First school in Gateshead to receive the prestigious School of Sanctuary award!

By promoting shared values of compassion, acceptance and respect, our school has become the first School in Gateshead to be awarded School of Sanctuary.  

The title was awarded by City of Sanctuary UK, a nationally coordinated network of organisations and services, including councils, universities, theatres and libraries that welcome and support people seeking sanctuary.

There are over 1200 officially recognised Schools of Sanctuary and many more working towards the award. This means that they have committed to providing support to international newly arrived families, raise awareness of the issues facing people who are forcibly displaced in the world, as well as challenging misconceptions and building social cohesion.

Celebrating daily and embracing its unique diversity, our school has created an incredible place of belonging for everyone in our very happy school. Through the Learn, Embed and Share process, our school fosters a culture of welcome, empathy and understanding for all those families attending.  Setting high expectations and working collaboratively with the whole community to enrich the lives of everyone living in it, is just one of the many reasons why children thrive in our school.

As you are aware.  We were awarded an 'Outstanding' rating in all areas during our recent Ofsted inspection (February 2025). 

Ofsted said, “From the moment they arrive, pupils thrive in this happy school. Whatever their background or culture, they value each other and achieve very well. Pupils make a big contribution to this success. Their work in groups such as young interpreters and pupil champions is inspirational. 

The school’s programme for the personal development of pupils is excellent. Pupils in the school are all ‘STARS’ – safe, together, aspirational, resilient, successful. These attributes are embedded throughout the school and contribute to pupil’s exceptional behaviour.”

Pupils take responsibility and help each other. This contributes to a deep respect for difference. Pupils value the support of their peers as highly as the support they receive from staff. They demonstrate considerable maturity in their attitudes to each other.” Ofsted report, Feb 2025.

To celebrate, our school held a very special School of Sanctuary Celebration Day on Thursday 3rd April 2025. Parents, carers and community guests including Deputy Mayor, Freda Geddes, were invited along to share our success. A fantastic day was had by all and the Brighton Avenue community came together in unity to celebrate. Please see the wonderful pictures taken of this very special day.

A School of Sanctuary is a school that is committed to being a safe and welcoming place for everyone, especially those seeking sanctuary. Schools that receive this status:  

• Educate the school community about the experiences of people who have been forced to flee  
• Foster a culture of inclusiveness and support  
• Connect with and support local refugee organizations  
• Collaborate with other institutions to raise awareness  
• Advocate for a kinder approach towards those seeking safety  
• Review and improve their practices to meet the needs of learners from migration backgrounds  
• Recognize and participate in Refugee Week and other relevant events  
• Enable learner voice and leadership of the school's sanctuary activities  
• Provide training and education opportunities for school staff and management  

Schools receive the School of Sanctuary status after receiving a Sanctuary Award from City of Sanctuary UK or a partner organization. The awards process is appraised by a panel that includes someone with lived experience of seeking sanctuary and an expert in the field. 

SOS Celebration Assembly

Watch our talented children showcase songs and dances from around the world and come together to celebrate our diversity at Brighton Avenue Primary School. 

NB: Due to the large file size, the video has been shared via Brighton Avenue's private YouTube account. Rest assured the video is not visible on YouTube by the public and will not show up in search results.