Becoming a School of Sanctuary
At St.Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School in North Shields, we are proud to be on a journey towards becoming a School of Sanctuary. This reflects who we already strive to be every day: a welcoming, inclusive and compassionate community where every child and family is valued and supported. As a UNICEF Rights Respecting School, children’s rights sit at the heart of our ethos, practice, and decision-making. Our whole-school approach ensures that children feel safe, listened to and empowered to flourish, whatever their background or starting point.
We are committed to supporting the well-being of our whole community. Two Senior MentalHealth Leads, alongside a dedicated SEMH team, work closely with children andfamilies to provide timely care, nurture and guidance. A wide range of targetedlearning interventions further support children to succeed academically whilefeeling confident and secure.
Our school community is richly diverse, with over 20 languages spoken. We celebrate this diversity continuously through our curriculum, assemblies and daily life. We use bilingual books, work closely with North Shields Library Service, and translate newsletters and key information so families can fully engage in school life. Each year, we dedicate time to sharing and celebrating the work we do around inclusion, belonging and community.
Compassion is important to us, too. Our uniform upcycling scheme helps families, reduces waste, and supports care for our common home. This is part of our bespoke curriculum, Compassion Matters, which interconnects all learning and encourages children to grow as kind, thoughtful and responsible citizens. Our journey towards being a School of Sanctuary is deeply rooted in our Catholic faith. The teachings of Pope Francis, particularly Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti, inspire us to care for one another, stand in solidarity with the most vulnerable, and build a more just and loving world.
Becoming a School of Sanctuary is not a new direction for St. Cuthbert’s – it is a natural step that reflects our values, our actions and our commitment to ensuring that everyone who walks through our doors truly feels they belong.