School of Sanctuary

Schools

 Congratulation to our six new Lancashire Schools of Sanctuary

In July 2024 we celebrated six new schools in Lancashire becoming a school of Sanctuary, a special status awarded for developing a culture of welcome, acceptance and support for those seeking safety.  

Jeff Morgan on behalf of the national City of Sanctuary movement together with members of our service presented the schools with the certificate in recognition of their achievement at a presentation ceremony at County Hall.

It was a pleasure being there and listening to the efforts by the schools but also the inspirational young people and children.

In all our new Schools of Sanctuary welcoming displays around the school which help new arrivals to settle in are present. Pupils and staff show consideration to anyone joining the school and not knowing much about the culture or the language. In each school it was good to see how the first language of pupils is respected and encouraged.

 All children, students and school staff had the opportunity to meet people with lived experience, listen to them, talk to them, and ask questions. Negative myths surrounding refugees and asylum seekers have also been dispelled in these schools.

We were very impressed with all the work the schools did to achieve School of Sanctuary status. Here are a few examples:

• The wide choice of literature and the personal stories from sanctuary seekers to which students have been exposed. Parklands High School

• Sharing the college’s initiatives with schools in Poland and Palestine. Marsden Heights Community College

• Exposure of students to the personal stories of those who have taken this journey (Refugee Week 2024). Lancaster Girls' Grammar School

• Using resources and programmes of study to explore diversity, aimed at every year group so that all children have a wide understanding of difference and acceptance through their school journey Leyland Methodist Schools

• children participate in learning activities centred around themes such as compassion, friendship, kindness, and inclusion regularly. St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Preston

• the deep involvement with parents, particularly with those of a sanctuary-seeking background, and the thorough follow-up with staff and pupils of what has been learned about sanctuary, diversity and welcome. St Patricks RC Primary School Preston

Enjoy a virtual visit to our Lancashire School of Sanctuary: St Patricks RC Primary School Preston   https://youtu.be/B00Ge0ebskk?feature=shared

Congratulation to Brownedge St Mary’s RC High School - our new Lancashire School of Sanctuary! 2023

From L-R: Jeff Morgan, City of Sanctuary National Trustee; Rachael Bowe, Lay Chaplain, Brownedge St Mary’s RC High School; Izabela Zalewska-Ratajczak, Education Improvement–Equality and Diversity Team.

At our latest School of Sanctuary network meeting in October 2023, we celebrated Brownedge St Mary’s RC High School becoming a School of Sanctuary, a special status awarded for developing a culture of inclusiveness and support.The school was presented with a certificate in recognition of their achievement by Jeff Morgan (The City of Sanctuary National Trustee) on behalf of the national City of Sanctuary movement.They joined our Lancashire cohort of Schools of Sanctuary as the twelfth school receiving this status.

Congratulations to our new Schools of Sanctuary 2020!

In January 2020 we celebrated three new schools in Lancashire becoming a School of Sanctuary, a special status awarded for developing a culture of acceptance and support.

Delph Side Community Primary School, Duke Street Primary, Our Lady's Catholic High School have demonstrated that they can create a safe environment that includes everybody in school, regardless of where people come from.

Congratulations to our 3 Lancashire Schools of Sanctuary, January 2019

In January 2019 we celebrated three new schools in Lancashire becoming a School of Sanctuary, a special status awarded for developing a culture of acceptance and support.

The schools were presented with a certificate in recognition of their achievement at a presentation ceremony by Steve Belbin (Head of Service, School Improvement Service) and Jeff Morgan (The City of Sanctuary National Trustee in the North West) on behalf of the National City of Sanctuary movement and Lancashire County Council.

The new Schools of Sanctuary are:

Holy Family Catholic Primary School in Preston

Dallas Road Community Primary School in Lancaster

Earby Springfield Primary.

Read the full article in the word document above

Congratulations to our first Lancashire Schools of Sanctuary, December 2017

English Martyr's Catholic Primary School in Preston

The Cathedral Catholic Primary School in Lancaster

Our Lady's Catholic College in Lancaster

Read the news article in the word document above.

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