John Scurr Primary School Achieves Flagship School Status

August 24, 2026

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Congratulations to the pupils, staff, families and wider community of John Scurr Primary School on achieving the IQM Inclusive School Award with Flagship School status. This outstanding accomplishment celebrates the school’s unwavering commitment to inclusion, kindness and ensuring every child is supported to thrive. 

Inclusion Drives Excellence 

John Scurr continues to be a highly inclusive setting, with a staff who are resolute, enthusiastic, and committed to inclusive values. It is clear from talking to all staff and colleagues, that leaders continue to prioritize inclusion. Their work towards their IQM targets over the last twelve months has had a clear and obvious impact.  

Language Unlocks Learning 

Language development is felt to be key in this school and the development of vocabulary and speech and language skills run through everything the school does. Teaching staff spoke of a “carefully thought through” curriculum which is “carefully sequenced” in order to make it as inclusive as possible.   

Pupils Power Change 

There is a thriving Pupil Voice Committee at the school. The children on the Committee were very keen to explain their latest project to the assessor. The project had been to encourage their fellow pupils to reduce their screen time, running assemblies and surveys and ultimately creating a “Boredom Buster” book with lots of things for children to do instead of being on their devices. 

Kindness Builds Community 

The Committee also spoke highly of the newly introduced Coaching Circles equating them with ensuring “people have friends from all over the school.” They further added that they try to “make sure everyone is following the school motto of being kind and trying our best.” The children of the Pupil Voice Committee reiterated several times how inclusive they felt the school is and how kind everybody is to each other. Parents were effusive in their praise of the school and also commented on the kindness shown by all members of the school community.   

Outdoor Learning Thrives 

There are several different outdoor spaces at the school, with a variety of resources such as mud kitchens, ball pits, creative areas, scooters, messy play areas, and a wonderful wooden fort, all of which are fully accessible for disabled children. The Ofsted report of March 2023 states that; “Leaders have crafted an extensive personal development curriculum” and this is very much still in evidence. 

Friendship Fuels Dialogue 

The school works with Big Foot Theatre on developing World Friendship Ambassadors, where Year 5 children learn to lead sessions on how to be a good friend.  Pupils take part in Debate Mate and other oracy work, so they know how to hold productive learning discussions and are able to disagree with each other carefully and with kindness. 

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.