Knowles Primary School Achieves Centre of Excellence Status

September 2, 2026

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Knowles Primary School has achieved the IQM Inclusive School Award with Centre of Excellence Status in recognition of its inclusive culture, ambitious curriculum and commitment to supporting pupils and families. The assessment highlighted a school where the ethos of “Growing hearts and minds together to build a successful future for all” and its five core values of take pride, be kind, stay safe, aim high, keep learning provide the foundation for everything the school does. 

Big Hearts and Big Dreams 

The school’s strong pastoral provision stems from leaders’ belief in nurturing the whole child. Their unique programme “Big Hearts” and “Big Dreams” exemplifies school’s commitment to give each child an opportunity to discover their likes and strengths and gain peers and adults’ recognition. So effective is the school’s pastoral provision and planning for engaging pupils with academic and non-academic learning, that incidents of disruptive behaviour are rare. 

Ambition for Every Child 

Leaders and practitioners of Knowles Primary School invest a lot of time to baseline and learn about the incoming children’s needs to secure the best provision. They go beyond standard expectation and relentlessly seek multiagency involvement when appropriate. Whilst awaiting professional support, the school develops their own expertise in areas of the need so that a child is not disadvantaged and makes progress. It is in the school’s DNA to explore every avenue to enable each child effective learning and improve their wellbeing. The Knowles Primary School’s pupils make impressive progress in learning; they score above national average in key areas of learning in consecutive years. 

A Curriculum Aimed at Personal Transformation 

In this school, the curriculum is aligned with ethos and values, and it aims “at personal transformation.”  Pupils’ needs are at the forefront of thinking when staff plan the content considering the National Curriculum, regional offers, and leaders’ aspiration for each child. Reflecting on effectiveness of teaching and learning, leaders favour blocked subject delivery as they give pupils more chance to focus on key knowledge and skills and an opportunity to consolidate them without distraction of thematic links. 

The curriculum offer at the Knowles Primary School is progressive and extended by enrichment programmes including trips and visits. When the school witness pupils being disadvantage by lack of experience or access e.g., to cultural events; they compensate it with organised internal or external activities. Thus, no child is stopped from making progress due to personal limited circumstances. It has been noticed that through versatile enrichment curriculum “children make highly positive contributions to the life and wellbeing of their local community.” Pupils who are not ready to access the whole school curriculum at the same rate as their peers have individual pathways and adaptations. 

Family Support and Partnership 

Although the school’s focus is primarily on children, leaders recognise that their family situation has profound impact on ability to learn therefore the schools extend their support to families. The Knowles Primary School employs two Family Workers, whose tasks are to liaise with all involved with the child’s wellbeing. Parents value that communication is not limited strictly to how their child does in school but also to broader educational matters and family difficulties that impact on child’s wellbeing. In the meeting with the assessor, a parent said: “There are a lot of adults you can go to. There is immediate access to staff and face to face meetings with a personal touch.” Another parent stated that there are: “countless opportunities to acquire knowledge and develop skills – academic and non-academic,” while a further parent confirmed: “In the meetings it is not about the documents; it is always about the child.” 

Part of the Bletchley Community 

Knowles Primary School forged strong links with local community to enhance children’s learning and make them feel part of Bletchley’s heritage and current life. The school utilises specialist community resources like Bletchley Park and Hazard Alley Safety Centre to provide first-hand experiences of historical places and to teach about road safety. Residents and businesses are invited into school and encouraged to participate in school life and share their experiences with children. Such is an impact of this exchange that the school is very well known in town and respected for its contribution to local community and welcoming attitude. 

Inclusion Through Opportunity 

At Knowles Primary School, leaders are ambitious for themselves, staff and pupils and aspire to create purposeful opportunity for all to shine. Staff are encouraged to develop areas of expertise and lead projects that improve school’s provision. Staff believe that inclusion is a vehicle for achieving personal and the whole school aspirations. The school has a robust system of monitoring its practice, reporting to stakeholders and practises regularly self-evaluation to gather evidence and reflect on it. Leaders value external endorsement of their practice and use the outcomes to further their research and keep abreast with national and scientific developments in education. 

Find Out More About IQM 

If your school is interested in achieving 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.