Schools of Sanctuary

The Schools of Sanctuary programme is an award scheme currently ,managed in partnership with the Belfast City of Sanctuary charity and the Education Authority’s Intercultural Education Service. The support programme aims to help schools broaden and deepen their understanding of the core concept that:

“Schools are welcoming places where every child feels safe and accepted regardless of  what they believe, where they are from or what they look like; places where cultural diversity is valued and celebrated”.

This means supporting schools to become more welcoming and inclusive spaces for Traveller, Asylum Seeker, Refugee, Roma, and other Newcomer pupils. Based on the principles of ‘Learn, Act and Share’, the programme helps schools embed cultural diversity into their ethos, helping to ensure that children and families feel safe and accepted.

The Intercultural Education Service, Belfast City of Sanctuary and our funding partner the Executive Office, helped to develop a customised Schools of Sanctuary resource pack -2nd edition for schools. Selected schools followed the seven-step programme online and joined school clusters to help them to follow a developmental pathway of easily managed ‘bite-sized’ tasks. IES provided advice and support to schools around how to enhance the experience for children, parents, staff, and those in the wider community.

All schools can access our resource pack, which includes examples of good practice to guide them towards achieving the Schools of Sanctuary Award. Whether you are starting out or ready to apply, IES provides advice, support, and inspiration to foster cultural inclusion.

If your school is interested in finding out more about the School of Sanctuary award, please contact the Intercultural Education Service using our Online Form