Including practical examples to inspire and guide schools, the intention for these case studies is to demonstrate the diversity of ways schools have approached becoming a School of Sanctuary.
If you would like to share a case study of your school, please get in contact with Megan at [email protected].
Caritas Christi in Urbe Schools, Birmingham
Glengormley Integrated College, Northern Ireland
Wood Ley Primary School, Suffolk
A group of Birmingham Catholic Primary Schools share details of their engaging Lent project focused on building awareness about and empathy of the experiences of people seeking sanctuary.
Criterion 2, Criterion 5, Criterion 7
Glengormley College shares details about the collaborative project developed with local organisation Wheelworks to help build confidence amongst refugee students whilst sharing their incredible stories.
Criterion 3, Criterion 5, Criterion 7
Wood Ley Primary School shares a review of their (impressive!) sanctuary efforts over the 2022-23 period.
All criteria, but especially criterion 8
Bitterne Park Primary School, Southampton.
Acorn Nursery, Brighton and Hove
In this fantastic scheme of work, Bitterne Park Primary School explore at least two books about sanctuary themes with every year group through the school.
Criterion 2
Over 30 schools in the Wirral came together over Refugee Week to combine learning with support for people seeking sanctuary.
Criterion 2, Criterion 3, Criterion 6, Criterion 7, Criterion 8
Acorn Nursery shares some of the books and tests they use to help very young children learn about sanctuary themes.
Criterion 2
Acorn Nursery, Brighton and Hove
Wood Ley Primary School, Suffolk
Acorn Nursery, Brighton and Hove
Acorn Nursery discuss one way in which they approached learning about seeking sanctuary with very young children.
Criterion 2, Criterion 3, Criterion 5.
Learn how Wood Ley Primary School have offered direct, practical support to people seeking sanctuary beyond fundraising and donations.
Criterion 3, Criterion 7.
Acorn Nursery share how anti-racism was used as a central pillar in their journey to being recognised as a School of Sanctuary.
Criterion 1, Criterion 3, Criterion 7
St Andrew's Primary School, The Wirral
Avenue Junior School, Norwich
Erdington Academy, Birmingham
St Andrew’s Primary School flipped the idea of the advent calendar on its head – all to inspire welcome and compassion during the advent period.
Criterion 3, Criterion 5, Criterion 7
Avenue Junior School show pride in being a School of Sanctuary in this webpage highlighting what being a School of Sanctuary means to them and how others can get involved.
Criterion 6, Criterion 7, Criterion 8
Here we outline an innovative approach Erdington Academy took to learning about sanctuary issues – by embedding it into the maths curriculum!
Criterion 1, Criterion 2, Criterion 3
St Mary the Virgin Primary School, Cardiff
St Joseph's Cathedral School, Swansea
Springwater School, Harrogate
SMTV share details of their action-packed week in celebration for Refugee Week 2021 in the journey to being recognised as a School of Sanctuary.
Criterion 1, Criterion 2, Criterion 3, Criterion 4, Criterion 5, Criterion 7, Criterion 8
St Joseph’s share their experiences of undertaking the learn, embed and share criteria on their journey to becoming Swansea’s first School of Sanctuary.
Criterion 1, Criterion 2, Criterion 3, Criterion 5, Criterion 7, Criterion 8
Springwater School, a small school for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities shares details of how they approached the Learn, Embed, Share criteria in reflection of the needs and abilities of their students.
Criterion 1, Criterion 2, Criterion 3, Criterion 4, Criterion 5, Criterion 7, Criterion 8.
St Dunstan's Primary School, Birmingham
Allens Croft Primary School
Nelson Mandela Community School
Having learnt about the challenges facing people seeking sanctuary, including the ban on people seeking asylum working whilst their claim is being processed, students lobbied local councillors and have written letters to their MPs.
Criterion 2, Criterion 5, Criterion 7, Criterion 8
Students welcomed an Expert by Experience to their school and interviewed them to learn more about one person’s experience of seeking sanctuary in the UK.
Criterion 2, Criterion 5
Students at Nelson Mandela Community School participated in a variety of learning activities around sanctuary issues to recognise the diverse experiences of people seeking sanctuary and their historical links.
Criterion 2, Criterion 5, Criterion 7
Oasis Academy Foundry, Birmingham
Norfolk Schools of Sanctuary
The Kingsway Community Trust, Manchester
A cookery social enterprise set up by Oasis Foundry School for parents who were seeking sanctuary.
Criterion 3, Criterion 7
An art project connecting Norwich’s refugee history and its present refugee population.
Criterion 1, Criterion 2, Criterion 7, Criterion 8
Embedding learning about sanctuary issues across different subjects.
Criterion 3
Mersey Park Primary School, The Wirral
St Gregory’s RC Primary School, Bolton
Halesowen College, Dudley
Mersey Park Primary School shared a video of what being a School of Sanctuary means to them on the school website.
Criterion 6, Criterion 7, Criterion 8
St Gregory’s RC Primary School developed a buddying programme to welcome new arrivals.
Criterion 3, Criterion 5
“Many of our ESOL students would have had nothing to do on Christmas Day, so we organised a football match.”
Criterion 3, Criterion 7
King Edwards VI Grammar School, Louth
Norfolk Schools of Sanctuary
Lawnswood School, Leeds
Students from King Edwards VI Grammar School and young refugees from Leicester and Leeds took part in a befriending day in August 2017.
Criterion 3, Criterion 7
Norfolk Schools of Sanctuary sent welcome cards to Syrian families resettling in Norwich.
Criterion 3, Criterion 5, Criterion 7
Students took part in an art exhibition in Refugee Week to raise money for support organisations.
Criterion 2, Criterion 3, Criterion 5, Criterion 7
Birmingham Schools of Sanctuary
Colmore Junior School, Birmingham
Phoenix Primary School, Liverpool
Birmingham City University researchers involved Birmingham Schools of Sanctuary in a project on integrating migrants into schools.
Criterion 1, Criterion 5, Criterion 7, Criterion 8
Students imagined what they would pack if they had to flee.
Criterion 2
A parent came in to school to talk about his experience of seeking sanctuary in the UK.
Criterion 2, Criterion 3, Criterion 5