St Anne's Catholic Primary School

School of Sanctuary

At St Anne’s Catholic Primary School, we believe that every child and every family deserves to feel safe, welcome, valued and included. Our school mission, “Love one another, as I have loved you, in our home, school and parish family,” is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to creating a community where everyone is treated with dignity, compassion and respect, whatever their background, culture, language or faith.

On 6 July 2026, we were incredibly proud to be officially recognised as a School of Sanctuary. This wonderful achievement celebrates the commitment of our whole school community to welcoming those seeking sanctuary and ensuring that everyone feels a true sense of belonging.

Our journey to becoming a School of Sanctuary has involved a great deal of hard work, reflection and collaboration. Pupils, staff, families and governors have worked together to develop our understanding of the experiences of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. We have explored the importance of kindness, empathy, inclusion and standing up for others, helping our children to understand how they can make a positive difference in the world.

We are particularly proud of the partnerships we have developed with outreach organisations, charities and community groups. These connections have helped us to broaden our understanding, celebrate diversity and strengthen our commitment to supporting others. Our work reflects our belief that every person has a story worth hearing and that everyone should have the opportunity to feel safe, accepted and valued.

As a Catholic school, our commitment to sanctuary is closely connected to our Gospel values and Catholic Social Teaching. We encourage our children to recognise the dignity of every human person, show compassion to those in need and put their faith into action. Through our learning, collective worship, pupil leadership and wider school activities, we aim to nurture children who are welcoming, courageous and ready to challenge prejudice and injustice.

Achieving the School of Sanctuary award is a significant milestone for St Anne’s, but this is just the beginning of our journey. We are committed to building on this achievement, developing new partnerships and taking part in further activities and initiatives that promote welcome, safety and inclusion. We want every member of our community to know that they belong and that they have an important part to play in making our school and wider society more welcoming places.

On 18 September 2026, our school community came together for a whole-school celebration of this fantastic achievement. It was an opportunity to recognise the hard work that had brought us to this point and to celebrate the values that unite us as a school family.

We are immensely proud to be a School of Sanctuary and will continue to live out our mission by welcoming others, celebrating diversity and showing love through our words and actions.

At St Anne’s, we want everyone to know: you are welcome here, you belong here, and you are valued here.

Love one another, as I have loved you, in our home, school and parish family.

Please take a look at the School of Sanctuary website for further information:

https://schools.cityofsanctuary.org/