The SoS Charter celebrates providing a safe and welcoming haven for all pupils, particularly those from overseas.
Congratulations to the latest schools who have achieved sanctuary status and have joined our family of sanctuary schools.
A School of Sanctuary (SoS) is a school that is:
"Committed to being a safe and welcoming place for all students and their families. It is a school that helps its students, staff and wider community understand what it means to be seeking sanctuary and to extend a welcome to everyone as equal, valued members of the school community.
It is a school that is proud to be a place of safety and inclusion for all."
There are three principles to becoming a School of Sanctuary:
- Learn what it means to be seeking sanctuary
- Take Positive action to embed concepts of welcome, safety and inclusion within your school and the wider community.
- Share your vision and achievements – be proud!
The SoS charter will encourage schools to look at all aspects of school life from the viewpoint of individual learners and help promote inclusion at every level.
‘In 1952, Britain signed the European convention on Human Rights because we were proud to protect people whose lives were endangered in their own countries.
Through Schools of Sanctuary we can resurrect that pride, reach out in friendship, learn from different cultures and enrich all our lives.
Liverpool has a great tradition of welcoming the stranger and this is evident in the large number of schools who are keen to become Schools of Sanctuary in the city.
A number not matched in such a short time in any other city across the UK. Well done Liverpool!’
National Co-ordinator, School of Sanctuary