Creswell Junior School Achieves Flagship School Status

September 1, 2026

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Congratulations to everyone at Creswell Junior School on achieving Flagship School Status. This is an outstanding recognition of the dedication, compassion and creativity shown across the whole school community. This achievement celebrates the commitment of pupils, staff, families and partners who work together to ensure every child feels valued, supported and able to thrive. 

Community Powers Opportunity 

Creswell Junior School is a smaller-than-average junior school serving a former mining community in north-east Derbyshire. The school sits at the heart of the village and this sense of place matters. There was a strong sense throughout the review that staff know their community well and are determined that pupils at Creswell should have the same opportunities as any other child, regardless of background, need or starting point. Inclusion is not an added extra here; it is part of the day-to-day life of the school and runs through leadership, relationships, curriculum thinking and the support offered to families. 

Relationships Transform Lives 

Relationships are a real strength of the school and they sit at the centre of its inclusive practice. This came through particularly strongly in conversations with parents. Without exception, the parents consulted spoke warmly about the support they and their children receive. One parent described how her autistic child had once struggled to get through the school gates but now attends every day and takes part in several after-school clubs. 

Support Shaped Personally 

Provision for pupils with SEND is thoughtful and increasingly well informed. The introduction of the Birmingham Toolkit is helping staff to move beyond broad categories or test scores and understand pupils’ needs in much greater detail. This can be seen in the school’s sensory work. Staff talked through the use of the Sensory Toolkit and how information gathered from both home and school helps shape support, not just in the sensory room itself but across the school day. 

Care Connects Families 

Pastoral care is another important strength. The Family Support Worker is highly visible and clearly trusted by families. The role has grown into a genuine bridge between home and school, with support ranging from daily check-ins on the gate to more complex family work and early help. The introduction of a pupil post-box is a good example of this responsive approach. The school’s emotional wellbeing offer is continuing to develop too, with ELSA training, anxiety and anger interventions and a growing confidence in identifying hidden needs. 

Creativity Builds Confidence 

Year 5 pupils had worked with mural artist Molly Hawkins as part of a community project that will see their artwork transformed into a permanent installation at Creswell railway station in the coming weeks. Staff explained that the project had been chosen because it created a genuine “level playing field”. Using paper-cut collage meant every child could contribute, regardless of artistic ability, and one member of staff reflected on the pride of seeing a pupil with an EHCP realise, “I can do this.” 

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 0 028 7127 7857 or email admin@iqmaward.com.     

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