Celebrations as Loxdale becomes city's 21st School of Sanctuary

Rebecca Taylor
Jul 21
2 min read

Staff and pupils at Loxdale Primary ended the summer term in celebratory mood after it was named Wolverhampton's 21st 'School of Sanctuary'.

The school showed assessors from the City of Sanctuary UK movement that it celebrates its diverse communities, that the School of Sanctuary ethos of welcome, inclusion and safety for all runs through all aspects of Loxdale Primary, and that it extends a warm welcome to everyone.

Deputy Headteacher Emma Wright-Jones said: "This award has been two years in the making and staff, children and families have worked really hard to ensure that we are as inclusive as possible.

"We are committed to welcoming children to Loxdale and pride ourselves on the welcome they receive. We are pleased to be recognised as kind and that we welcome people of all nationalities into our school without discrimination.

"Being a School of Sanctuary has empowered us to appreciate the richness that celebrating our diverse school community can bring, and we are proud to be a school that stands for inclusion, safety, warmth and kindness — a place where everyone belongs and can truly ‘Grow Together’."

Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: "We are delighted that we now have 21 Schools of Sanctuary in Wolverhampton, all of which have demonstrated the lengths they go to ensure they provide a safe and welcoming place for their children and families, and I would like to congratulate everyone at Loxdale Primary School on this achievement."

Other Schools of Sanctuary include Bantock Primary, Dunstall Hill Primary, Goldthorn Park Primary, Graiseley Primary, Rakegate Primary, St Andrews CofE Primary, St Lukes CofE Primary, St Regis CofE Academy, Stowlawn Primary, St Mary's Catholic Primary Academy, Villiers Primary, West Park Primary, Merridale Primary, Wodensfield Primary School, St Michael's CE Primary School, SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School, St Teresa's Catholic Primary Academy, The Royal School Wolverhampton Primary, Ormiston NEW Academy and Colton Hills Community School.

The Schools of Sanctuary programme is part of the City of Sanctuary UK movement, committed to building a culture of safety and welcome, especially for refugees seeking sanctuary from war and persecution.

Schools can apply to become a School of Sanctuary by demonstrating to City of Sanctuary UK that they have implemented three key principles – learning and helping people understand what it means to be seeking sanctuary, embedding the concepts of safety, welcome and inclusive culture for everyone, and sharing their values and activities with their local communities. For more information, please visit https://schools.cityofsanctuary.org/.