Swindon City of Sanctuary celebrates success of its first School of Sanctuary Award

By Jessica Durston jessica@positive-media.co.uk

Swindon City of Sanctuary is celebrating the success of its first school to join the UK’s Schools of Sanctuary Network - Peatmoor Primary School.

The charity, which is part of the national City of Sanctuary movement, says it seeks to build a culture of welcome, inclusion and safety for all in Swindon, especially people seeking sanctuary from war and persecution.

Through the national scheme of Sanctuary Awards, Swindon City of Sanctuary aims to bring people and organisations together, raising awareness of issues facing people seeking sanctuary, as well as challenging misconceptions and celebrating cultural diversity.

Following the November announcement that Peatmoor Primary School would be Swindon’s first nationally accredited School of Sanctuary, the school was presented with its award at a special assembly.

To gain the award, staff and young people at Peatmoor Primary - which now joins a network of almost 400 Schools and Colleges of

Sanctuary in the UK - had to show good practice in developing and embedding a culture of welcome and inclusion throughout the life of the school and in the curriculum.

The school’s application was then reviewed by a panel of Swindon City of Sanctuary’s trustees and volunteers, and a representative from City of Sanctuary UK.

The school’s Headteacher, Mrs Libby Matthews, said: “We are so proud of this award, which recognises the welcome that Peatmoor extends to all. The welcome anyone receives at Peatmoor comes from all our pupils and staff, and is very much embedded throughout all that happens.

“Thank you to Mrs Adams and Mrs Williams, who champion and lead on this aspect of school life, and who gathered the evidence needed which they presented to the panel, along with Miss Fishlock and the Year 5 and 6 children on our Welcoming Committee.”

Trustee and Swindon City of Sanctuary’s Volunteer Schools of Sanctuary Lead, Cristina Bennett, added: “Meeting the members of the Welcoming Committee and hearing them express such passion and commitment to the importance of fairness, inclusion and welcome was an absolute pleasure. They are clear role models for future School of Sanctuary Ambassadors in other schools in Swindon.”

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