There are 20 schools who are members of the Oxford Children's Book Group who test for the Red House Children's Book Award. These schools cover all ages and run from nursery schools to secondary schools.
There are 12 book groups who test for the Red House Children's Book Award. This award is based solely on the votes that the children have provided. In Oxford the Red House Children's Book Award is launched in primary schools each September. Children doing the testing may belong to reading groups or may read the books within their class or at home. The benefit to the pupils is that they get to read a book before it even appears on the shelves as it is often proof copies of the books that are supplied by publishers. In secondary schools it is often the librarian who is best able to promote/run the awards to a wide readership. Red House supply leaflets, posters, and other promotional material to help promote the award through the use of displays. At both primary and secondary school level pupils are encouraged to read and vote on books for the Red House Awards during the whole year. Once the top ten have been announced in February any child reader can read the books in one category and vote online. In June the award will be presented at the Hay Festival. It was noted that OFSTED inspectors view a school's involvement in the RHCBA as a positive way in which children can read for pleasure and also have an influence on a national award for excellence.