Birchills CE Academy is Inclusive School

June 17, 2026

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Birchills Church of England Community Academy is a school dedicated to inclusivity, with a profoundly authentic ethos of placing children first. The school serves a very diverse community of pupils and has staff and children from a range of backgrounds and faiths. The core academy values transcend and unite different religions and bring together a harmonious body of learners where everyone is accepted and respected for who they are. The academy builds wonderful relationships with learners, supporting those who join and leave at non-standard times in the school year and those with additional support needs. Pupils are greeted warmly by staff at the beginning of the day, and everyone is made to feel welcome. The children speak of their school with obvious pride and are polite, respectful and consistently caring towards staff and each other. They say that staff make them feel safe and that “everyone here is respected.” Staff have strong relationships and work well as a team, and staff retention is very good.

Inclusive Values

The academy’s vision is rooted in Christianity: “With God, all things are possible. We are all God’s children – Matthew 19:26.” This reflects the academy’s devotion to caring for every child. The school also has six core values: “Respect, Friendship, Forgiveness, Justice, Perseverance, Service.” The academy welcomes everyone with the same respect. Pupils who arrived during the year spoke to the assessor about how they were immediately made to feel part of the community, and for pupils who did not speak English as a first language, a language buddy was assigned to help them. A wide range of languages are represented by the staff team, allowing for communication with homes and families and helping to break down communication barriers.

The values of the school always underpin the school’s offer. Pupils benefit from thoughtful interventions such as additional phonics teaching, and adaptations in the classroom such as access to an “enable table” with resources for support.

Investing in Inclusivity

The school therapy dog, Dougie, has played an important role in providing a safe space and comfort for children with additional social and emotional needs. The school offers a breakfast club during SATs week where children can arrive early to be provided with breakfast, chat to staff about exam nerves and start the day in a calm environment. Siblings who are not undertaking SATs are welcome, to make mornings easier for parents and carers.

There is also The Butterfly Room, a resource hub and provision for those who struggle in the mainstream classroom where they can be supported by specialist staff. The teacher from their respective mainstream class also checks in and takes an interest in their learning, and the room is situated in the centre of the school rather than in a separate outbuilding, sending a powerfully inclusive message.

The academy takes steps to include parents, developing extremely positive relationships. The staff are open and approachable, and willing to adjust and put in place personalised support for individual learners. Senior leaders and staff are visible at drop-off and collection times, and Class Dojo is used throughout the year to communicate with home and share work and achievements of pupils alongside formal opportunities to speak to teachers. Regular workshops are organised and hosted for parents, including workshops on phonics and mathematics, as well as informal social events such as coffee mornings and seasonal celebrations.

We are proud to award Birchills Church of England Community Academy Inclusive School status.