Durham Lane Primary School Achieves IQM Inclusive School Award with Centre of Excellence Status

August 14, 2026

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Congratulations to Durham Lane Primary School on securing the IQM Inclusive School Award with Centre of Excellence Status. This achievement recognises the school’s strong culture of inclusion and its commitment to creating an environment where all children can succeed and reach their full potential.

Children and Families at the Heart of School Life

Durham Lane is a school that lives their vision, it truly is a school ‘where children and families come first. ‘Leaders, including Governors, believe that authentic relationships are key to their excellent practice. The inclusive ethos where every child is welcomed and belongs is evidenced in all they do. Durham Lane Primary sees its purpose as that of being a community school that serves all pupils and their families. Children are at the centre of every decision that is made, their well-being and learning is paramount, they know that with a strong offer to support pupils socially and emotionally, strong academic outcomes follow. The Headteacher and senior leaders have a moral compass that drives continual improvement, they take every opportunity to make certain every pupil enjoys their school days that are filled with success which in turn can be celebrated at every opportunity.

Supporting Every Child to Succeed

Pupils are encouraged to access support until they feel they no longer need it, helping them to develop confidence, independence and self-belief. Interventions such as Talk Boost provide targeted support where needed, while staff work hard to highlight individual strengths and encourage every child to aim high.

Bespoke adaptations for pupils, where needed, are visible in classes across school. The school offers of a range of after school clubs and provides wraparound care to support working parents. Nothing is too much trouble for the team that is Durham Lane. One parent summed up the school’s offer, ‘there is no problem too big or too small,’ for the staff of Durham Lane to help with.

A School Built on Partnership

All staff see every pupil as unique and look to ensure every pupil receives the support they may need to enjoy school, learning and life. Children are listened to and adaptations to support them with social, emotional and academic learning are often made with pupil voice, this is a significant contributing factor as to why they have the success they do.

A focus on oracy has helped pupils become confident communicators who can advocate for themselves and others. Pupils can discuss their emotions, make use of Zones of Regulation and feel safe talking to trusted adults about any concerns they may have.

Parental engagement is a key part of school life. Parents attend assemblies, performances, workshops and events throughout the year, while SEND meetings have helped shape arrangements such as early starts, pre-term visits and detailed transition documents.

Parents are overwhelmingly positive about the excellent work of the school and in recent years the school has reached capacity with pupils coming from beyond the usual catchment. Durham Lane is a school of choice for many families due to its inclusive nature, its high expectations and it core values centred around respect. Staff and pupils share an understanding of equity and across the school, adaptations are visible to ensure pupils access learning alongside their peers. The curriculum is adapted; however, expectations are not. Adults are skilled in making sure tasks are tailored to individual needs so success for all is the norm.

The school’s strong staff–parent partnerships and deep commitment to community engagement significantly enhance pupils’ wellbeing, inclusion and success. Families feel listened to, valued and confident in the school’s ability to meet the needs of all learners, contributing to a positive, supportive and aspirational school community.

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.