An increasing number of schools and community groups are obtaining an RSL (Restricted Service Licence) to run a radio station either for a short period or long-term operating throughout the year. There are two kinds of RSL, both regulated by Ofcom:

• Short-term RSLs, licensed for anything between one or two days to the maximum of four weeks (28 days) at a time - on FM or AM
• Long-term RSLs - low-powered on FM or AM or via an induction loop, available for non-commercial establishments for up to five years

Details of some current and recent RSLs are shown against the organisation name in the list of RSLs below.  We will add more as we hear about them.

For more information about RSLs and how to apply for them, and to find out about current and planned RSLs, see the Radio Licensing section of the Ofcom website - from the Ofcom Homepage, follow links under Broadcasting - Radio, then Information for Industry, then Radio Licensing, then Radio Restricted Service Licences (RSLs).

List of RSLs

1. Schools which have broadcast using an RSL
Overall, since the RSL system began in 1991, more than 30 schools have broadcast using an RSL. Of these, the majority (more than three quarters) were short-term. This kind of use by schools has increased steadily since the licence fee to the regulator (then the Radio Authority, now Ofcom), became payable on a rate per day instead of as a fixed fee no matter how many days were actually used for the broadcast. (On the other hand, the recent increase in the non-refundable application part of the fee (to £400) may affect future numbers.)

Long-term (current)

• Coombeshead College, Newton Abbot, Devon - Radio Coombeshead
• Burnt Mill School, Harlow, Essex - Kool AM
• Garibaldi Comprehensive School, Mansfield, Notts - Gara Sound
• Moreton Hall School, Oswestry, Shropshire - RKI FM
• Penketh High School, Warrington, Cheshire - Viva
• Whalley Range High School, Manchester - Range Radio
• West of England School, Countess Wear, Exeter, Devon - VI Radio

• The Arthur Terry School, Sutton Coldfield - ATR
• Beal High School, Ilford
• Bexhill High School, Bexhill-on-Sea
• Bowland High School, Grindleton, near Blackburn, East Lancs
• The Brit School, Croydon
• Chanes Edward Brooke School, Kennington, London
• The Chase Technology College, Malvern, Worcs
• Darwen Vale High School, Darwen, Blackburn
• Fearns Community High School, Bacup, Lancashire
• Gawthorpe High School, Padiham
• Hazelwood Infant and Junior Schools, Palmers Green, Enfield 
  Ran a 4-day RSL as part of the Hazelwood Schools Jubilee Arts Festival in July 2002. Funded by an Awards for All (Lottery funding) grant applied for via the Hazelwood Parent Staff Association, plus sponsorship from local shops and businesses.
• Ivy Bank High School, Burnley - IBFM
• Kings Norton High School, Birmingham
• Kingswood School, Kingston upon Hull
• Oundle School - OSCAR Radio
• Preston Manor School - Blaze Radio
• Pudsey Grangefield School, Pudsey, near Leeds
• St Bede's R C High School, Blackburn
• St Peters High School, Burnham-on-Crouch
• Southgate School, Cockfosters
• Southlands High School, Chorley
• Springwell Community School, Staveley, Chesterfield, Derbyshire - Emerald Radio - green issues
• T P Riley Community School, Walsall
• The Weald School, Billingshurst
• Wilberfoss CR Primary School, Wilberfoss

2. Community and youth groups - some recent RSLs, 2004 & 2005
The list below shows recent RSLs which have/had a specific youth focus or input. Many other RSLs also include slots in which children and young people are involved (for example Riverside FM) - we will add these if we receive specific details.   

• Riverside FM (3 weeks in July-August 2004) - West London
  Partnership between Riverside Studios, Women's Radio Group and the Workers' Educational Association (WEA). Funders included the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, which provided dedicated funding to train over 100 young people in the West London area. More details...
• Exchange Radio Norwich (5-7 Oct 2004)
  Norfolk Education Business Exchange + 10 schools, broadcasting from Hospital Radio Norwich
• Youthvoice FM (11 Oct - 7 Nov 2004) North Tyneside
  Youth Voice initiative (e2000), run by Millennium Volunteers, broadcasting from North Tyneside College - 2nd year
• Eastbourne Youth Radio (EYR) (23-26 Nov 2004)
  Wide range of local voluntary, business and educational organisations - 4th year - young people aged 4-19
• KIC FM (1-21 Dec 2004) Wolverhampton
  Kids in Communication project from Millennium Volunteers - mobile studio

• Radio Underdog (24 Jan - 6 Feb 2005) Slough
  Slough Young People's Centre - in partnership with Creative Partnerships and others - also broadcast in 2003 and 2004
• Express FM (1-3 July 2005) Southampton
  Young carers festival
• Youth FM (10-31 July 2005) Carshalton
  Youth broadcast
• Interplay Radio (11-17 July 2005) Leeds
  Community radio station run by young people

• Spin FM (24 July - 20 Aug 2005) Merstham
  Young people's entertainment during the summer holidays

• Radio Kidz (8 Aug- 4 Sept 2005) Bournemouth
  Summer radio training course for 11-18 yr olds

To add information about your RSL involving children or young people, whether it is current, recent or planned, please contact us with full details.

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