The Royal School Wolverhampton Primary and Ormiston NEW Academy showed assessors from the City of Sanctuary UK movement that they celebrate their diverse communities, and that the School of Sanctuary ethos of welcome, inclusion and safety for all, runs through all aspects of both schools.
Achieving the School of Sanctuary status is the culmination of dedicated and ongoing efforts to ensure that every child, staff member and family feels represented, included, and valued.
The Royal School Deputy Head of Primary Hayley Green said: "We are delighted to have been awarded School of Sanctuary status — a recognition of the incredible work and dedication of our whole school community.
"This award celebrates the inclusive ethos that runs through everything we do, from our Young Interpreters to the everyday actions of all our amazing staff, pupils, and families who help make our school a warm, welcoming place for all. We’re proud of this achievement and grateful to everyone who continues to contribute to our culture of care, compassion, and belonging.
“We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Citizenship, Literacy and Language Advisory Teacher Claire Sumner for her unwavering support throughout this journey. Claire was instrumental in helping us develop a focused action plan tailored to our school’s unique context, and her guidance during our School of Sanctuary application process has been both expert and encouraging.
"This award is something we are all be truly proud of and belongs to all of us — staff, pupils, and families — who make our school such a safe and welcoming place for everyone where diversity is celebrated, support is proactive, and every child is given the opportunity to thrive.”
Eleanor Tomlinson, Educational and Child Psychologist at Ormiston NEW Academy, said: “We are delighted to have achieved the School of Sanctuary Award.
“We are extremely proud of the many different cultures and backgrounds of our student population here at Ormiston NEW Academy. This award recognises the hard work of staff, students and parents in building our diverse community, where all cultures are welcomed and celebrated, and all students can thrive. We look forward to sharing our knowledge and experience, supporting other local schools to work towards School of Sanctuary status."
The two schools have joined a growing group of educational institutions across the city that have achieved School of Sanctuary accreditation, further solidifying Wolverhampton’s reputation as a place of inclusion and sanctuary for all.
Other Schools of Sanctuary include Bantock Primary, Dunstall Hill Primary, Goldthorn Park Primary, Graiseley Primary, Rakegate Primary, St Andrews CofE Primary, St Lukes CofE Primary, St Regis CofE Academy, Stowlawn Primary, St Mary's Catholic Primary Academy, Villiers Primary, West Park Primary, Merridale Primary, Wodensfield Primary School, St Michael's CE Primary School, SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School, St Teresa's Catholic Primary Academy and Colton Hills Community School.
Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: "We are delighted that we now have 20 Schools of Sanctuary in Wolverhampton, which are all demonstrating the lengths they go to ensure they provide a safe and welcoming place for their children and families."
Schools can apply to become a School of Sanctuary by demonstrating to City of Sanctuary UK that they have implemented 3 key principles – learning and helping people understand what it means to be seeking sanctuary, embedding the concepts of safety, welcome and inclusive culture for everyone, and sharing their values and activities with their local communities.
The Schools of Sanctuary programme is part of the City of Sanctuary UK movement, committed to building a culture of safety and welcome, especially for refugees seeking sanctuary from war and persecution. For more information, please visit Schools of Sanctuary.
