Blaenymaes Primary School is embarking on a journey to become a School of Sanctuary. We are striving to ensure that our school is a safe and welcoming space for all.   We are committed to provide all children, from different backgrounds, an equal opportunity to feel welcome and be part of an inclusive and safe environment.  We aim to provide a safe space for those seeking sanctuary and ensuring that this is at the ethos of our culture, learning and everyday practice. 

What is a School of Sanctuary?

• A school that fosters a culture of welcome and safety for people seeking sanctuary, including asylum seeking and refugee families.
• A school that educates the whole school community about the experiences and realities of people who have been forced to flee to foster empathy and understanding.
• A school that plays an active role in building a culture of welcome by connecting with and supporting local refugee organisations, collaborating with other institutions to raise awareness and advocate for a kinder approach towards those seeking safety.
• A School of Sanctuary finds practical ways to show their commitment to the human right to sanctuary while educating the entire school community about it.

Why do we want to become a School of Sanctuary?

• As a school, we want to achieve this award because we believe our school is a safe, secure and inclusive environment for everyone. We believe that educating our children about the right to sanctuary will enable us as a school to accept everyone for who they are and understand that we are all equal members of the community.

What will we be doing at Blaenymaes?

• Children and staff will be learning about why people become refugees and asylum seekers, and the challenges they may face in our world today through whole school assemblies and lessons in class. We believe that it is vitally important to learn about and understand these issues because of the impact we can have as a school.

Our Pledge

• We support the vision of Swansea as a ‘City of Sanctuary’, welcoming those fleeing violence and persecution in their own countries.  We recognise the contribution of people seeking sanctuary to the City of Swansea.  We are committed to taking practical steps to welcome and include them in activities and are actively seeking ways of supporting them where we can.