School of Sanctuary

Our Academy as a Community of Sanctuary

Newcastle is a proud City of Sanctuary, welcoming and caring for families who seek safety and refuge from all over the world. At Atkinson Road Primary Academy (ARPA), we are deeply proud to be part of this vibrant, multicultural city and to play an active role in supporting our diverse community of pupils and families.

Our school community reflects the rich cultural diversity of Newcastle. Children at ARPA speak over 30 languages and dialects, and many of our families have come to our city seeking safety and stability. We are committed to ensuring that every child and family feels welcomed, valued and supported from their very first day with us.

As a School of Sanctuary, we work tirelessly to ensure that children who have experienced displacement are not only supported, but celebrated, nurtured and given every opportunity to achieve their full potential. At the same time, we believe it is vital to educate all our pupils about kindness, belonging and respect, and about the strengths that diversity brings to our school, our city and our wider society.

Being a School of Sanctuary enables every child in our care to grow, learn and thrive in an environment where they feel safe, supported and proud of who they are.

To find out more about Schools of Sanctuary, please visit: 

https://schools.cityofsanctuary.org

Picture1Our School Community

Atkinson Road Primary Academy is a proud member of the Schools of Sanctuary family, offering a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for all children and families.

We strive to build a supportive, open‑minded and welcoming community.

 
Inclusion, Care and Family Support

To ensure all families can fully participate in school life, ARPA employs bilingual staff who support non‑English speaking parents throughout the admissions process and beyond. This ensures families are heard, understood and actively involved in our school community. Picture5

We provide practical support to families, including:

  • Interpreting and translation support
  • Food parcels
  • Free transport, school trips and PE kits
  • Free after‑school clubs for all pupils

Our school frequently opens during school holidays and Saturdays to offer clubs and enrichment masterclasses. In recognition of our strong partnership with families, we achieved the Leading Parent Partnership Award (LLPA) in 2023.

Supporting Children Who Have Experienced Trauma

We recognise that journeys to safety can be daunting and traumatic, and we are committed to supporting both children and families emotionally as well as academically.

Children who have experienced interrupted education are offered a wide range of high‑quality, research‑based interventions, supporting:

  • Language acquisition
  • Mathematics
  • Emotional and social development

We have invested significantly in the Thrive Approach, training staff to help children rebuild emotional wellbeing and resilience. Pupils who have experienced trauma can also access:

  • Drawing and Talking Therapy
  • Rainbows Bereavement After‑School Club

In recognition of this work, we achieved the Wellbeing Award (WAS) in 2024.

Awards and Recognition

Picture4We are proud that our strong commitment to inclusion, wellbeing and children’s rights has been recognised both locally and nationally. We became a School of Sanctuary in 2022, and our inclusive ethos has since been further acknowledged through the following national awards:

  • Gold UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools Award (2024)
  • SEND Inclusion Award (2024)
  • Wellbeing Award (2024)
Reflection, Faith and Community Engagement

ARPA has a dedicated Room of Reflection, providing a quiet, respectful space where children of all faiths are welcome to pray or reflect.

We also actively support the wider community, regularly working with and contributing to:

  • Local food banks
  • West End Refuge Service (WERS)
  • Other local charities and community organisations Picture6