Schools of Sanctuary
Schools of Sanctuary is a support programme, award scheme and network of schools committed to providing support to the thousands of young people seeking sanctuary in the UK, whilst creating a culture of welcome and inclusion for all refugees and people seeking asylum.
To be recognised as a School of Sanctuary, schools must demonstrate that the whole school community has learnt about migration issues, embedded policies and practices of welcome and inclusion, and shared our vision of welcome beyond the school gates, working in partnership with their local community. In doing so, Schools of Sanctuary celebrates schools that proactively and effectively meet the needs of students from sanctuary-seeking backgrounds and take steps to challenge misinformation and inaccurate rhetoric around migration and build empathy and solidarity.
The Schools of Sanctuary programme supports schools every step of the way, by offering tailored events and advice, signposting to helpful resources, sharing case studies, facilitating local connections and developing unique opportunities with a range of partners.
Schools of Sanctuary is overseen by City of Sanctuary UK, a UK-wide refugee sector charity.
Schools of Sanctuary has been recognised as one of 29 global ‘promising practices’ in inclusive and sustainable refugee education by the UNHCR, Refugee REACH at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Qatar Foundation International (QFI), Save the Children, Sirius and the University of Nottingham. Learn more.
The British Council also highlight the positive impact Schools of Sanctuary has on building ‘newly arrived ELT resilience’ in schools: Learn more.