A local Birmingham Academy has received an abundance of praise this week after they were re-accredited their School of Sanctuary for another four years after receiving for the first time four years ago back in 2015.
Oasis Academy Foundry, situated in the heart of Birmingham are proud to be a place of safety, in a certificate issued and signed by Barbara Forbes from Birmingham City of Sanctuary, it reads;
“In recognition of its work and ongoing commitment over the last four years to engage with and celebrate the positive contribution of refugees and asylum seekers, we are pleased to present a new and updated award to Oasis Academy Foundry.”
This amazing news comes days after the Academy received an exceptionally positive Inclusion Quality Mark (IQM) report praising the Academy for; ‘supporting the diverse needs of children, the majority of whom had English as a second language and many of whom had recently arrived with little or no English.’
Emma Johnson, Executive Principal of Oasis Academy Foundry, commented on the award, saying; “We are very pleased to have been presented with a place of safety award by the City of Sanctuary movement for our ongoing commitment for each and every child in our care, which is at the heart of the Oasis Academy Foundry ethos.”
To gain the ‘School of Sanctuary’ status you must visibly demonstrate that you provide an inclusive space for children while also establishing an environment that celebrates cultural diversity, and Oasis Academy Foundry have done just that.
The academy supports its pupils, staff and the wider community to understand what it means to be seeking sanctuary and to extend a welcome to everyone as equal, valued members of the school community.