Dear friends,

Welcome back after what I hope has been a wonderful, rejuvenating summer holiday. 

Alot has happened since our last newsletter - and unfortunately this includes the appalling violence at the end of July which involved the targeting of people who came to the UK seeking sanctuary having already fled violence and persecution.

Everyone deserves to live in safety, no matter who they are or where they’re from.⁣ We stand in steadfast solidarity with all those who were affected. This must be a turning point. We need political leadership that does more than just condemn these far-right mobs. We need leadership which stamps out systemic racism; tackles the real issues facing us all and inspires belief in a better world.

Until then, it’s up to all of us to call out racism and bigotry in all its forms, to look out for our neighbours, and to double our efforts in building a UK that is a true place of welcome for all. We know that schools are at the forefront of these efforts and play a pivotal role not only in encouraging our next generation to lead with kindness and compassion but also in leading community responses to new arrivals.

So let's get stuck in...

1) Get started this school year with a fun welcome back activity, exploring your school's migration stories to underline that migration is something with which we are all intimately connected. 

2) Register for our 'Introduction to Schools of Sanctuary Event' to launch this year's programme, learn more about the award scheme and hear about our new re-worded criteria aimed at maximising the positive impact for your pupils, staff and communities.

3) Sign our letter to the new Education Secretary calling for her to hear from children seeking sanctuary, learn from the inspiring efforts of the schools in our networks and support our efforts to effectively support new arrivals and build a culture of understanding by teaching about migration. 

We know the start of the school year is busy, and thank you for rolling up your sleeves and standing with us to build the foundations of kinder, safer communities for all, especially those seeking safety.

Kind regards,
Megan, Schools of Sanctuary lead
[email protected]

As always, the end of the last school year was a busy one and a massive congratulations the our newly awarded schools and a huge thank you to the Local Leads and appraisal team members who supported them through it.

And so we celebrate....

We're delighted to welcome St Margaret's CofE Primary School (Barking, London); Ravenscroft Nursery School, Taughmonagh Primary School, Rosetta Primary School, Holy Rosary Nursery School (Belfast); Bishop Challoner Catholic College, St James' Catholic Primary School (Birmingham); Green Fold Special School, Harper Green Secondary School (Bolton); Eastwood Community Primary School, Atlas Community Primary School (Bradford); St Claudine's Catholic School for Girls (Brent, London); Cotham Secondary School, Montpelier High School, Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, Evergreen Primary School (Bristol); St Anne's Catholic Primary School (Chelmsley Wood); St Anne's Primary School, Chapel Road Primary School, Oakgrove Integrated Primary School (Derry/Londonderry); Sunnyhill Primary School, The Norwood School, Julian's Primary School (Lambeth, London); Parklands High School, Marsden Heights Community College, Lancaster Girls' Grammar School, Leyland Methodist Schools, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, St Patricks RC Primary School Preston (Lancashire); Christ Church Upper Armley Church of England Primary School, Kirkstall St Stephen Church of England Primary School, Co–op Academy Leeds, Woodhouse Grove School, Abbey Grange Church of England School (Leeds); Rice Lane Primary, Bishop Martin CE Primary School, Christ the King Primary School (Liverpool); Kensington Primary School (Newham, London); Christ Church C. of E. Primary School, Marine Park First School, Rockcliffe First School, St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Wallsend St Peter’s C. of E. Primary School (North Tyneside); Barton Moss Community Primary School, Westwood Park Primary School, Holy Family VA Catholic Primary School, The Deans Primary School, St Andrew’s CE Primary School, St Paul’s CE Primary (Salford); St Michaels CE Secondary Crosby (Sefton); Wilfrid Owen Primary School (Shrewsbury); Mount Pleasant Junior School (Southampton); Parish CE Primary (St Helen's); St Illtyds Primary School, Parkland Primary School, Sketty Primary School, Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr (Swansea); Old Park Primary School and Nursery, Randlay Primary School (Telford); Holton Primary School (Vale of Glamorgan); St Mary's CofE Primary School (Walthamstow, London); St Peter's Catholic Primary School (Winchester); and Grove Street Primary School (the Wirral) as our newest Schools of Sanctuary.

We also warmly celebrate the reaccreditation of St. Gregory’s Primary School, St. Michael's Primary School (Bolton); St Joseph's Primary School,
St Cuthbert and the First Martyrs' Primary School, Lapage Primary and Nursery School, Lilycroft Primary School (Bradford); St Nicholas of Tolentine Primary School (Bristol); Whitefield Primary, Kensington Community Primary, St Paul’s and St Timothy’s Infant School, 
St Hilda’s C E Secondary School (Liverpool); St Philips Litherland (Sefton); Bitterne CE Primary School (Southampton); and Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School, St Andrew's CE (Aided) Primary School, Our Lady of Pity RC Primary School, St John's Catholic Junior School (the Wirral).

Click here find out more about the awards process.

• 10th, 17th, 24th September @ 4pm: Healing Classrooms [Basic] (International Rescue Committee)
• 11th September @ 4pm: Why are so many child refugees in the UK missing out on education? (The Bell Foundation)
• 12th, 19th, 26th September @ 4pm: Healing Classrooms [Basic] (IRC)
• 17th September @ 4pm: An Introduction to Schools of Sanctuary (City of Sanctuary UK)
• 25th September @ 4pm: Changing the Narrative: Challenging Islamophobia in the Classroom (BE Truth To Power and Project Free CIC)
• 1st, 18th, 14th October @ 4pm: Healing Classrooms [Basic] (IRC)
• 2nd October @ 4pm: Changing the Narrative: Challenging Islamophobia in the Classroom (BE Truth To Power and Project Free CIC)
• 8th October @ 4pm: Supporting Refugee Students in School (Refugee Education UK)
• 15th October @ 4pm: Translanguaging - Using students' own languages to enhance learning (The Bell Foundation)
• Year-long programme: Human Rights Education Teacher Training Programme (Amnesty International)

We are a network of more than 1200 schools, nurseries and sixth forms across the UK. When we speak together, our voice is LOUD.

We want every child seeking safety in the UK to feel safe and a sense of belonging in school and beyond and get the support they need to thrive and work towards a fulfilling future.

As a school in our network, we know you feel the same.

Sign our letter to the new Education Secretary asking her to hear from the children and young people in our schools and learn from the expertise in our network.

We want to see an education system which enables and support schools and teachers to do all they can to address the challenges children seeking safety face and offers a curriculum that build a nuanced understanding of our relationships with migration to foster empathy and solidarity.

Together, we are building a culture of welcome. If you understand the vital importance of Schools of Sanctuary, please dig deep and help us to spread welcome in schools during these very challenging times. Click here to donate. Thank you.