About Us
Learn more about how IQM started and what drives our mission for inclusion in all schools.
We're the only national award for inclusion in the UK
Founded in 2004, IQM was created with a clear purpose: to support schools in improving and gaining recognition for their inclusive practice.
Over the past two decades, IQM has evolved to meet the ever-changing demands of education. Adapting to shifts in curriculum, inspection frameworks, school demographics, and the increasing challenges leaders face in ensuring achievement for all.
Our vision statement of, Supporting Inclusive Practices, Increasing Life Chances, drives everything we do.
Our approach is straightforward, bespoke, and built on the belief that inclusion is unique to each school's context. Because our leadership and assessor teams come from extensive education backgrounds, we understand the pressures and realities of school life.
When schools partner with IQM, they gain:
- A clear framework for improvement
- Measurable progress towards inclusion
- Expert, supportive guidance from professionals who understand their challenges
The IQM Leadership Team
We have a full team dedicated to helping you throughout your IQM journey. Here's our senior leadership team.
Joe McCann
Chief Executive
Officer
Eilish McCann
Director of Education and Projects
Kevin O'Neill
Executive Lead for School Improvement
Sarah Linari
Executive Lead for School Improvement
Dr Kenny Frederick
Educational Expert and International Ambassador
This is Dexter
Dexter is the mascot of IQM. Each school is given their own bear when they achieve their award.
Schools in countries all around the world have their own bear; he's featured a lot on our socials.
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.
Our Process
The IQM Award process is designed to evaluate a school's inclusion ethos and the real impact on staff, pupils, and the wider community.
It's a reflective and strategic process, which is why not every school holds the accreditaiton.
Many school leaders are beginning to align their IQM journey with professional development goals, such as NPQH or NPQSL projects.
The IQM Evaluative Framework
Our Evaluative Framework assesses eight key elements of inclusion, each with specific, evidence-based criteria.
Most schools take around two terms to fully evidence their practice and meet the standard of this nationally recognised framework. The process ensures improvements are both measurable and sustainable.
IQM Pricing
We have a standard price for UK Inclusive School Awards, Centre of Excellence and Flagship School Status. The cost for assessments takes into consideration the size of your school, among other factors.
We aim to always be transparent with our costings, you can find further pricing information in your free school pack.
Become an IQM Assessor
Only the most experienced educators with proven leadership and expertise in inclusion are considered for our assessor team.
Assessors receive in-depth training before taking on assignments, and there is a cost involved in joining the team.
This role offers the opportunity to work with a wide range of schools, share best practice, and help drive improvement across the sector.
School Stories
Take a look at some of our recent IQM-accredited schools and their journey towards achieving and sustaining excellence in inclusion.
Make Inclusion Matter
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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