Earl Mortimer College Achieves IQM Centre of Excellence Award

August 20, 2026

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Earl Mortimer College has achieved the IQM Inclusive School Award with Centre of Excellence status in recognition of its outstanding commitment to inclusion and its determination to create a fully inclusive model of education that reflects the needs, aspirations and lived experiences of its school community.

An Inclusive Vision for Every Learner  

Just under 19% of pupils have identified Special Educational Needs and the school has around 15% of pupils with English as an additional language. The school’s context, including the higher‑than‑average levels of SEND, socio‑economic disadvantage, and rural isolation has been the driving factor for school leaders to focus on creating a fully inclusive model of education that reflects the needs, aspirations, and lived experiences of the whole school community making inclusion a ‘fundamental driver of equitable outcomes’.    

Specialist Support Helps Students Thrive 

To support the needs of the students Earl Mortimer has an 8 place Local Authority Autism base and an established Nurture provision to support the more vulnerable Year 7 students transitioning to secondary school. The Autism base currently supports 4 children and provides a supported learning environment with separate workstations, alongside soft seating and reduced sensory overload. Students from the Autism Base are supported to access mainstream classes whenever possible. The Nurture Provision for Year 7 vulnerable students provides a supportive, small-group approach designed to help students settle into secondary school, build confidence, and develop the social, emotional, and learning skills they need to succeed. It provides a calm, structured environment where pupils can receive extra guidance with routines, relationships, organisation, and managing worries, while still being encouraged to take part in wider school life. The aim is to help students feel safe, included and ready to learn so they can make a positive transition into Year 7.   

Values That Shape School Life  

The school fosters a culture built around the values of Engagement, Mindset, and Challenge, which shape both academic expectations and the wider school ethos. The school emphasizes community, belonging, and personal development, aiming to create an environment where students feel supported and motivated to succeed. The school is developing a trauma-informed approach across school, which has included expanding their nurture provision alongside strengthening multi-agency partnerships and designing curriculum and pastoral systems that ensure every learner can succeed. Behaviour practices have been reviewed with the school moving to a restorative and reflective approach and leaders place great emphasis on emotional and physical wellbeing whilst maintaining clear boundaries within school.   

Making the Most of a Unique Rural Setting 

The rural location provides the school with significant green space and the location of the town’s leisure centre immediately adjacent to the school enable the students to have access to excellent PE and sport activities.  Students have the option of taking swimming lessons as part of their curriculum, alongside a range of less competitive sports activities to encourage participation and engagement. Sports equipment is adapted to ensure all students are able to succeed, using lighter, balloon like balls in volleyball, larger head badminton rackets etc. The school has a Conservation Area which is used for outdoor learning across subjects including Geography, Science, Art and English, helping students learn through real environments and experiences. This natural setting is used to inspire creativity and investigation in lessons, whilst also supporting student wellbeing and providing curriculum enrichment and extra-curricular provision.  

Promoting Wellbeing Through Animal Care  

The School’s Animal Care Room, part of the BTEC Animal Care Course, provides additional support for mental wellbeing. The room houses a number of rabbits, gerbils, turtles and birds which are looked after by a team of students who access the room at the start of day as a soft start to school, with each student having an allocated job ensuring all animals are fed, clean and looked after. 

Promoting a Love of Reading 

Reading for Pleasure has become a key focus, with the library available to students before and after school as well as during break and lunchtimes. The school has embraced the National Year of Reading, with all staff sharing monthly a text that they have recently read. A different theme is identified each month with February involving staff sharing the lyrics from a favourite song. This monthly focus is also embedded within activities in weekly library tutor time. During February, Year’s 7 and 8 took part in a literacy workshop on writing lyrics and all music lessons had a starter discussing their favourite piece of music.  

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.