1. Gill Miller Dept of Geography and International Development
Safe havens and new challenges: the impact of refugees and migrants on schools
Gill Miller
Dept of Geography and International Development

2. “Democracies should be judged not only by how they treat their members but by how they treat their strangers”
(Benhabib 1998: 108)
Outline significance.

3. Different immigrant categories
Economic migrant
Illegal immigrant
Status depends on various factors: country of birth, nationality, passports held, length of stay

4. Different immigrant categories
Refugee
Refugee: someone who, owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of the country UNHCR
Someone whose asylum application has been successful and who is allowed to stay in another country having proved they would face persecution back home.

5. Different immigrant categories
Asylum seeker
Failed asylum seeker
Someone who is fleeing persecution in their homeland, has arrived in another country, made themselves known to the authorities, exercised the legal right for asylum.
Someone whose asylum application has been turned down and is awaiting return to their country. If it is not safe for unsuccessful asylum seekers to return, they may have to stay for the time being.

6. International perspectives

7. Refugees often want to return home
Children are a key part of the migrant population

9. Immigrant Statistics for Wales 2014
Migrants make up 7% of population of Wales.
21,000 non-British nationals lived in Wales.
Wales received 4% of the non-British nationals who came to UK in 2014.
60% of foreign-born migrants in Wales are non-EU.
Cardiff has highest net international migration

10. Source: Markaki 2016 Migration Trends Report
Source: Markaki Migration Trends Report. Migration trends and population flows in Wales ( accession of eastern European states)

11. Asylum seekers and refugees in Wales
Dispersal centres: Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, Wrexham
2013: 1,571 asylum seekers, between 6000 – refugees
Top 5 countries of origin of asylum seekers living in Wales in 2014 were China, Pakistan, Iran, Nigeria, Afghanistan
Centre for Migration Policy Research claim “significant pockets of negative attitudes and prejudice towards asylum seekers and refugees living in Wales.” “Everyday racism”
Asylum seekers and refugees often concentrated in more deprived areas; difficult to get appropriate accommodation; physical and mental health often worsens due to poverty

12. Issues within receiving communities
Social capital - Values and norms of trust, cooperation, social networks, social organisations, assistance, family & friendship networks
Stereotyped by nationality / discrimination
Language
Legal status
Cultural change
Connections with home country
Remittances
Aid / social projects
Short clip from OXFAM Cymru

13. BBC Survey of local authority intentions re Syrian refugees April 2016
No. of familes / individuals
Anglesey
10 families / 30
Over 3 years
Flintshire ?
Blaenau Gwent
Neath PT
10 families
5 by Xmas
Bridgend
Newport
50 families
Over 4 years
Caerphilly 2
Before Xmas
Pembrokeshire
imminently
Cardiff
Rhondda CT
30-40 indivs
When?
Ceredigion
10-12 individuals
Swansea
60 families
Over 5 years
Conwy
Torfaen
2 families
Denbighshire
V of Glamorgan
Gwynedd
Wrexham
Merthyr Tydfil
10 per year

14. Syrian Vulnerable persons Resettlement Scheme in Wales
Syrian Vulnerable persons Resettlement Scheme in Wales. Figs for Quarter
Dyfed Edwards, Welsh Local Gov Assoc spokesman on migration: “Local government in Wales remainsf ully and wholeheartedly committed to offering safety, sanctuary and security to people whose lives have been torn apart by war…”
No. of familes / individuals
Anglesey
Flintshire
Blaenau Gwent 17
Neath PT 27
Bridgend
Newport
Caerphilly 7
Pembrokeshire
Cardiff ?
Powys
Ceredigion 10
Rhondda CT
Conwy
Swansea 24
Denbighshire
Torfaen
Gwynedd
V of Glamorgan
Merthyr Tydfil
Wrexham
Matthew Hemsley, OXFAM Cymru: “We cannot ignore how painfully slow the resettlement process is in Wales. In the time we’ve settled 34 refugees, Sotland welcomed 249 and Northen Ireland 104.”

15. Children as migrants
Increasing role / recognition of role of children as (often unwilling) combatants
Children below 18 years of age constituted 51% of refugees globally in 2014,
Children still somewhat neglected in refugee policy:
have specific needs e.g. education, health / nutritional requirements, psychosocial / adjustment problems
mostly (but by no means always) dependents / part of family groups;
many unaccompanied or separated children (UASC) seeking asylum therefore a particularly problematic area
often difficult to assess age. Arrive with no ID.

16. Children as migrants
UK asylum process criticised for handling of children:
1,277 applications from UASC in 2011
incarceration of children (with parents) in detention centres
difficulties in understanding a process that even adults find confusing (legal system, forms, interviews, language issues…)
issue of age determination
(Shaw 2012 and Children’s Society Young Refugees webpage:
Shaw, D. (2012, 12 September) ‘UK asylum process for children labelled “traumatic”’. BBC News online. Retrieve from
UNHCR (2015) Global trends Retrieve from

17. Migrant children in schools:
Research findings in literature
Research findings 2015 from urban and rural primary schools in Lincolnshire (Sophie Shackleton July-Sept 2015)
Impacts on the school
Impacts on classes / classrooms
Impact on migrant children
Other issues

18. Impact on the whole school
Broadens cultural understanding
Some authorities have funding for EAL pupils. Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant
May increase school facilities (e.g. teaching assistants)
Can boost pupils numbers especially in rural areas where roles are falling
Some correlation between increase in immigrant pupils and transfer of British pupils to private sector
Important role for school in community integration
Clash of cultures e.g. corporal punishment as a cultural norm v safeguarding
Changes to dinner menus e.g. halal meat
New ‘culture clubs’ set up by parents for all children

19. Impact on the class
Immigrant children often out-perform British-born primary pupils – highly motivated to learn
But some immigrant children do worse because poor language skills
Academic achievement varies with ethnicity
Schools with high levels of immigration have more bullying
Migrant children found to have overwhelmingly positive impact
But strain on classroom resources – especially if not in Mother Tongue
Opportunity to share cultures – engage with parents
Potential conflict too e.g. restrictions caused by Ramadan

20. Impacts on immigrant children
Schools with fewer immigrant children have better integration
Importance of friendships between local and immigrant children – helps orientation and adaptation. “Buddies”
Exclusion / loneliness. Often immigrant children will befriend each other
Language barrier may lead to disruptive pupils
Keeping up academically if there is a language problem
Attendance became a problem
Migrant children are shocked – weather, food, music, education system, trauma.
Children from war zones so appreciate what school has to offer here.

21. Issues for schools
Poor attendance - children go back home for family occasions, often 2-3 months
Cultural background affects level of engagement of parents with school. ‘disrespectful to interfere with a child’s education’.
Children move quite frequently and never settle to learn.
Need for funding for EAL resources
Integration depends on the language spoken at home.
Responding to religious needs – prayer rooms, prayer times.
Migrant children may have a positive impact - work ethic, culture, friendships

23. Some food for thought and discussion…….

24. Possibly useful data