Please find here a collection of case studies from schools across the Schools of Sanctuary network highlighting examples of best practice in schools’ journeys through the learn, embed, share processes and fulfillment of the Schools of Sanctuary minimum criteria. The intention is for these case studies to demonstrate the diversity of ways schools have approached being a School of Sanctuary and include practical examples to inspire and guide schools in their efforts to be recognised as School of Sanctuary.
If you would like to share a case study of your school, please get in contact with Megan at [email protected]
Sharing Being a School of Sanctuary
Avenue Junior School, Norwich
Learning about and Embedding Sanctuary Through Maths
Erdington Academy, Birmingham
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
An Action-Packed Refugee Week
St Mary the Virgin Primary School, Cardiff
Becoming the First School of Sanctuary in Swansea
St Joseph's Cathedral School, Swansea
A Student-Centered Approach to Becoming a School of Sanctuary
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.
Turning Learning Into Action
St Dunstan's Primary School, Birmingham
Welcome, Listening and Learning
Allens Croft Primary School
Different Ways of Learning
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
Flavours of Winsom Green
Oasis Academy Foundry, Birmingham
A Patchwork of Strangers
Norfolk Schools of Sanctuary
A Cross-Curricula Approach to Learning
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
Sharing Your Work on Sanctuary Online
Mersey Park Primary School, The Wirral
A Language Ambassadors Programme
St Gregory’s RC Primary School, Bolton
A Football Match on Christmas Day
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
A Befriending Day
King Edwards VI Grammar School, Louth
Norfolk Schools Welcome
Norfolk Schools of Sanctuary
An Art Exhibition for 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
Engaging with University Research
Birmingham Schools of Sanctuary
Learning through Imagination
Colmore Junior School, Birmingham
A Parent Shares His Experiences
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