Ashbrooke School has achieved the Inclusive School Award with Centre of Excellence.
High Quality, Inclusive Teaching and Learning
The school is set in leafy grounds away from the bustling suburbs surrounding the city centre. Large playing fields and multi-use gym areas border the grounds of the historic Backhouse Park – a natural arboretum with a variety of trees and wildlife. This unique school environment provides the perfect setting for high quality, inclusive teaching and learning. From thet first meeting with the Headteacher and IQM Lead, it is evident that leaders at the school are committed to the students at Ashbrooke through their calm and responsive approach to everything from curriculum to pastoral care.
Canvas images of the students are displayed in every communal area and meeting room, reminding everyone of why they are here: the students. The morning begins with high visibility from leaders and staff to ensure the day gets off to the best start. There is a strong relationship with parents, carers and transport staff. This is purposeful to ensure that messages from home to school are communicated clearly allowing the best chance for success. This culture of care through communication is felt from the start.
Love Working at Ashbrooke
During the one-day visit the assessor found all staff to be very knowledgeable about the school and their students. Staff genuinely love working at Ashbrooke and for the Witherslack Trust. This love for their school transpires through the tireless effort and commitment they apply to achieving the best for their students.
When staff were asked about their commitment, they talk with passion not only about their students but about each other. Staff talk about how they all support one another and how this family has been created by the leaders at the school. The leaders set the tone for the supportive, community ethos where cooperation, acknowledgement and celebration of differences and happiness are truly valued.
Parents talk highly of the school and describe themselves as ‘lucky’ to have found Ashbrooke as the school makes them feel that they ‘finally matter.’ The narrative has been changed for them and their child from being ‘outsiders; to feeling included in their child’s education.
Parents and carers talked about the Headteacher ‘getting down’ to their child’s level rather than talking above them. When asked what more could the school do to support you and your child, an emphatic ‘nothing’ can be heard as they all state that staff at the school already go over and above for the children and the parents.
Students’ Interests in Mind
The staff have developed their school’s offer with the students’ interests in mind, enabling all students to demonstrate progress and apply their learning and understanding of the world around them in a range of contexts. Teachers, teaching assistants and pastoral support staff work closely to ensure planning and assessment is personalised with high expectations of what everyone can achieve.
Curriculum leads talked about the importance of all staff buying into the whole school culture of hight expectations and how empowering this was for the students to have adults who championed and believed in them. The development of the way the leaders assess students’ progress ensures opportunities to capture and celebrate all students and their achievements. The diverse needs of the students are not seen as a barrier to success but rather as an opportunity to unlock potential and open the door to success in the future.
Find out more about the IQM Inclusive School Award
If your school is interested in obtaining the IQM Inclusive School Award or you wish to talk to a member of the IQM team please telephone:
028 7127 7857 (9.00 am to 5.00 pm)
or email: [email protected] for further details.
Want more information on the IQM Award? Click here to request your free IQM information pack.