School of Sanctuary

School of Sanctuary

Duke Street Primary School has been recognized by the local authority as a School of Sanctuary, in recognition of the work and ongoing commitment to engage and celebrate the positive contribution of refugees. Duke Street has worked to create a safe and inclusive environment, in which all children can thrive.

Representatives from the school received the award from Jeff Morgan, North West National Trustee of City of Sanctuary, at a presentation in the Exchange Savoy Suite at County Hall in Preston.

Roxana Sardais, English as an Additional Language (EAL) team leader, praised Duke Street for their powerful and emotional presentation, in which pupils, staff and parents all took part.

The school supports several families who have been resettled in Chorley, providing educational and family support through its outreach team, Arabic speaking TA and use of the local authority EAL service.   

Prior to this ceremony, only one other community primary school has had this  honour bestowed on it in Lancashire. Duke Street becomes one of only of 9 primary and secondary  schools to become a School of Sanctuary.

Duke Street  now supports other schools in the area which have refugee families or who are seeking to aspire to School of sanctuary status and it also hosts EAL network meetings for this part of the county.

Duke Street Primary School of Sanctuary Pledge:

“We support the ‘City of Sanctuary’ vision that the UK will be a welcoming place of safety for all and proud to offer sanctuary to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We endorse the City of Sanctuary Charter, and agree to act in accordance with City of Sanctuary values and apply the network principles within our work (as far as our specific context enables us to).

We recognise the contribution of people seeking sanctuary. People seeking sanctuary are welcomed, included and supported within our context.

We are willing for our organisation’s name to be added to a list of supporters of City of Sanctuary, linked to our website. We are also willing to be contacted by City of Sanctuary with further ideas for how we can turn our support into practical action and to discuss ways we might work together to promote the vision further.”