Educational resources

Judiciary and the Rule of Law

This short video gives an overview of the independent judicial system of England and Wales, illustrating its history from the Magna Carta to present day. It explains the separation of powers, the different types of courts and tribunals, and dispels some of the myths that surround being a judge.

Judges talking about their work: day in the life

Learn more about our judges
Careers portal: Judges talk about their careers

You be the Judge – online interactive platform

You be the Judge gives you the opportunity to sit in the judge’s or magistrates’ chair to see how sentencing works. There are six scenarios to watch based on real-life examples.

Listen to the facts of each case, weigh up the aggravating and mitigating factors, and then use your judgement to decide what you think the sentence should be. At the end, you will see how your sentence compares with the one handed down by the judge or the magistrates.

Online course

‘Introduction to the Rule of Law’ – Online course in partnership with the University of Law.

Learn more about the judiciary of England and Wales, and the Rule of Law, and discover how it affects us.

Young Citizens

Young Citizens is an initiative of the Citizenship Foundation and are the UK’s leader in the field for public legal education for young people. Available on their website are lesson plans tailored to Key Stages which schools can use to facilitate active learning and immersive classroom debates. Examples include, ‘Climate Action – Using the Law to Drive Change’ and ‘An Introduction to Human Rights.’ To access this fantastic range of teaching resources for free, schools must simply subscribe or create an account. You can also find information about national competitions, such as the ‘Magistrates’ Court Mock Trial.’ 

Free teaching resources covering topics such as ‘Ethics, Innovation and the Law’, ‘Citizenship – a privilege or a right?’, and ‘The Law in Wales’.

The National Justice Museum

The National Justice Museum delivers inspirational, curriculum‑linked educational visits at the Royal Courts of Justice, the Rolls Building and Barkingside Magistrates’ Court, using real courtrooms, genuine case materials and archive content to bring the law to life for young people from Key Stages 1–5.

Their workshops immerse students in the justice system through activities such as mock trials, debates and role‑play, allowing pupils to take on roles including judges, barristers, witnesses and jurors, helping them gain a practical understanding of how law and justice work in the real world.

Legal professionals, including judges, barristers, solicitors and law students, regularly support these sessions by participating in Q&A discussions about their roles and career paths, offering a unique opportunity for students to meet those who work within the justice system and to learn directly from their experience.

Schools can easily take part by submitting a simple enquiry form, and many teachers describe the visits as transformative for students’ confidence, citizenship skills and understanding of British Values.

The Bingham Centre

The Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law, named after Tom Bingham (The Rt Hon Lord Bingham of Cornhill KG), was established to advance his lifelong commitment to promoting and strengthening the rule of law.

Building on his service as Master of the Rolls, Lord Chief Justice, and Senior Law Lord, the charity provides research, training, and educational resources that highlight the importance of the rule of law in supporting human dignity, economic development, and political stability.

Association for Citizenship Teaching (ACT)

ACT is the subject association for Citizenship representing teachers and others involved in Citizenship education. It was founded in 2001 by Professor, Sir Bernard Crick and set up as a registered charity. Their mission is to support the teaching of high-quality Citizenship and to promote wider public understanding of the subject. They also promote research into the participation of young people in society. They have a range of materials available including high quality teaching materials such as their journal ‘Teaching Citizenship’.

Kids Law Podcast

‘Kids Law’ is hosted by 13-year-old Alma-Constance Denis-Smith, a schoolgirl with a passion for the law, with support from lawyer Lucinda Acland. In each episode the hosts talk to experts in the legal field about what children should know about the impact of law in their lives.

If you wish to leave any feedback on this information, please email schools@judiciary.uk