Ashmole Primary School has achieved the Inclusive School Award with Centre of Excellence.
Genuine ‘family feel’
Ashmole Primary School is an ‘outstanding’ one-form entry primary community school (221 pupils currently on roll, as of February 2023) with a genuine ‘family feel’. Ashmole is a part of the Wyvern Federation, having joined in January 2015. All four schools within the Wyvern Federation have been judged ‘Outstanding’ in all areas: Vauxhall Primary School (October 2018); Herbert Morrison Primary School (November 2016); Ashmole Primary School (November 2016); Wyvil Primary School (November 2013).
As an inner-city school, the North Lambeth locality presents several challenging factors including high levels of crime, overcrowding and challenges with social housing. Ashmole Primary School recognises the challenges that many of their families face, yet despite this, and despite a reduction in primary school applications locally, Ashmole Primary School successfully maintains a positive reputation and remains oversubscribed for reception places.
For context: The proportion of children in receipt of Free School Meals (FSM) is 33% (6% higher than last year, broadly in line with Lambeth and significantly higher than the national average: 23%); The proportion of children eligible for the Pupil Premium Grant (PPG) is 37.3% (3% higher than last year, in line with Lambeth and significantly higher than the national average: 24.5%); The proportion of children from Minority Ethnic groups is 79%, (in line with Lambeth and significantly higher than the national average: 36%); The proportion of children with English as an Additional Language (EAL) is 48% (broadly the same as last year and in line with Lambeth, with no national comparisons published this year.)
Unique Setting
The unique setting of the school is the first thing that strikes you – a stone’s throw from The Oval Cricket Ground and nestled just behind London’s oldest on-site adventure playground, Ashmole Primary School is an oasis in the heart of South London. Both landmarks are well-used by the school, ensuring that children have strong links with their local community. The Oval Cricket Ground is used for cricket teaching, watching international matches, free holiday cricket schemes and using their Information and Communication Technology (ICT) suite. The Triangle Adventure Playground is used on an almost daily basis and provides free entertainment and exercise for parents and children alike.
There is a strong inclusive ethos at Ashmole Primary School. The core values are fully embedded and shape all aspects of school life: Be Respectful; Be Supportive; Be Honest; Be Fair; Be Your Best.
There is a welcoming, positive atmosphere when you visit the school. From the moment you arrive, you are welcomed warmly into the community. All staff, parents and carers, Governors, and pupils subscribe whole heartedly to the inclusive culture. Staff and pupils seem happy and interact positively with each other and any visitors. Classroom environments are purposeful, inclusive and the pupils are engaged in their learning.
Happy Children
Parents speak sincerely and resoundingly about how happy their children are at Ashmole Primary School. They talk about the ‘family feel’ of the school and how welcome staff make them feel, “you feel like you can talk to them (the staff) and you always get positive feedback”. Parents, carers and guardians feel listened to and, as a result, are comfortable approaching the staff with any concerns or issues that may arise.
Parents and other stakeholders also talk about the immense impact of the Music Masters programme on children at Ashmole Primary School but also on how it has positively impacted their children who have moved on to secondary schools.
Staff echo the parents’ view that there is a ‘family feel’ to the school. Staff explained that at Ashmole Primary School, “if you have a problem, there is someone to go to. You are never left on your own to work things out.” It was positive to hear, particularly considering the national difficulties around school staff recruitment and retention and staff wellbeing, that an Early Careers Teacher (ECT) had a supportive and successful induction. “You get a class-based mentor, and I had the Deputy Headteacher as my other mentor and I felt well supported, not only in my training year but also in my second year. No question was too small.”
Ambitious for Every Child
The Chair of Governors describes the Governing Body as, “a critical and challenging friend” to the school. They look at reports in Governors’ meetings and visit the school often to see the school in action.
The Chair reported, “we are ambitious for every child to achieve. It is not just the academic stuff, it is the cultural stuff, the community stuff.” Governors are supportive of the Music Masters programme and echo the parents’ view that the impact is vast, “you hear small children listening to classical music humming along and tapping along. Music empowers them, it gives them access to another world. They are not intimated by classical music; it is normal to them.”
It was a pleasure to see children engaged in their learning from nursery to Year 6 and upon questioning, were able to talk to me about their learning. Learning Ambassadors in Year 2 were able to tell me about tally charts and why they record data in fives, for example.
Children were proud to talk about their various positions of responsibility around the school: Team 12, Anti-Bullying Ambassadors, Pathways Leaders and Librarians, to name but a few. From Year 1 to Year 6, the children were able to articulate what they do if they notice children who look isolated in the playground: “I would go there and play with them and ask them what game they want to play” (Year 1). “Ask do you want to play with us and why are you sad, as sometimes talking about it really helps” (Year 3). “I will go and ask if they are ok and if they need space as sometimes people need space to calm down. If they need space, I will tell a teacher so that they can help” (Year 6).
Passionate About Inclusion
The Senior Leadership Team (SLT) are passionate about inclusion and work tirelessly to seek funding opportunities and to provide the children and their families with enrichment opportunities to enhance their cultural capital. For example, the Pupil Welfare Lead takes young carers and parents to Surrey Docks, to take part in water sports together. Funding has been sourced to refurbish the nursery/reception outdoor area over the summer holidays.
The SLT speaks proudly of Inclusion at Ashmole Primary School, “seeing inclusion reflected in the children; the culture that is being created, whereby the children have a real understanding of difference and diversity but are so respectful of that and embrace that (inclusion)”.
It is evident through the documentation completed by the school to support the IQM Assessment and through talking to a range of stakeholders, that Ashmole Primary School is already sharing good practices within its federation of London based schools and also hosts visits from school staff from Plymouth and Norfolk schools (the Executive Headteacher works across said schools).
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