Schools of Sanctuary

What is the Sanctuary UK movement? 

Schools of Sanctuary is part of the City of Sanctuary UK initiative; a national movement about welcome and belonging.  Norwich is a City of Sanctuary, and the local sanctuary network in it includes universities, libraries, gardens and churches, supporting the vision that all places in the UK should be welcoming places of safety and belonging for people seeking sanctuary. 

As of the end of 2022, there are more than 108 million people who have been forcibly displaced, of whom about 40% are children. Sanctuary seeking pupils in UK schools face a range of risks and challenges that can impact their educational experiences and outcomes including: 

• Language barriers 
• Challenges to their mental health and emotional well-being 
• Social isolation  
• Educational disruption 
• Economic hardship 
• Struggling to access information and guidance 

Schools that are committed to the scheme's shared vision of welcome, belonging, safety, respect, awareness and support, regardless of people's background, ethnicity, faith or gender can apply for a Schools of Sanctuary award. 

What is a School of Sanctuary? 

The Schools of Sanctuary award formally recognises and celebrates the good practice of schools who foster a culture of welcome and belonging for all, especially sanctuary seeking pupils and their families. 

Any school can apply for Sanctuary status; applications are made to their Local Lead.  The application records how the school meets the criteria set by the national team and requires evidence that the school's provision would help a newly arrived sanctuary seeker feel welcome, safe and included through 3 key areas: 

• Raising awareness about forced displacement and migration, 
• Adopting welcoming and supportive provision and practice for new arrivals, 
• Championing & strengthening the shared vision of welcome in communities. 

How does joining the School of Sanctuary movement benefit schools and settings? 

Working towards the School of Sanctuary award is beneficial because it: 

1. Fosters a culture of welcome and safety. 
2. Educates the community. 
3. Promotes sharing of values and activities. 
4. Supports wellbeing and engagement with learning. 
5. Is a strategic tool for improvement as it enables compliance with a wide range of statutory and non-statutory obligations including meeting the requirements of the Equality Act 2010. 
6. Provides access to quality assured resources, information, advice, and guidance alongside networking and best practice sharing with other schools. 
7. Fosters ethically informed active citizenship and change- making skills amongst children and young people. 

What does the law say? 

Under UK law, refugee and asylum-seeking children and young people of compulsory school age have the same entitlement to full-time education as other children and young people. Schools should not directly inquire about a child's immigration status and have specific legal duties regarding their support for refugees and asylum seekers: 

• Keeping Children Safe in Education is the statutory guidance to which all schools and colleges in England must regard when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. The most recent version came into force in September 2023. 
• Equality Act 2010: advice for schools 
• Statutory Relationships and sex education and health education (RSHE), became compulsory in all English schools from September 2020. Guidance has been published on the subjects and are currently under review. 

The Schools of Sanctuary Resource Pack provides information on the requirements on schools, and discusses relevant recent developments. 

How does the Norfolk Schools of Sanctuary Network help schools on their journey? 

Norfolk schools are supported to have a culture and curriculum of welcome and belonging through the Equalities, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB) graduated offer which includes a package of support for schools wanting to achieve sanctuary status.

The Norfolk Schools of Sanctuary package of support aims to help schools: 

• Combat misinformation and hostility and build understanding and empathy. 
• Increase staff expertise & improve school provision to better support students seeking sanctuary. 
• Support and inspire more people to join the movement of welcome. 

The School of Sanctuary Local Lead for Norfolk has created a Schools of Sanctuary Padlet which is a great place to start your journey.

How to find out more 

You can find out more about the School of Sanctuary scheme and the award on their website. 

If you are interested in becoming a Norfolk School of Sanctuary, follow our recommended next steps on our Schools of Sanctuary Padlet . 

You might also be interested in finding out more about Day of Welcome and Refugee Week which are national campaigns that take place in June. This signposting and resources padlet will enable your school to get involved. 

Key contacts

If you want to register your interest or have any specific questions regarding Schools of Sanctuary, please call our new families and professionals' phoneline 0333 313 7165 to get in touch with one of our advisers. This phone line is open on weekdays, from 9am to 5pm. You can also email inclusionandsend@norfolk.gov.uk if you are unable to call.