

The Get help buying for schools blog is a useful source of information for school buyers who want to:

  • get the best value for money
  • add extra cover not included in the RPA
  • comply with procurement regulations

Independent reports

We have published RPA summary provisioning analyses since 2014. From 2023, the March and August provisioning timeline has been revised to June and December. This allows the department additional time to review findings prior to the new membership year.

Contact

If you have any queries, including about opting in or opting out of the RPA, email RPA.DFE@education.gov.uk.

Published 27 March 2024