Supporting Inclusive Practices, Increasing Life Chances
The Inclusion Quality Mark (IQM) exists to help schools create learning environments where every pupil feels valued, supported and able to thrive.
By achieving the IQM Award, schools demonstrate their commitment to embedding inclusive practice at the heart of everything they do. From curriculum planning and behaviour management to staff development and community engagement.
For school leaders, the Inclusion Quality Mark offers both recognition and a practical framework for addressing the challenges of diverse learning needs, growing accountability, and the pressure to provide consistent, high-quality provision. Whether you are a Headteacher, SENDCo, Trust CEO, or part of a Local Authority team, IQM offers a clear pathway to assess, improve, and celebrate inclusion in your setting.
Joining IQM connects your school to a national and international network of inclusive schools, sharing strategies and solutions for complex educational needs. The process goes beyond a badge. It drives sustainable improvement, builds staff confidence, and reassures stakeholders that your inclusive approach is robust, evidence-based, and future-ready.
When you start your IQM journey, you join a movement of schools committed to inclusive practice, opportunity, and excellence for every learner, ensuring your community can see, feel, and benefit from your inclusive ethos.
The IQM Awards
Inclusive
School Award
Join over 6,500 schools that have achieved or are working towards the Inclusive School Award.
This award level recognises commitment to creating an inclusive environment and provides a framework for continuous improvement.
Centre of
Excellence
Available for schools that have met the Inclusive School Award criteria and are ready for the next step.
Centre of Excellence schools have established, embedded inclusive practice, sharing expertise with other settings and benefit from additional IQM networking support & resources.
Flagship
School Status
Exceptional schools that have successfully maintained their Centre of Excellence status for over 3 years.
IQM Flagship schools have inclusive practice threaded throughout all they do. They are sector leaders in inclusion, innovative practice, and contribute to educational research.
The IQM way
Promotes access and diversity
Raises achievement for all
Improves inclusive nature of all schools
Creates an environment for all to succeed
Promotes access and diversity
Raises achievement for all
Improves inclusive nature of all schools
Creates an environment for all to succeed
The IQM way
Who are the IQM Awards for?
IQM partners with mainstream, special, independent, and international schools, Multi-Academy Trusts, Local Authorities, and community organisations.
We are continuously expanding to work with more educational providers worldwide.
Why do schools choose IQM?
Measurable Improvement
IQM provides a structured framework to evaluate and strengthen inclusion, helping leaders identify gaps and track progress over time.
Pupil Outcomes
Inclusive approaches improve attainment, engagement, and wellbeing for all learners, including those with SEND.
Reputation and Trust
IQM status signals to parents, governors, and the wider community that inclusion is a lived value, not just a policy.
Staff Confidence
Training and development boost staff skills in meeting diverse needs, improving staff retention and morale.
Leadership Support
Support from the IQM team and via cluster groups helps school leaders to manage complex needs and resources effectively.
Peer Network
Centre of Excellence and Flagship Schools can access a community of inclusive schools sharing proven strategies and innovations.
Consistency
School and Trust-wide confidence in inclusive practice, leaders have full visibility of how inclusion is celebrated in each school.
Why is there a growing need for inclusion?
Across the UK, Ireland, and internationally, the drive for truly inclusive education has never been stronger. School leaders face a rapidly changing educational landscape, shaped by shifting pupil demographics, increasing complexity of need, and growing expectations from parents, inspectors, and communities. For many, achieving the Inclusion Quality Mark is a practical and proven way to respond to these challenges while embedding an inclusive ethos that benefits every learner.
The Changing Dynamics in Education
Classrooms today are more diverse than ever. Pupils may present with a wide range of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), social and emotional needs, language barriers, and cultural differences. Meeting these needs consistently and effectively requires strategic leadership, evidence-based practice, and a whole-school approach.
IQM supports schools in going beyond compliance and creating environments where every learner feels valued and able to achieve. By working towards the IQM Award, schools assess their strengths, identify development priorities, and create a clear roadmap for improvement.
Accountability and External Expectations
Inspection bodies, such as Ofsted, Estyn, and the Department of Education in Ireland, place an increasing emphasis on inclusion and equality of opportunity. Inspectors want to see that policies are not only written but actively lived in classrooms. Schools holding the Inclusion Quality Mark can demonstrate, with robust evidence, that they meet and often exceed these expectations.
Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) and growing school groups face the additional challenge of ensuring consistency of inclusive practice across multiple settings. IQM offers a framework that unifies approach, ensures quality, and builds trust with stakeholders, whether they are governors, parents, or local authorities.
Meeting Pupils Where They Are
Inclusive practice is about meeting learners at their point of need, whether that involves adapting the curriculum, providing specialist support, or fostering a culture where differences are respected and celebrated. The IQM Awardprocess recognises that each school’s context is unique and works with leaders to embed strategies that work in their environment.
This approach benefits not only pupils with SEND but the whole school community, improving engagement, attendance, attainment, and wellbeing.
Consistency of Approach Across Teams
One of the biggest challenges school leaders face is ensuring that all staff (from senior leadership to support assistants) share the same understanding of inclusive practice. IQM provides a structured, collaborative process that builds knowledge, skills, and confidence across the workforce. This ensures that inclusion is not the responsibility of one individual, such as the SENDCo, but is truly a whole-school commitment.
Why Schools Trust IQM Year After Year
IQM has worked with thousands of schools, special settings, and education providers in the UK, Ireland, the UAE, and beyond. Many schools renew their award status annually or progress from the Inclusive School Award to the Centre of Excellence and eventually to the Flagship School Award.
Schools trust IQM because:
- The process is supportive, not punitive, with experienced assessors who understand the realities of school life.
- It delivers measurable improvement rather than one-off initiatives.
- It connect schools to a network of like-minded professionals sharing resources, strategies, and inspiration.
- It reassures inspectors, governors, and parents that inclusion is at the heart of the school's identity.
A Partner in Long-Term Improvement
For Headteachers, Trust CEOs, SENDCos, and local authority leaders, IQM is more than an accreditation; it’s a partnership for sustainable improvement. Whether your goal is to refine existing inclusive practices, respond to new challenges, or lead innovation in your sector, IQM provides the expertise, tools, and recognition to help you succeed.
By investing in the IQM Award, schools are not just earning a mark of quality; they are building a legacy of inclusion that will benefit pupils, staff, and communities for years to come.
Hear from IQM schools
Working with IQM has shown us how far we've come and how much more we can grow.
Sarra Ben Ammar, Principal, Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Awal School, Abu Dhabi
Since our whole school community embarked upon our IQM journey from September 2023, inclusion, equality, embracing diversity and equity has become THE driving force that is central to all aspects of our school improvement.
Chris Davey, Executive Headteacher, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School, Liverpool
The word inclusion is used lots, and quite rightly so, but actually when you really unpick the layers of what inclusion means, I think the IQM audit is a really valuable tool to help you look at what strengths you have and ways forward.
Headteacher, Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, Wirral
The IQM has given practitioners at our resource provision a chance to reflect on what they are doing and make adjustments as needed. It also gives families and carers reassurance of the inclusive practice at the setting.
Mike Stapleton-Chambers, Head of Service, Deliver Better Values initiative at Halton Borough Council
Our journey with the Inclusion Quality Mark has been a powerful reflection of how far we've come, a celebration of our collective efforts, and the inclusive culture we've built together.
Esraa Jararaa, Head of Inclusion, Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Awal School, Abu Dhabi
Being part of the cluster group is really important because people from other IQM Centres of Excellence and Flagship schools across the North West have come to our school and it's all about sharing best practice.
Chris Davey, Executive Headteacher, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School, Liverpool
At our school, inclusion isn't a policy or provision, it's a belief that every child belongs, every identity matters, and every learner shapes who we are and adds meaning to our community
Sarra Ben Ammar, Principal, Khalifa Bin Zaye Al Awal School, Abu Dhabi
It was very clear from the outset that those [assessment] days were there for us to celebrate and showcase all that we've achieved as a school.
Chris Davey, Executive Headteacher, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School, Liverpool
Inclusive education begins with the belief that every learner matters—and thrives when we teach not just to the class, but to each child within it.
Mike Stapleton-Chambers, Head of Service, Deliver Better Values initiative at Halton Borough Council
Inclusion starts and ends with culture. Building a culture that skyrockets children's self-esteem and motivation is like crafting the perfect recipe
Christopher Nourse, Executive Principal, Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Awal School, Abu Dhabi
Being part of the cluster group is really important because people from other IQM Centres of Excellence and Flagship schools across the North West have come to our school and it’s all about sharing best practice.
Chris Davey, Executive Headteacher, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School, Liverpool
Make Inclusion Matter
FAQs
A nationally and internationally recognised accreditation that celebrates and supports outstanding inclusive practice in schools.
The average time for schools to complete the award is two terms, though timescales vary depending on readiness and chosen award level.
Yes - we work with schools in the UAE, Europe, and beyond, adapting our assessments to different curricula and cultural contexts.
Pricing information can be found on each award page. The cost of a school's registration is £299.50 + VAT. This is renewed every 3 years. The cost for Flagship and Centre of Excellence are UK prices.
No - while SEND is a core focus, IQM covers all aspects of inclusion, from diversity and equity to staff culture and community engagement.
About IQM
The only national award for inclusion in the UK, IQM has been committed to recognising exemplary inclusive schools for over 20 years and in over 20 countries around the world. The three awards allow schools and organisations to dcelebrate their inclusive practice against nationally recognised framework.
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