A GREENOCK primary is only the second in Scotland to be given School of Sanctuary status for its work to welcome new pupils from foreign countries.

Whinhill has been recognised as somewhere that welcomes people as a place of safety and belonging.

The school has welcomed many refugees and pupils whose families have been seeking asylum.

Head teacher Elizabeth Ruddy said: "This sums up the ethos and values of our school.

"We are inclusive and welcoming to all of our children and families.

"We have pupils from Ukraine, Syria, South Sudan and Afghanistan where the language and culture is different from our own.

"We are of course a bi-lingual school with English and Gaelic here, so we celebrate diversity at Whinhill. It is called the Whinhill Way, it's our school story."

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The school were presented with their award by Bilal Wardak, a refugee to Inverclyde who now works for the Scottish Refugee Council.

Mrs Ruddy said: "I am proud of the children and staff and of our new families and the culture they bring to our school to what we already know and celebrate."

Lyle Buchan, 12, and Lily-May Klein, 10, are two of the pupils who have been engaged in activities to support the award.

Lyle said: "We had a diversity assembly and had an event called Fill the Skies with Hope, when we made heart shaped aeroplanes and wrote on them what was so great about our school and made a video about what makes Whinhill so special."

Lily-May, 10, said: "I've enjoyed getting to know all the new people in our school and making them feel welcome."

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Emma Morris is the principal teacher who has led the successfu project.

She said: "The aim of a school of sanctuary is to welcome refugees and displaced families in.

"We have been working on this and a series of activities this year.

"Last year we made a pledge to get the award but it is something we have always done in the school and this is a recognition of what we do already.

"We are all so happy to receive this, it's been a team effort, with all pupils and staff an working together to show how great our school is."