School of Sanctuary

We are currently a School of Sanctuary and will be continuing our journey this academic year.

Aims of the School of Sanctuary Award:

· Create a culture of welcome for everyone, especially refugees, asylum seekers and other sanctuary seekers.

· Promote the voices and celebrate the contributions to our society of people who have either sought or are seeking sanctuary.

· Build understanding of the experiences of displaced people and help combat stereotypes about refugees and asylum seekers.

What is a School of Sanctuary?

School of Sanctuary is an initiative that celebrates good practice of schools who foster a culture of welcome and inclusion for all, especially asylum seeking and refugee families. It is a school that demonstrates its commitment to creating a safe environment that benefits everybody, including anyone in its community who is seeking sanctuary.

It is a school that plays a crucial part in helping young people to make sense of the world and to understand what it means to be seeking sanctuary. It is a school that helps young people to create positive changes in their communities and to become responsible citizens.

Why become a School of Sanctuary?

 The Welsh curriculum has four core purposes that are the shared vision and aspiration for every child and young person in our school. These purposes are:

• Ambitious, capable learners who are ready to learn throughout their lives.
• Enterprising, creative contributors who are ready to play a full part in life and work.
• Ethical, well-informed citizens of Wales and the world.
• Healthy, confident individuals, ready to lead fulfilling lives as valued members of society.

Our Pledge

We support the ‘City of Sanctuary’ vision that the UK will be a welcoming place of safety for all and proud to offer sanctuary to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We endorse the City of Sanctuary Charter, and agree to act in accordance with City of Sanctuary values and apply the network principles within our work (as far as our specific context enables us to).

We recognise the contribution of people seeking sanctuary. Sanctuary seekers are welcomed, included and supported within our context. We expect our branches or local groups (if any) to support their local City of Sanctuary group if one exists, and will facilitate contact between them and their local City of Sanctuary group

We will:

· Contribute to Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural Development within our school and continue to build understanding of our Gold Award in Rights Respecting Schools.

· Provide learning opportunities around global issues, human rights, social justice, diversity and interdependence.

· Build on a school culture that does not accept intolerance and bullying.

· Underpin work on building an inclusive and supportive school community.

· Increase pupil voice to become responsible citizens and promote active citizenship.

· Engage with families in the local community.

· Provide opportunities to network with other schools.

· Enhance the provision of English as an additional language in school.

· Develop pupil outcomes and attendance.

Aims:

Create a culture of welcome for everyone, especially refugees, asylum seekers and other sanctuary seekers.

Promote the voices and celebrate the contributions to our society of people who have either sought or are seeking sanctuary.

Build understanding of the experiences of displaced people and help combat stereotypes relating to refugees and asylum seekers.

What we will do?

The school will continue to deliver focused work on educating the whole school community about the human right to sanctuary through our curriculum and will continue to engage with sanctuary seekers and their families in the local community.

 Curriculum work will be delivered specifically about refugees and asylum seekers to enable the children to understand.

Through pupil voice the school will encourage positive action to be taken in our community.

A portfolio of evidence of inclusive work that takes place in school will be developed and work alongside members of the school community.

All staff will attend relevant training on refugee, asylum and migration issues.

All stakeholders of the school will be informed of the process.

All established processes that are sustainable will become embedded over time.