This week we’re delighted to welcome 11 new schools to the IQM family. Can we give a big shout out to Northwood Park Primary School, Ashbrooke School, Elmswell Primary School, Rotherhithe Primary School, Highfields College, Willow Brook Primary School Academy, Rebecca Cheetham Nursery and Children’s Centre, Nisai Virtual Academy, Peartree Spring Primary School, Mendlesham Primary School, and Shadsworth Junior School.
Lots of Friendly People
First up this week is Shadsworth Junior School where our Assessor was impressed by the Headteacher. They noted, “Having purchased 30 samba drums, the Headteacher explained how the band will provide an opportunity to succeed for everyone, adding, “Our children need to work together and be part of something where we can get the whole community involved”.
Children our Assessor met agreed and spoke enthusiastically about their school. “It’s a welcoming school and there are lots of friendly people here”, was the repeated message. Children reflected on staff being thoughtful and helpful, allowing breaks if anyone was upset and being there to talk about any worries.
• Read more – Shadsworth Junior School Achieves Flagship Status
Strong Leadership of the Headteacher
Next it was over to the beautifully named Peartree Spring PS which also achieved Flagship status.
Following their visit our Assessor explained, “Parents recognise the very strong leadership of the Headteacher, senior leaders and the staff team with their unwavering commitment to inclusion, especially for those pupils with additional needs.
“A strong focus on mental health and wellbeing for pupils and staff is underpinned with a continuous drive for improvement and an understanding of pedagogy and access routes to appropriate resources. Some pupils travel from beyond the school’s catchment across the town to access a placement.”
• Read more – Peartree Spring PS Achieves Flagship Status
Warm, Welcoming and Caring Environment
Rotherhithe Primary School was the next school to achieve Flagship status. Our Assessor was instantly impressed with the Southwark school. They explained, “Upon arrival, it is instantly clear that this is a warm, welcoming and caring environment in which children flourish.
The school motto ‘Be the best you can be’ is a golden thread which runs through everything alongside 6 core values: ambition, creativity, empathy, courage, resilience and respect. These values have been chosen to prepare the children to become thoughtful and ambitious citizens for the future.
When meeting with the Head of School, it was clear that there is a strong focus on pupil and staff wellbeing.
• Read more – Rotherhithe Primary School Achieves Flagship Status
Dedicated to the Role
Our final school to secure Flagship status this week is Rebecca Cheetham Nursery and Children’s Centre.
Our Assessor met with the Deputy Headteacher who said Rebecca Cheetham is a very happy school and people like to work there. Those who do leave do so to take up other opportunities and promotion or to move out of the area.
Trying to recruit staff as Early Years practitioners is increasingly difficult because they need people with very particular skills and expertise. They get lots of applications, but these are of a poor standard. This is particularly true of mid-day supervisors.
The use of agency staff is now commonplace, but they have been lucky to get some very good staff members from this route.
The Deputy Headteacher said that you have to love the job to do it as a lot is expected of you. You need to be dedicated to the role. This shows in the quality of practice throughout.
• Read more – Rebecca Cheetham Nursery Achieves Flagship Status
Next up we have 6 fabulous schools which have secured Centre of Excellence status.
Leaders Continue to Prioritise Inclusion
First up is the Nisai Virtual Academy. Our Assessor’s final virtual meeting was with the Chief Executive, a charismatic and articulate leader. He explained very clearly the well planned Nisai growth strategy, referencing their teaching centre in Brunei, delivering to international students who wish to gain International General Certificates of Secondary Education (IGCSEs) recognised across the world under the ‘Nisai Global School’ brand. The Assessor left the meeting clearly understanding that any organisational growth would not come at a cost to the quality of the learner experience witnessed during the Assessment.
Our Assessor added, “I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Nisai as part of their Centre of Excellence review. It continues to be a highly inclusive school with dedicated staff who truly care for the students. It is clear from the review process that the leaders continue to prioritise inclusion. Their work towards the IQM targets over the past 12 months has had significant, positive impact.”
• Read more – Nisai Virtual Academy Achieves Centre of Excellence
Testament to Supportive Culture
Our next Centre of Excellence is Willow Brook Primary School Academy. After visiting the Leyton school our Assessor explained, “The culture of the school is that of being very supportive, open to hearing different opinions and mindful of staff workloads. There is a culture where staff can say they are overwhelmed and SLT will offer additional support. The staff are very supportive of each other.
“The Trust’s vision of all schools being a place of hospitality is reflected in the free refreshments, including breakfast that the school gives to all staff, as well as a welcoming staffroom and a separate Planning Preparation and Assessment (PPA) room also equipped with refreshments. All trainee teachers from the previous year have chosen to become Early Career Teachers (ECTs) at the school which is testament to this supportive culture.
• Read more – Williow Brook Primary Achieves Centre of Excellence
Practice is Inclusive of All Students
Also securing Centre of Excellence status this week is Highfields College. Our Assessor noted, “The environment is child centred and practice is inclusive of all students no matter what their need is and the college is aware of and ensures that the needs of the LGBT+ community are met. They have several children who identify as different genders to that they were born with.
“The SENCO works effectively in the community, working with other SENCOs locally and the local authority. She drives forward the inclusive agenda and as a result all staff ensure inclusivity is central to their holistic provision.”
• Read more – Highfields College Achieves Centre of Excellence Status
Excellent Example of Inclusive Practice
Elmswell Primary School in Bury St Edmunds was described by our Assessor as ‘an excellent example of inclusive practice’.
Following their visit our Assessor explained, “the school motto, ‘Nurturing a community of learners’, embodies the ethos within the school. There is an excellent rapport between staff and children and great respect is shown by learners for each other. Children’s behaviour is commendable in both formal and informal settings and this is a result of the close collaboration between teachers, teaching assistants, midday assistants and office staff.
“The school has the full support of parents who understand and share in the school’s inclusive ethos. The dedication and strong leadership of the Headteacher, her accessibility, commitment to inclusion and improving the lives of all children is particularly noteworthy.”
• Read more – Elmswell Community PS Achieves Centre of Excellence
Staff Go Over and Above
Next up is Ashbrooke School which is delighted to secure Centre of Excellence status. During their visit our Assessor found a school which impacts well beyond the classroom.
They explained, “Parents talk highly of the school and describe themselves as ‘lucky’ to have found Ashbrooke as the school makes them feel that they ‘finally matter.’ The narrative has been changed for them and their child from being ‘outsiders; to feeling included in their child’s education.
Parents and carers talked about the Headteacher ‘getting down’ to their child’s level rather than talking above them.
When asked what more could the school do to support you and your child, an emphatic ‘nothing’ can be heard as they all state that staff at the school already go over and above for the children and the parents.
• Read more – Ashbrooke School Achieves Centre of Excellence
Truly Inclusive School
Our final school to achieve Centre of Excellence this week is Northwood Park Primary School.
Our Assessor noted, “Northwood Park is a truly inclusive school which has been transformed by the current leadership team. They have taken an-evidence informed multi-disciplinary approach to understanding complex needs which has proved transformative.
“A strong emphasis on values-led, ethical leadership and a firm commitment to Continuous Professional Development (CPD) has resulted in a high performing culture and solution focused mind set in staff.
They are empowered to influence the direction of school improvements which is supported by distributive leadership and underpinned by clear communication.
“Staff have worked relentlessly to understand more about cognitive load and how children learn which has been used to support a curriculum designed to optimise learning outcomes for all pupils. Nonetheless, staff are not content with what they have achieved and are always looking to evolve their practice. “
• Read more – Northwood Park Primary Achieves Centre of Excellence
School is Welcoming and Warm
Our final school this week is Mendlesham Primary School which has achieved the Inclusive School Award.
After visiting the Suffolk school our Assessor noted, “Mendlesham Primary School stands for inclusion and being supportive as its core ethos. The school is welcoming and warm and there are prolific examples of bespoke packages. Opportunities for staff to grow, opportunities for children to grow and take leadership opportunities and this is allowing the community as a whole to flourish.
“Moving forward from the review, leaders have rightly evaluated where they are in each of the 8 Elements and will also wish to reflect further on how they embed the vision and values, making them easier to remember and perhaps more explicit within the school culture.”
• Read more – Mendlesham Primary School Achieves Inclusive School Award
Find out more about the IQM Inclusive School Award
If your school is interested in obtaining the IQM Inclusive School Award or you wish to talk to a member of the IQM team please telephone:
028 7127 7857 (9.00 am to 5.00 pm)
or email: [email protected] for further details.
Want more information on the IQM Award? Click here to request your free IQM information pack.