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 [email protected].
Cardiff Students Speak Up for Sanctuary
St David’s College, Cardiff
During UK Parliament Week, students at St David’s College Cardiff learn about the experiences of people seeking sanctuary and put their compassion into action.
Criterion 2, Criterion 5, Criterion 7
Harper Green: Being a School of Sanctuary
Harper Green School, Bolton
Staff and students at Harper Green School share what being a School of Sanctuary means to them.
Criterion 3; Criterion 7; Criterion 8
The Refugee Rucksack Project for Lent
Caritas Christi in Urbe Schools, Birmingham
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
Platforming Students’ Voices and Stories
Glengormley Integrated College, Northern Ireland
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
Sanctuary in School: One School’s Year in Review
Wood Ley Primary School, Suffolk
Wood Ley Primary School shares a review of their (impressive!) sanctuary efforts over the 2022-23 period.
All criteria, but especially criterion 8
Sanctuary Literacy Scheme
Bitterne Park Primary School, Southampton.
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
Refugee Week Project: The Journey of the Travelling Suitcase
Wirral Schools
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
Sanctuary Books for the Early Years
Acorn Nursery, Brighton and Hove
Acorn Nursery shares some of the books and tests they use to help very young children learn about sanctuary themes.
Criterion 2
Learning about Sanctuary in the Early Years
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.
Meaningful Support to People Seeking Sanctuary
Wood Ley Primary School, Suffolk
Learn how Wood Ley Primary School have offered direct, practical support to people seeking sanctuary beyond fundraising and donations.
Criterion 3, Criterion 7.
Approaching Sanctuary Through Inclusion and Antiracism
Acorn Nursery, Brighton and Hove
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
Giving the Gift of Welcome in the Advent Season
St Andrew’s Primary School, The Wirral
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
Sharing Being a School of Sanctuary
Avenue Junior School, Norwich
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
Learning about and Embedding Sanctuary Through Maths
Erdington Academy, Birmingham
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
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
Becoming the First School of Sanctuary in Swansea
St Joseph’s Cathedral School, Swansea
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
A Student-Centered Approach to Becoming a School of Sanctuary
Springwater School, Harrogate
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
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
Welcome, Listening and Learning
Allens Croft Primary School
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
Different Ways of Learning
Nelson Mandela Community School
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 cookery social enterprise set up by Oasis Foundry School for parents who were seeking sanctuary.
Criterion 3, Criterion 7
A Patchwork of Strangers
Norfolk Schools of Sanctuary
An art project connecting Norwich’s refugee history and its present refugee population.
Criterion 1, Criterion 2, Criterion 7, Criterion 8
A Cross-Curricula Approach to Learning
The Kingsway Community Trust, Manchester
Embedding learning about sanctuary issues across different subjects.
Criterion 3
Sharing Your Work on Sanctuary Online
Mersey Park Primary School, The Wirral
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
A Language Ambassadors Programme
St Gregory’s RC Primary School, Bolton
St Gregory’s RC Primary School developed a buddying programme to welcome new arrivals.
Criterion 3, Criterion 5
A Football Match on Christmas Day
Halesowen College, Dudley
“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
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 Welcome
Norfolk Schools of Sanctuary
Norfolk Schools of Sanctuary sent welcome cards to Syrian families resettling in Norwich.
Criterion 3, Criterion 5, Criterion 7
An Art Exhibition for Sanctuary
Lawnswood School, Leeds
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
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
Learning through Imagination
Colmore Junior School, Birmingham
Students imagined what they would pack if they had to flee.
Criterion 2
A Parent Shares His Experiences
Phoenix Primary School, Liverpool
A parent came in to school to talk about his experience of seeking sanctuary in the UK.
Criterion 2, Criterion 3, Criterion 5