Collaborations

School of Sanctuary

At Bonneville Primary School, we are committed to ensuring that our children and their families, staff and the community understand what it means to be seeking sanctuary and the struggles asylum seekers and refugees face. We extend a welcome to everyone as equal, valued members of the school community. We aim to extend a hand of friendship to those who need it; making everyone feel equal and valued as part of our ‘Bonneville family’.

As an aspiring school of sanctuary, we are committed to:

  • fostering a culture of welcome and safety for people seeking sanctuary, including asylum seeking and refugee families.
  • educating the whole school community about the human right to sanctuary and identifying practical means for schools to demonstrate that commitment.
  • building empathy and intercultural awareness through promoting the voices and contributions of people seeking sanctuary, encouraging an understanding of the experiences of displaced people and helping to combat stereotypes.

What is a School of Sanctuary?

School of Sanctuary is a growing network with more than 380 primary and secondary schools all committed to supporting the thousands of young people seeking sanctuary in the UK, creating a culture of welcome, and raising awareness of the issues faced by refugees and asylum seekers.

Driven by teachers, school staff, parents, governors and community groups, the School of Sanctuary network supports the thousands of young people seeking sanctuary in the UK, raising awareness of the issues facing people in the asylum system, challenging misconceptions and building social cohesion. 

This growing network is supported by the umbrella organisation City of Sanctuary UK (CoS UK).

The City of Sanctuary UK

The City of Sanctuary UK organisation and its networks are guided and informed by a commitment to the following values:

  • Inclusiveness:We welcome and respect people from all backgrounds and place the highest value on diversity and are committed to equality.
  • Openness:We are committed to a culture of working collaboratively within the network and in partnership with others.
  • Participation:Those who support our vision, work together with people seeking sanctuary. We value and recognise the contribution of all involved. We aspire to ensure people seeking sanctuary are fully involved in decision-making processes and supported to become leaders within the City of Sanctuary organisation and network as well as the wider movement.
  • Inspiration:We work with enthusiasm and positivity and are determined to surpass what has already been achieved to welcome refugees and people seeking sanctuary. We act as a catalyst for change by being open to new and innovative ideas and through sharing knowledge gained with others and working in partnership.
  • Integrity:We aspire to high standards of honesty and behaviour, and always act in the interests of people seeking sanctuary.

Useful Links

City of Sanctuary UK

The Refugee Council

The Bell Foundation

“We support the ‘City of Sanctuary’ vision that the UK will be a welcoming place of safety for all and are 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.

South Balham Cluster

The SBC is made up of 5 local schools:

Bonneville, Henry Cavendish, Telferscot, Kings Avenue and Iqra.

Purpose:

To work together, both within schools and with our partner organisations, to share ideas, resources and expertise across the settings to support and facilitate the highest outcomes in attainment and aspirations for our pupils, parents, families, staff and wider communities.

The benefits of schools working together as a cluster is that they are better able to provide;

  • Projects to extend and enrich the school curriculum and a range of extra-curricular activities for pupils.
  • Further training for staff and opportunities to network, share good practice and resources.
  • Specialist services working across cluster schools to support children and young people.

We run a number of exciting projects as a cluster. For pupils these include enrichment days (dance, art, music, drama) and inter- school Sports Tournaments.

For staff we facilitate cross school moderation of standards in Maths, Reading and Writing, Subject Leaders network of professionals to enhance school curriculum, sharing of best practice with opportunities for cross school observations.

Lambeth Schools Partnership LSP

Working together to sustain education excellence in Lambeth

Introduction

The LSP is an umbrella organisation where the Local Authority, schools and settings can work in partnership to accelerate school improvement across the borough and provide professional challenge and support. It will co-ordinate, signpost to and broker a range of other providers offering training and traded support services which will be available via Lambeth School Services, Teaching Schools and Clusters. Bonneville represents the South Balham Cluster as a board member.

More Details

The primary focus of the LSP will be on collaboration for school improvement for all schools, not just for those experiencing difficulties  and on achieving the best educational outcomes for the children and young people of Lambeth. The LSP vision and values are at one with those of the Council, and its focus on improving outcomes for our children and young people is reflected in a commitment to specific, targeted outcomes. Further, school improvement is a system-wide endeavour. This proposal would make the LSP responsible for school improvement in Lambeth alongside core school improvement staff who are responsible for the statutory function. The Local Authority will retain its statutory duties to ensure school effectiveness, however all partners will be expected to

  • Sign up to the LSP vision and values
  • Contribute expertise to partner schools
  • Be Willing to offer peer support
  • Share best practice
  • Elect through school clusters members of the Partnership Board
  • Provide feedback on services received whether paid for or in kind
  • Be willing to take responsibility for outcomes beyond own school

To find out more please visit the website www.lambethschoolspartnership.uk/