Carr Junior School Achieves IQM Inclusive School Award with Centre of Excellence Status

August 14, 2026

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Congratulations to everyone at Carr Junior School on achieving the IQM Inclusive School Award with Centre of Excellence status. This outstanding recognition celebrates the dedication, teamwork and inclusive spirit of the whole school community, an achievement of which pupils, staff and families can be truly proud.

Inclusion First

The heart of Carr Junior School lies in the warm and caring relationships between pupils and staff. Every senior leader and staff member has in-depth knowledge of each pupil and greets them as an individual. Inclusion is at the heart of every action, every decision and every breath taken at Carr Junior. Leaders and staff demonstrate high aspiration for all with the aim of supporting pupils to access their age-related outcomes at every opportunity.

Transforming Together

Carr Junior School has been on an incredible journey of improvement with the newly appointed leadership team expertly demonstrating a strategic approach to school self-evaluation and improvement. As a collective, all stakeholders are extremely proud of the progress and achievements made so far, yet demonstrate boundless enthusiasm and energy, open mindedness and aspiration coupled with a forensic approach to identifying long, medium and short term aims utilising staff and stakeholder strengths, which have already proved to have been pivotal in the transformational journey of the school. These aspects have been driven by the determined approach of all leaders and staff recognising and positively embracing the changes, actively engaging with the strategies, training and opportunities available. Every member of the school community exhibits an unwavering commitment to the pupils, school and community underpinned and framed by a deep rooted ethos championing both equity and equality for all.

Aim High, Shine Bright

The school vision, ‘Aim High, Shine Bright’ underpins the inclusive culture and ethos permeating and shaping every aspect of school life. All leaders, staff, parents, carers, and pupils ‘buy in’ to the inclusive culture. Classroom environments and corridors are inviting yet low sensory with beautiful use of natural materials and soothing music. Every area, alcove and space has been utilised to drive the pupil’s engagement and immersion in language, oracy and reading. High quality resources are attractively displayed to inspire oracy and language development.

Positive Behaviour

Carr Junior School takes a holistic approach to addressing pupils’ behaviour. They recognise and appreciate that positive behaviour is promoted in an environment where pupils and staff experience positive relationships underpinned by feeling safe, being listened to, cared for and respected. The behaviour policy is applied consistently and is used to promote positive attitudes and behaviours throughout the school day. The behaviour curriculum has recently been further developed with pupils now more able to express a deeper understanding of why positive behaviour is important.

Beyond the Classroom

Staff work collaboratively to support the pupils and their families. It was evident that the staff’s commitment to their roles extends way beyond the classroom. There is a collective responsibility amongst the staff to give pupils the most worthwhile and valuable Carr Junior experience possible. This is evident in the establishing of the ‘Carr 50 Things’ to achieve. This is a pledge made to all pupils in the hope that they will all complete each of the activities at least once throughout their years at Carr Junior, examples of which being; take part in a debate, understand and accept other people’s differences, complete first aid training, visit the Minster, learn another language.

Find Out More About IQM

The Inclusion Quality Mark provides schools with a nationally recognised framework for developing and celebrating inclusive practice.

If your school is interested in achieving the IQM Inclusive School Award, contact the IQM team on 028 7127 7857 or email admin@iqmaward.com.

To find out more about IQM and request a free information pack, visit www.iqmaward.com.