We're delighted to announce that our academy has officially been awarded School of Sanctuary status in recognition of our outstanding commitment to creating a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all pupils!
Awarded by the national City of Sanctuary network, this prestigious status celebrates schools that go above and beyond statutory requirements to ensure that every child feels valued, understood, and supported.
The appraisal panel praised our academy for an “outstanding” whole-school approach, commending our work in trauma-informed practice, pupil voice, community engagement, and innovative use of multilingual resources and technology to ensure inclusivity.
“Oasis Academy Aspinal has evidenced its commitment to the Schools of Sanctuary principles, by really taking an individual approach as a school and finding ways to support newly arrived pupils, focus on their wellbeing, and broaden awareness of sanctuary issues,” the panel stated. “This is a deeply caring and reflective school.”
Key highlights of our academy’s work include:
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Letters written by pupils to the Prime Minister on forced migration, which were described as “moving and powerful” by the panel.
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Young interpreters and wellbeing champions, trained to support new arrivals and foster belonging.
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Family and community engagement, including multilingual welcome packs, QR code access to key information, and links with local charities such as Rainbow Haven.
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Personal development weeks, including Heritage and Refugee Week, where pupils share family stories and explore human rights issues.
Principal Ms A Sweeting said: “We are incredibly proud to be recognised as a School of Sanctuary. This award reflects the compassion, creativity, and commitment of our whole school community, staff, pupils, and families alike. We believe every child has a right to feel safe, seen, and celebrated, and we are honoured to be part of this growing national network.”
We now look forward to sharing our good practice with other schools across Greater Manchester and beyond, helping to strengthen the movement for welcome, safety, and belonging in education.