We are absolutely over the moon to receive this prestigious award!
"There is a Chair for Every Child at St. Patrick's"
School of Sanctuary
Our pledge to the City of Sanctuary:
“We support the ‘City of Sanctuary’ vision that the UK will be a welcoming place of safety for all and proud to offer sanctuary to people fleeing violence and persecution.
We endorse the City of Sanctuary Charter, and agree to act in accordance with City of Sanctuary values and apply the network principles within our work (as far as our specific context enables us to).
We recognise the contribution of people seeking sanctuary. Sanctuary seekers are welcomed, included and supported within our context. We expect our branches or local groups (if any) to support their local City of Sanctuary group if one exists, and will facilitate contact between them and their local City of Sanctuary group.”
At St Patrick's, we are committed to ensuring that all staff, children and members of our school community understand the struggles and challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers. We aim to welcome families of all backgrounds into our community and provide a place of sanctuary for any families who have had to flee their homes for many different reasons.
Our mission statement, 'Christ with me as I learn, grow and shine' demonstrates our ongoing commitment to ensuring that all children in our school are nurtured for their talents and personalities. With Christ's teachings as our guide, we are able to support, pray for and commit ourselves to ensuring we support people seeking refuge in the local area.
By achieving 'School of Sanctuary' status and ensuring that we work closely with the Preston City of Sanctuary team, we are are able to educate the children that we teach to ensure that they are accepting and welcoming of the increasingly diverse community that we serve.
What is a School of Sanctuary?
Schools of Sanctuary is a growing network with more than 380 primary and secondary schools all committed to supporting the thousands of young people seeking sanctuary in the UK, creating a culture of welcome, and raising awareness of the issues faced by refugees and asylum seekers.
Driven by teachers, school staff, parents, governors and community groups, the School of Sanctuary network supports the thousands of young people seeking sanctuary in the UK, raising awareness of the issues facing people in the asylum system, challenging misconceptions and building social cohesion.
This growing network is supported by the umbrella organisation City of Sanctuary UK (CoS UK).
The City of Sanctuary UK
The City of Sanctuary UK organisation and its networks are guided and informed by a commitment to the following values:
- Inclusiveness: We welcome and respect people from all backgrounds and place the highest value on diversity and are committed to equality.
- Openness: We are committed to a culture of working collaboratively within the network and in partnership with others.
- Participation: Those who support our vision, work together with people seeking sanctuary. We value and recognise the contribution of all involved. We aspire to ensure people seeking sanctuary are fully involved in decision-making processes and supported to become leaders within the City of Sanctuary organisation and network as well as the wider movement.
- Inspiration: We work with enthusiasm and positivity and are determined to surpass what has already been achieved to welcome refugees and people seeking sanctuary. We act as a catalyst for change by being open to new and innovative ideas and through sharing knowledge gained with others and working in partnership.
- Integrity: We aspire to high standards of honesty and behaviour, and always act in the interests of people seeking sanctuary.
Our Learning Journey
Refugee week 2023
We read the book "The Day The War Came," a story about a little girl who has to leave her home because of a war. She tries to go to school but the teacher says that there is no chair for her. This was a true story. Within this refugee week, children listened to guest speakers, joined a live assembly, where we spoke with children in a refugee camp in Jordan, and all children were tasked with the message that we welcome all children. The children then produced beautiful pieces of art. These were shared with parents in an art gallery at the end of the week!
We each took a chair onto our school field, and reflected on how lucky we are to have a chair and we pledged to make all children feel welcome at St Patrick's.
In March 2024 we did a Sponsored silence walk in solidarity for refugees. Monies raised went towards supporting the Sanctuary Foundation.
In April 2024 we joined the 'There's no Place Like Home' art and poetry competition. As a whole school, we looked at the stories of 9 refugee children and their homes before and after the war. The children created pieces of art work to reflect their thoughts and feelings on these stories.
May 2024- Assembly with Migrant Uk for our Key Stage 2 children.
