The school has defended its link up with Bristol’s City of Sanctuary organisation
Cotham School(Image: Bristol Live)
A Bristol secondary school has called out far-right activists who have threatened a campaign and action over its link with the City of Sanctuary organisation in Bristol. Cotham School said the letter, from an anonymous group calling itself ‘Bristol Patriots’ contained ‘serious misinformation’, made ‘deeply concerning claims’ and the school ‘unequivocally rejects the divisive rhetoric and false claims’.
The Cotham School community – the headteacher, governors and parent-teacher organisation – decided to share a letter the school has received from ‘Bristol Patriots’ which criticised its work with City of Sanctuary. And in response, the school sent the group an open letter directly challenging its claims, and saying it was not only ‘factually wrong’ but also ‘morally reprehensible’.
The school received an unsigned letter from a group calling itself ‘Bristol Patriots’ – the group has a logo with a strapline ‘We will not be silenced’, showing an AI cartoon man and woman wearing Union flag t-shirts and one is carrying a megaphone with the other carrying a larger Union flag. The letter appears to be part of the latest far-right campaign focus, led by reports on right-wing media and social media about children writing letters to asylum seekers.
The letter said it had ‘come to our attention that your school/nursery/sixth form has established a connection and is working alongside City of Sanctuary UK’. Cotham School is a secondary school for children aged between 11-16, with a linked post-16 sixth form centre.
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The letter describes City of Sanctuary as ‘a very dangerous organization’ (sic) which is ‘attempting to indoctrinate our children in Bristol and across the UK. They are encouraging children to write Valentine’s Day cards, love letters, and pledges to illegal migrants in the area’, the letter claims. The letter also makes a number of claims about City of Sanctuary and ‘illegal migrants’.
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It ends with a threat for more action. “We ask you to do the right thing and cut all ties with City of Sanctuary UK immediately and stop putting the children in your school at serious risk. This letter is the beginning of the action we will be taking. Groups across the country are already exploring various ways to put a stop to this now…” it added.
The letter appears to be generic, and sent to schools across the country – all of whom, in England and Wales at least, are currently on their summer holiday. The leadership team at Cotham School, which boasts two former pupils who went on to win the Nobel Prize for physics, as well as TV presenter Maya Jama among its alumni, decided to speak out about the leader.
Headteacher Jo Butler said the description of City of Sanctuary and the school’s work with City of Sanctuary was ‘factually wrong’. She said it ‘contains serious misinformation about our educational partnerships and makes deeply concerning claims about refugee children and families in our community’.
“We unequivocally reject the divisive rhetoric and false claims made in this correspondence. Our school is proud to be part of Bristol’s welcoming community, and we will not be intimidated into abandoning our core educational values,” she said.
GV of Cotham School, Bristol.(Image: Bristol Post / SWNS.com)
“Our partnership with City of Sanctuary UK represents exactly the kind of compassionate, educational work we should be doing with young people. This organisation supports schools in developing empathy, global citizenship, and understanding of displacement – vital skills for young people growing up in an interconnected world.
“Any activities undertaken are age-appropriate, curriculum-linked, and designed to build understanding and kindness. The characterisation of refugees in the letter is factually wrong and morally reprehensible. Refugees are people who have fled persecution, war, and violence.
“They undergo extensive background checks and legal processes. To suggest that encouraging empathy toward displaced people constitutes “grooming” represents a profound misunderstanding of both safeguarding and basic human decency,” she added.
“Education is about opening minds, building understanding, and preparing young people to be thoughtful citizens. We will not allow fear-mongering to undermine this vital work.
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“Our doors remain open to respectful dialogue with any community member who shares our commitment to the well-being and education of all children,” she added. “Together, we build a community where every child can thrive. We will continue our educational mission without interference from those who seek to divide our community.
“We encourage ‘Bristol Patriots’ to seek accurate information from credible sources rather than accepting inflammatory claims. support all children in our Bristol community as they learn and grow together and stand against rhetoric that seeks to demonise vulnerable people, especially children.” she added.
“Our diverse school community, which includes children from many backgrounds, including refugee families, makes us stronger. These children bring resilience, different perspectives, and often remarkable academic dedication despite the challenges they’ve faced,” she said.
Late last month, Cotham School hit out at one Tory councillor who sparked shock in the City Hall council chamber when he compared the school’s leadership to Hamas, in a separate row over its playing fields. Cotham School said Cllr Richard Eddy’s comments – which triggered criticism from across the parties at the council were ‘offensive’ and they were ‘deeply concerned’ at what the councillor had said. –
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