School of Sanctuary  

School of Sanctuary

At Cottesmore St Mary’s, we believe we are a school of sanctuary. Our school is a safe and welcoming place for all.

A School of Sanctuary is a school that is committed to being a safe and welcoming place for all, especially those seeking sanctuary. This could be people whose lives were in danger in their own country, who have troubles at home or are just looking for a space of warmth and safety.

At Cottesmore we extend a warm welcome to everyone as equal, valued members of the school community with an emphasis on supporting every child and family’s dignity.

All of our pupils are valued as individuals and are equal to one another.  Our school is proud to be helping our pupils, staff and the wider community to understand what it means to be seeking sanctuary.

Every year we celebrate Refugee Week which celebrates the offerings, creativity and resilience of refugees. In the UK, Refugee Week is a nationwide programme of arts, cultural and educational events that celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK, and encourages a better understanding between communities. At Cottesmore, we promote the importance of sanctuary and the benefits it can bring to both refugees and host communities. As a Catholic school, we also remember that Jesus and Mary, the patron of our school, were also refugees who were forced to flee Bethlehem for fear of persecution.

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