AN OXFORDSHIRE school has been accredited as ‘refugee welcome’.

The Bicester School was praised for both its refuge welcome plan and refugee awareness plan.

Run by Citizens UK, in partnership with teachers’ union NASUWT, the Refugee Welcome Schools scheme recognises schools that have made a commitment to welcome refugees.

Amy Hall, the teacher who led the application, said: “We’re really proud to be part of a network of schools that welcomes refugee children and ensure their inclusion into the school community.

“Many of the Refugee Welcome Schools’ requirements were already being met by the admissions and EAL [English as an Additional Language] teams, which meant that only a few additional measures were introduced to successfully accredit.

“However, we can still do more, which is why we will continue to work on our welcome plan and take wider action by encouraging our partner schools to apply for accreditation also.”