We are a School of Sanctuary

A School of Sanctuary is a school that is especially welcoming to pupils and families who have had to leave their homes to find safety. It is a place where everyone can feel safe, included and valued.

• We make sure every child knows that they belong in our School.
• We learn about why some people need sanctuary and how we can support them.
• We stand up for kindness, fairness and human rights.

Our promise can be summed up in three simple ideas that children can understand:

• Welcome – we smile, say hello and help new friends settle in.
• Listen – we listen carefully to people’s stories and feelings.
• Stand up for fairness – we challenge bullying, racism and unkind behaviour.

These ideas run through our lessons, playtimes, assemblies and the way we talk to each other every day.

We learn about sanctuary, migration and human rights in age-appropriate ways across the curriculum.

• Using stories, poems and short films about children and families seeking safety.
• Joining in with events such as Refugee Week, No Outsiders days and Show Racism the Red Card workshops.
• Talking about feelings, friendship and fairness in class circles and PSE lessons.
• Helping pupils to ask questions and think about how they would welcome someone new.

Being a School of Sanctuary is not just about special days; it is part of our everyday School life.

• New pupils are welcomed with a tour, a buddy and time to get to know their class.
• We use translators, bilingual staff and visuals so families understand what is happening in School.
• Displays celebrate different languages, cultures and faiths across our classrooms and corridors.
• Support such as ELSA and nurture groups help pupils who may be worried or overwhelmed.

We share our School of Sanctuary work with other schools, organisations and our wider community.

• Working with local organisations that support people seeking sanctuary.
• Inviting visitors to talk with pupils about their journeys and experiences.
• Sharing our work in newsletters, on our website and through School events.
• Joining in with the Schools of Sanctuary network in Cardiff.

Here are some of the activities that helped us achieve the School of Sanctuary Award:

• Welcome meetings for new families, with interpreters where needed.
• Eid celebrations with craft activities, food tasting and music.
• Letters and messages of kindness linked to topics such as Mother’s Day and family separation.
• Assemblies that explore migration, empathy and standing up for what is right.
• Class projects where pupils think about how to make School even more welcoming.

Our School of Sanctuary work is led by pupils and adults together. SoS Tîm includes children from different classes who care about welcome, fairness and kindness.

• Helping to welcome new pupils and show them around the School.
• Planning assemblies, Refugee Week activities and other special events.
• Sharing pupils’ ideas with staff, governors and our Headteacher.
• Looking out for anyone who might feel left out and helping them to join in.

Schools of Sanctuary is a national network of schools who are proud to be safe and welcoming places for people seeking safety.