Schools of Sanctuary

A School of Sanctuary is a school that is committed to being a safe and welcoming place for all, especially those seeking sanctuary. This could be people whose lives were in danger in their own country, who have troubles at home or are just looking for a space of safety.

A School of Sanctuary is a school that helps its students, staff and wider community understand what it means to be seeking sanctuary and to extend a welcome to everyone as equal, valued members of the school community. It is a school that is proud to be a place of safety and inclusion for all.

The programme began in Yorkshire, England, and there are now Schools of Sanctuary in Wales and Ireland as well as many English cities and towns, and the resources can be adapted for a variety of school demographics and education systems. We strongly encourage schools to work in partnership with local City of Sanctuary groups and other partner organisations.

If you would like to know more about getting the programme started, please get in touch through the contact page.

There are three simple principles to being a School of Sanctuary:

1. Learn about what it means to be seeking sanctuary.
2. Take positive action to embed concepts of welcome, safety and inclusion within your school and the wider community.
3. Share your vision and achievements – be proud!

Visit our pages Why become a School of Sanctuary? and How can my school get involved? to find out more and see our Resources page for information and resources to get you started!

Latest Schools Posts from across the City of Sanctuary Network

• Birmingham has two new Schools of Sanctuary!

  
  Posted by: Birmingham

• Ripon's first School of Sanctuary - March 2018

   

  
  Posted by: Ripon

• Wolverhampton's first two Schools of Sanctuary

  In partnership with Wolverhampton Schools Improvement Service, we are proud to announce that not just one, but two Schools of…

  
  Posted by: Wolverhampton

• What groups have done with the 1st round of Guardian grants

  Part 1: What Groups Have Done

  
  Posted by: City of Sanctuary

• Norfolk Welcomes

  On Friday 20th April schools across Norfolk will be taking action to educate their pupils about the experiences of displaced…

  
  Posted by: Norwich

• Schools of Sanctuary Launch - Swindon!

  We had a great launch event thanks to funding from the Global Learning Programme! Around 30 people attended, including teachers from…

  
  Posted by: Swindon

• 'UK sanctuary network offers vital backstop for refugees, asylum-seekers' - UNHCR features City of Sanctuary in article

  The UNHCR website now features an article about City of Sanctuary – you can read it here

  
  Posted by: City of Sanctuary

• NPTCOS Launch 2017

  On Wednesday May 24th, we launched Neath Port Talbot City of Sanctuary, with a Syrian / Welsh Culture event at…

  
  Posted by: City Template

• Louth Town Council Funds Befriending

  In October 2016, East Lindsey Area of Sanctuary (now Greater Lincolnshire Area of Sanctuary) received £1,000 from the Guardian newspaper’s…

  
  Posted by: Area

• Latest on the campaign to boycott the school census

  Last week the Department for Education published stats on nationality and country of birth data. They show that schools failed to collect…

  
  Posted by: City of Sanctuary