Any school is welcome to join our network and, in areas where we have a Local Lead, schools can engage with a rigorous and supportive award process to be formally recognised as a School of Sanctuary. See our Local Lead Network.
If there isn’t currently a Local Lead in your area, we still suggest starting the process and sign the supporting organisation pledge to be linked to all the resources and support we offer nationally and so you are the first to know if/when a Local Lead emerges in your area.
Become a School of Sanctuary
STEP ONE
Sign the City of Sanctuary organisational pledge to affirm your commitment to the vision of welcome for all in your school and in the UK more widely. This takes less than two minutes and is one of the eight minimum criteria to become a School of Sanctuary.
We ask that every school offers a donation – at least £50 for primary schools and nurseries and £75 for secondary schools. Unlike other award schemes, the Schools of Sanctuary programme and award have no fee and we offer all our resources, opportunities and support for free – but we rely on every school’s support to secure the future of the programme. If your school can also develop fundraising activities, or is able to donate annually this will make a big difference in helping us to plan for the future.
STEP TWO
On signing the pledge, you will be contacted in the following weeks to be linked to your Local Lead. They will be your main point of contact and oversee your school’s award journey – they may also be able to offer additional support, and local connections and opportunities. Please note that application deadlines and the package of support may differ from area to area so we advise liaising closely with your Local Lead to learn about the local arrangements.
You should also register for the School of Sanctuary newsletter, the regular mailing list and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest events and resources.
STEP THREE
Review what your school already has in place or has done to date to meet the award criteria: you may want to use the Schools of Sanctuary audit tool to help you reflect on relevant areas of practice and identify areas for improvement.
We also suggest starting this process by consulting with learners and parent/carers with a (forced) migration and asking them for feedback on your school’s strengths and areas to develop. After this you can begin to put together an action plan for your school’s journey forward making sure this process is reflective, intentional and collaborative.
As you work towards application, make sure to review the key award resources to learn how to best format your application and organise your evidence portfolio and see examples. Developing your application shouldn’t be a time consuming or painful process – make sure to review these resources to help you pull this together as easily and effectively as possible.
STEP FOUR
Submit an application and supporting evidence portfolio to your Local Lead. This will be reviewed by an appraisal team, which includes someone with a background in education and someone with lived experience of seeking sanctuary. Typically this is followed by some feedback and then a follow-up visit or meeting to hear from learners, parent/carers and staff. This is an opportunity for you to clarify any queries or questions raised in the feedback about the application.
Please note: we do not accept spontaneous application submissions and many Local Leads also ask for you to submit a draft application in advance of the final deadlines to help you prepare a strong application. Make sure you to liaise closely with your Local Lead to learn about application timelines and expectations.
STEP FIVE
Shortly after the visit, your Local Lead will be in touch to share the award decision. In some cases, they may ask for additional information or efforts to finalise the award.
Once awarded, share the news on the school website, social media and through local news outlets. We also encourage learners to write to local dignitaries and invite them to an award celebration where they can hear why being a School of Sanctuary is important to your school.
Make sure to review your application feedback and continue to engage and share your activities in preparation for reaccreditation after three years.