Hello Everyone,

Welcome to the last half-term of the school year! With all that this brings, (including Refugee Week of course!) I know this is a busy one but I hope it's also a time where you can reflect on all you've achieved this year, the changes you've seen in your school community and the impact you've had with all your sanctuary efforts. At Schools of Sanctuary UK, we are so inspired by all you do - thank you.

We're fast approaching one year on from the horrific violence that spread across the UK and included the targeting of people seeking sanctuary and we know schools are at the heart of making sure this never happens again.

Whilst we've long believed that teaching about forced migration is key to challenging misinformation and building empathy, there's still a lot we need to understand about how we should teach about this subject to achieve the positive outcomes we want to see. We also know that in the fast-paced and sadly very polarised world we live in, it can be very challenging to feel confident to teach about this topic. 

So if you're a primary school teacher we need YOUR help so that we can support YOU best. 

We've secured funding to do some research with the University of Newcastle to develop the resources or guidance you need to go into your classrooms feeling confident and deliver learning opportunities that foster the changes in understanding, attitudes and behaviours we want to see.

To get us started, if you are a primary school teacher we need your thoughts and experiences. Please take 10 minutes to respond to our short survey - and then share this with your colleagues and your teaching networks.

Complete the survey now

Thank you for your help - watch this space for new resources and support tailored to your answers and we hope to develop some support for secondary schools too in the near future. 

In the meantime, read on for media coverage of some of our new Schools of Sanctuary, details of upcoming events and trainings and the latest resources you can use to enhance your sanctuary efforts.

And don't forget... A Day of Welcome is around the corner - register now and don't miss out on the FANTASTIC teacher's toolkit and free online events with speakers with lived experience.

As always - get in touch to share photos, stories and activities with us and help us see what you've done to celebrate Refugee Week! 

Warm wishes,
Megan, Schools of Sanctuary Programme Manager
[email protected]

Still not sure of your Refugee Week plans? Look no further!

Register for a Day of Welcome, the Schools of Sanctuary project aimed at helping busy teachers to participate in Refugee Week and get access to the carefully curated teacher's toolkit and the FREE online webcasts.

We're delighted to welcome Ebbw Fawr Learning Community Secondary Phase (Blaenau Gwent), Kitchener Primary School (Cardiff), St Anne's Catholic Primary School (Knowsley), Oasis Academy Aspinal (Manchester), Bishopston Primary School, Blaenymaes Primary School, Plasmarl Primary School (Swansea), The Royal School - Primary, Ormiston NEW Academy (Wolverhampton) as our newest Schools of Sanctuary.

We also warmly celebrate the reaccreditation of Adderley Primary School (Birmingham), Beaumont Primary School (Bolton), Grangetown Primary School (Cardiff), St Michael's Catholic Primary School (Liverpool), Pentrehafod Comprehensive, Waun Wen Primary School, Brynmill Primary School, Hafod Primary School and Terrace Road Primary School (Swansea).

Click here find out more about the awards process.

• 11th, 18th and 21st June @ 4pm : Healing Classrooms Training (IRC)
• 13th June @ 9.30am: Gulwali Passarlay with Bobble Refugee Week Event for KS1 (A Day of Welcome)
• 13th June @ 10.30am: Dina Nayeri on the Waiting Place Refugee Week Event for KS2 (A Day of Welcome)
• 13th June @13.30pm: What are our Superpowers? An art workshop with Faz (A Day of Welcome)
• 16th June @ 1pm: Music Action International (Harmonise) In person at the Brigdewater Hall Manchester)
• 18th June @ 4pm : "Community as a Superpower": A celebration of how schools are working with refugee families (Bell Foundation).
• 21st June @ 10am: "Community as a Superpower" Family Webcast and Art Workshop (A Day of Welcome)
• 25th June, 2nd and 9th July @ 3.30pm: EYFS Healing Classrooms Basics Training (IRC)
• 8th July @ 4pm: Supporting Refugee Students in Schools (Refugee Education UK)
• NEW and ongoing: EAL Coordinators and SENDCos: Integrating EAL and SEND provision in schools (Bell Foundation)
• NEW and ongoing: SLT: Integrating EAL and SEND Provision in schools (Bell Foundation)

Support Schools of Sanctuary this Refugee Week

With Refugee Week around the corner, we're asking every school to make sure that their plans include a fundraiser with donations coming to Schools of Sanctuary.

Unlike other school programmes and award schemes, everything we offer is completely free and none of our resources are behind a firewall - but we urgently need your help to sustain this work. 

Whilst we ask every school to make a minimum donation of just £60 to help stabilise the future of the programme, whole-school fundraising can take this further and ensure our network and movement of welcome can grow. 

Download our fundraising pack and poster to get started - and thank you so much for your support at this uncertain time. 

Download the fundraising pack

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.