Who We Are - Our story
Salusbury WORLD:
a triumph in the face of diversity
To an outsider, it seems to sit very happily within the school while maintaining a strong independent identity. Both this closeness and independence are vital – the centre does not support the school, but the children, parents and teachers of the school – a crucial distinction. For example: by helping a child with their English, pressure is clearly going to be lifted from classroom teachers.
The relationship works both ways. School may be one of the first British institutions a refugee is exposed to on arrival, and so offers a perfect access point for support. Because it is local, and parents and children are there five days a week, issues can be dealt with as they arise.
Culturally too, school and centre feel the benefits. When Ahlam arrived in the school playground with her two children, the sheer size of the place made their hearts sink, but then the upside kicked in. "There were people speaking my language, and it was so mixed, I didn"t feel we stood out," she said.
Another parent suggests that a centre like Salusbury WORLD could only work in a place like Salusbury School. Now on the board of Trustees, three of his children went to Salusbury, two going on to their secondary school of choice, the third still attending. "They've made incredible progress," he says. "After the ordeal of leaving our home and coming here, the school made a real effort to see that they fitted in. Now the two eldest have gone on to another very good school. It"s tremendous." If that is the spirit of the school, Salusbury WORLD is the embodiment of that spirit.
Abdi Farah sees other advantages. Through Salusbury WORLD, his children have been able to explore their Somali culture, and gain a great deal from that. "Quite apart from what they can tell other people about their background, it makes them more self-confident," he says. "They take that into the classroom, and into their lives."
Without denying the negatives, Salusbury WORLD"s way is to accentuate the positives. Doris Bancroft, the Chair of Trustees at Salusbury WORLD, is adamant about that. "Salusbury WORLD gives children the chance to explore their stories, and helps create understanding in the next generation of adults. It really is important. There are a lot of people moving around the world and that"s not going to change. At Salusbury WORLD we don"t see that as a problem, we don"t even see it as a challenge. We see it is as a chance to bring the best out of people - a real opportunity."
written for the centenary celebrations of Salusbury Primary School, 2002