WHAT IS A SCHOOL OF SANCTUARY? 

A School of Sanctuary is a school that is committed to being a safe and welcoming place for those seeking sanctuary. It is a space for those whose lives were in danger in their own country, who have troubles at home or are just looking for a space they can feel safe. 

A school of Sanctuary 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. 

WHY BECOME A SCHOOL OF SANCTUARY? 

We are proud to be working towards becoming accredited as a School of Sanctuary. We are committed to ensuring that our students learn and understand what it means to be seeking sanctuary and the difficulties asylum seekers and refugees face. Our curriculum ensures that there are opportunities to learn, understand and take actions around the themes of human rights as well as diversity, inclusion, refuge and migration. 

Useful links: 

https://schools.cityofsanctuary.org/ 

Some of the charities we support through our Schools of Sanctuary work here at Benson: 

https://www.migranthelpuk.org/  

https://www.childrenontheedge.org/ 

July 2023 

🧡Our Change Ambassadors visited St Clare’s Catholic Primary School for the Birmingham Schools of Sanctuary celebration day 2023. We learnt lots about other people’s cultures and had fun making musical instruments, sending secret messages and playing traditional playground games from other countries.  🧡

Year 4 visited the Birmingham Repertory Theatre to watch ‘In The Shadow of the Trees’ performed by Stories of Hope and Home. Stories of Hope and Home bring together people with lived experience of seeking sanctuary in the UK to build community in a place they now call home and to explore and share their stories and life experiences.   

Refugee Week June 2023 

Sponsored walk 

This refugee week we have walked one mile per day to raise money for Children on the Edge and express our compassion for refugees. Children on the Edge is a child rights organisation created to support the world’s most marginalised children, living in some of the toughest situations. They currently work with more than 20,000 children in Bangladesh, India, Uganda, Myanmar, and Lebanon. 

We would like to say a big thankyou to our community for supporting the children in raising £296 for completing their sponsored walk. Well done Benson bees! 

🧡Year 4 have been researching @Mo_Farah and the reason for his journey from his home country Somalia to the UK. We admire his achievements and his contributions to the UK. #Refugeeweek @BrumSchOfSanc  @SchsofSanctuary🧡 

🧡Thankyou to Sameera @Migranthelp for visiting us during #Refugeeweek. We learnt lots about how asylum seekers become refugees and about their journeys to a place of sanctuary. 🧡@SchsofSanctuary  @BrumSchOfSanc 

Year 3 and 4 enjoyed reading ‘The Waiting Place’ by @DinaNayeri and took part in the webcast as part of @NorwichSOS and #ADayOfWelcome. We loved hearing about Dina's story! @BrumSchOfSanc 
🧡 

Shoebox appeal 

Yet again, our community have shown their generosity in providing shoebox gifts during the religious celebrations of Christmas and Eid. The shoeboxes included some essentials such as shower gels, toothbrushes and socks along with a few special treats! The children decorated the boxes ready to share with newly arrived asylum seekers supported by the charity Migrant Help.  

World Book Day 2023 

Year 1 celebrated World Book Day by reading ‘My Name is Not Refugee’ by Kate Milner. The children thought about what they would pack in their backpack if asked to leave home. 

Year 2 celebrated World Book Day by reading ‘Wisp-A Story of Hope’ by Zana Fraillon and Grahame Baker Smith. The children drew a memory that would give them hope.

Fill the Skies With Hope 

🧡 We supported the ‘Fill the Skies With Hope’ campaign by launching orange paper planes filled with messages of hope for refugees. We stand together with refugees! 🧡