Last week at St John’s Catholic School & Sixth Form College in Bishop Auckland, our community had the privilege of welcoming Iman, a Syrian refugee who shared her powerful personal story with our entire Year 10 cohort. Since arriving in the UK in 2017, Iman and her children have faced challenges, change and incredible moments of resilience — and her visit offered our students a unique opportunity to learn directly from lived experience.
A Powerful Learning Experience for Year 10 Students
Iman spoke openly about her journey to safety, adapting to a new culture, and rebuilding life in the North East. Our students listened with maturity and empathy, engaging with her story in a way that truly reflected the values of St John’s Bishop Auckland.
We were especially proud of Matthew, Taylor, Faye and Lewis, who asked thoughtful and courageous questions that enriched the session for everyone.
Linking to Our Catholic Ethos and Fratelli Tutti
Iman’s visit beautifully complemented our school’s current focus on Pope Francis’ Fratelli Tutti — a call to promote compassion, solidarity and unity across the global family. Her real-life experience gave depth and meaning to discussions around dignity, inclusion and what it means to welcome and support others.
Celebrating Compassion and Community at St John’s
Moments like this remind us why we place such importance on character development, global awareness and Catholic social teaching here at St John’s in Bishop Auckland. Our students demonstrated respect, kindness and curiosity — qualities we strive to nurture every day.
We extend a heartfelt thank you to Iman for sharing her journey with such honesty and strength. And a huge well done to Year 10 for representing our school with dignity and compassion. You made the St John’s community proud.
Let’s continue to support, uplift and celebrate one another as we grow together in faith, understanding and unity.