School of Sanctuary
Ashton Park School has an increasing number of EAL students within our school community, with at least 41 different home languages in use. EDI is a whole school priority, as we ensure that our school values of respect, determination, and community encompass all. Fostering a sense of belonging has been central to our school culture, and this is reflected in and out of the classroom.
As we strive to provide the best possible support for those in our care, we have engaged with Bristol as a City of Sanctuary, as we work towards becoming a School of Sanctuary.
As part of this process, we have developed and improved:
- our admissions procedures and the support we can offer families
- our provision for EAL students in and out of the classroom
- links with the wider community to better understand the needs of our refugee and asylum seeking children
- training for staff
- the curriculum - reviewing EDI across school, so that we can clearly identify our successes and next steps.
Staff, student, and parent voice influences the work that we do, and helps to shape planning for our next steps.
Young Interpreters Scheme
At Ashton Park School, student leadership is central to the focus on our school values, and as part of this we are developing a Young Interpreters Scheme.
Young Interpreters are buddies who help new students from different countries settle in at school. Young Interpreters receive training for their role. They can be English speakers or speakers of other languages. They must be caring, kind and helpful.
Our Young Interpreters can:
- be a buddy during break/lunch times and/or in lessons
- help new students settle in
- show parents/visitors around the school
- help a student to communicate a problem/difficulty
- demonstrate school systems and routines
- use all their languages, including English (often helping when there isn’t a shared language).
Culture Week
Raising awareness in school has also been central to the development of our school community, and ensures that everyone is seen and heard. Culture Week ran for the third time this year, providing lots of opportunity inside and out of the classroom to celebrate the rich diversity within our school community.
Our school is home to students from various cultural backgrounds, each bringing unique traditions, languages, and customs. Culture Week provides a platform to showcase and celebrate this diversity, fostering a sense of pride and appreciation for different cultures.
Culture Week encourages cultural exchange and dialogue among students and staff. It provides an opportunity for individuals to share their cultural heritage with others, fostering understanding and building connections across cultural boundaries.
Refugee Week: Community as a Superpower - 16-22nd June
June will see us return to Refugee Week for the second year, and will include the whole school engaging in a fundraiser for Aid Box Community, as part of our commitment to those working with us from beyond the school gates. Please keep an eye on the Friday Mail for further updates.
School of Sanctuary pledge
Our commitment to School of Sanctuary has involved us signing the following organisational 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. Sanctuary seekers are welcomed, included and supported within our context. We expect our branches or local groups (if any) to support their local City of Sanctuary group if one exists, and will facilitate contact between them and their local City of Sanctuary group.”
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."
You can find more information on Schools of Sanctuary here:
