St John the Baptist’s College in Portadown are winners of the inaugural HistoryPrize! It is now one of the first schools beyond Belfast and Londonderry to reach the coveted School of Sanctuary status. This recognition is a testament to the school’s commitment. It showcases their commitment to creating a warm, inclusive environment where all students—particularly those from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds—can thrive.
St. John the Baptist’s College has a lively student body of 540 pupils and a positive ethos. To better serve its large immigrant population, the college is intentionally recruiting some 200 new arrival students. Walk-in wardrobe One of the main programmes is inventively dubbed a “walk-in wardrobe.” Their resource empowers disadvantaged students to start school with items such as uniforms, stationery, hygiene packs and shoes.
Principal Noella Murray expressed immense pride in receiving the award, stating, “We are incredibly proud to receive this award. It’s not just a recognition of what we do – it’s a reflection of who we are as a school.”
Even more than creating a feel-good story, the School of Sanctuary accreditation required an exhaustive approach for the school. This process involved an outside evaluation and development of a comprehensive action plan. The school’s deep and ongoing commitment is helping to create a more culturally inclusive environment where all students—regardless of their backgrounds—can thrive.
Teacher Stacey Rodgers emphasized the significance of the accreditation, noting that it represents “much more than a title. It represents a culture of welcome that runs through every corridor in our school and every classroom.” She further added, “People will say when you walk into our school, you can’t just see it, you can feel it.”
St John the Baptist’s College with a walk-in wardrobe. Beyond that, it has a beautiful multicultural day each year, with booths and displays that celebrate all the cultures represented in Hamilton. One stall features stunning African jewelry and ornate wooden decorations. The school takes great pride in the 23 languages spoken by its diverse student body. It has ensured that all signage is printed with those languages, too. True to its inclusive concept, the Portuguese consulate has been invited to help out and support Portuguese parents and students.
The school supplements its academically-surprising offerings with genuinely caring mentoring support from a consistent staff of committed staffers. Further, it offers a nurture center to nurture deeper emotional support. To create a more supportive environment and promote student well-being, the school works with experts to provide emotional support services.
