IQM Centre of Excellence Award
Find out about IQM's Centre of Excellence status for schools, the benefits and the criteria for accreditation.
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What is the IQM Centre of Excellence Award?
The Centre of Excellence Award recognises schools that have achieved the Inclusive School Award and continue to demonstrate exemplary practice in inclusion.
These schools go beyond their own setting to influence and inspire others, sharing best practice in inclusive teaching strategies, mentoring colleagues, and engaging in national networks.
The award celebrates schools that see inclusion as a living, evolving process, embedding it in every aspect of teaching, leadership, and community engagement.
How do you achieve Centre of Excellence status?
Schools can achieve the IQM Centre of Excellence status after holding the Inclusive School Award for 3 years and showing sustained, high-impact inclusive practice.
We know some schools join IQM with the aim of recognising their outstanding and established inclusive provision. Therefore, it is possible for schools to be considered for Centre of Excellence status after their first assessment.
The process involves demonstrating innovation in inclusive teaching strategies and contributing to professional communities by sharing your school’s inclusive ethos with others.
Assessment against IQM's national framework ensures that schools meet consistent, measurable standards that go beyond compliance, setting the bar for excellence in inclusive education.
How long does the Centre of Excellence status last for?
The IQM Centre of Excellence status is valid for one year and is reviewed annually. This ongoing evaluation ensures that schools continue to demonstrate innovation, commitment, and leadership in inclusion.
Schools are given opportunities to engage actively with their peers through CoE and Flagship cluster groups and share their expertise to influence wider practice.
After successfully holding Centre of Excellence status for three years, schools may be considered for IQM Flagship School status. An award reserved for those where inclusion is an exemplary strength and fully embedded in all aspects of school life.
IQM Cluster Groups
Cluster groups are a key feature of the Centre of Excellence and Flagship School Status, providing schools with opportunities to network, share good practice, and take part in joint CPD on inclusion both in-person and online.
These collaborative groups enable leaders, SENDCos, and teachers to refine inclusive teaching strategies and strengthen CPD for SENDCos through shared expertise.
IQM Centre of Excellence Criteria
- Committed to sustaining the Inclusion Quality Mark ethos through collaborative activities.
- Have demonstrable plans to sustain and develop internal inclusive practice.
- Have good mechanisms to disseminate and share good practice between the schools.
- Have, or are able to develop, the capacity to share and disseminate good inclusive practice across a broader cluster of schools.
- Are willing to engage in classroom level research activity that explores inclusive practice.
- Agree to have an annual IQM visit to ratify or validate the progress and develop an annual plan for development.
- Agree to contribute an annual written update of progress against the eight elements as the basis for the annual review.
- Are prepared to contribute to the overall development aims of IQM, supporting the need for expertise or trialling practice.
Centre of Excellence Award Pricing
1-400 Students years 1, 2 and 3 £1,075 /yr
400-200 Students years 1, 2 and 3 £1,175 /yr
* Please note pricing is excluding expenses and VAT
Subject to change
Inclusive School Award must already be held to progress to Centre of Excellence and beyond.
Process
The process for assessing and applying for Centre of Excellence status is collaborative and rigorous.
Evaluative Framework
All assessments use the IQM nationally recognised evaluative framework. Find out more about how it works.
What are the benefits of IQM Centre of Excellence status for schools?
Becoming an IQM Centre of Excellence offers significant benefits for schools, leaders, and their wider communities. Firstly, it provides structured opportunities for CPD for SENDCos, teachers, and leaders, ensuring that inclusion training is not a one-off event but an ongoing developmental journey. This leads to stronger inclusive teaching strategies that benefit all learners, especially those with SEND.
Cluster group membership is one of the most valued benefits. These networks connect schools across regions, providing a platform to share successful approaches, exchange resources, and collaborate on CPD on inclusion. This professional learning community accelerates improvement, as schools learn directly from peers facing similar challenges and contexts.
For SENDCos, the award’s emphasis on leadership and professional development means they gain access to targeted CPD for SENDCos and practical tools to strengthen SEND provision. For school leaders, the status demonstrates a commitment to inclusion that is recognised nationally, boosting reputation and trust among parents, governors, and external stakeholders.
The IQM Award framework ensures that all participating schools meet a high, consistent standard. Schools awarded Centre of Excellence status are seen as leaders in inclusion training and inclusive teaching strategies, influencing practice beyond their own classrooms. This status also positions schools for progression to Flagship School level, where inclusion is not only embedded but also used to shape national and international dialogue on education.
Schools in Multi-Academy Trusts particularly benefit from the shared learning, as Centre of Excellence networks help create consistency in inclusive teaching strategies across all settings. Local Authorities value these schools as exemplars, using their expertise to inform wider inclusion initiatives.
In short, the Centre of Excellence Award amplifies the impact of inclusion training, extends professional networks, and builds a sustainable culture of collaboration. It marks a school as forward-thinking, deeply committed to equity, and actively shaping the future of inclusive education.
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
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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