Schools of Sanctuary - A Celebration of Success

What an amazing year for Schools of Sanctuary. Last year 5 schools were supported to achieve the award:

• John Spence Community High School
• Marden High School
• Norham High School
• Richardson Dees Primary School
• St. Columba’s Catholic Primary School.

This year we have doubled the number of schools with 5 more achieving the award:

• Christ Church C. of E. Primary School
• Marine Park First School
• Rockcliffe First School
• St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School
• Wallsend St Peter’s C. of E. Primary School.

On Friday 12th July we held our celebration event where schools showcased the work they have done and helped visitors understand the difference they have made as well as what other schools would need to do to secure the award. All of the young people were fantastic and spoke with pride and confidence about the work they have done this year. The event was supported by a range of people including, the Young Mayor for North Tyneside, Mary Glindon, MP for Newcastle East and Wallsend and Councillor Hannah Johnson, Cabinet Member for The Environment

We are so proud of our work in North Tyneside. The work is lead by a partnership of North Tyneside Learning Trust and the charity Walking With in Wallsend. Together we not only support the schools but help them to make connections with people who have lived experience. Our ambition is that all schools in North Tyneside become Schools of Sanctuary.

Feedback about the work has been excellent and very positive:

“Clare Campbell and David Baldwin (Local Leads for Schools of Sanctuary) launched the local Schools of Sanctuary programme in 2022 and have established a highly successful and supportive Schools of Sanctuary network in North Tyneside. Working with school leaders, teachers and community members, they felt it was important for young people in local schools to learn about why people seek sanctuary to build understanding and empathy and to ensure that every child, including those seeking sanctuary, feels safe, valued and supported to succeed in school. By going through the Schools of Sanctuary process, these five new schools double the number of Schools of Sanctuary in North Tyneside – together they contribute to building a culture where everyone feels safe and welcomed in our community and every child is able to thrive, including those who have faced the terrible experience of fleeing their homes. We are proud to recognise them as our newest Schools of Sanctuary in North Tyneside.” Megan Greenwood, the Schools of Sanctuary National Coordinator

“I’m delighted that four North Tyneside Learning Trust schools were the first schools in the region to secure Schools of Sanctuary status last year and we have been able to build on that achievement this year with a further 5 schools securing the award. As a Trust we are committed to ensuring all schools welcome and celebrate diversity within the student population and Schools of Sanctuary demonstrates our strong commitment to this important goal.”  Kehri Ellis, the CEO of North Tyneside Learning Trust

“I came to this country afraid and unable to speak English. The school has helped me so much and I have so many good friends who look after me. Everyone at my school is so kind.” A refugee at one of our successful schools

“We have learnt so much about why people are forced to leave their homes. I have loved being a buddy to people arriving at my school, helping to show them around, making sure they know where things are and helping them to make friends. We have been to visit Walking With and got involved in storytelling as well as helping to raise money at school by making and selling tiffin at school. I am looking forward to helping other schools become schools of sanctuary.” A child at one our successful schools

So what are Schools of Sanctuary?

The Schools of Sanctuary Award recognises a school that is:

• A place of welcome for all
• Educates about why people are forcibly displaced
• Recognises that the UK is enriched by new arrivals
• Supports pupils from all backgrounds to feel seen, supported and included.

The award helps a school develop through three simple steps:

1. Learn about what it means to be seeking sanctuary
2. Embed the concepts of welcome, safety and inclusion into the fabric of the school
3. Share their values and activities across the school community and their local community

Our schools have approached this work in a variety of ways:

• Set up a group of children to lead the work
• Trained the staff to understand the topic in more detail
• Organised activities in lesson time such as reading and understanding the book “The boy at the back of the classroom”
• Organised assemblies to help the whole school understand migration better
• Welcomed those with Lived Experience into the school to share experiences
• Supported the charity Walking With though fundraising
• Got involved with events during Refugee Week such as the Great Big Assembly, inter school sports and fundraising.

Further information is available at https://schools.cityofsanctuary.org/

All of the schools are now ready to mentor a new group of schools from September 2024 as we continue with our ambition that all of the schools in North Tyneside will be Schools of Sanctuary. If this is something you would like to get involved with in September 2024 then please contact david.baldwin@ntlearningtrust.org.uk

Help us to make North Tyneside the most welcoming place in the country.

- Posted on 5th August 2024