Lift Hall Road Achieves Centre of Excellence Status

September 2, 2026

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Lift Hall Road has achieved IQM Inclusive School Award with Centre of Excellence Status in recognition of its deeply embedded culture of inclusion, belonging and opportunity. The assessment highlighted a school where every pupil is known, valued and supported to achieve their full potential and where equity of opportunity sits at the heart of school improvement. 

A Family Built on Belonging

Inclusion is at the heart of every action, every decision and every breath taken at Lift Hall Road. The school mission statement is to: ‘provide an excellent education to every child, in every classroom, every day.’ During discussions, staff and pupils reiterated two words to best describe the inclusive ethos at Lift Hall Road: “family” and “belonging.” Both form part of the vision and values of the school and perfectly encapsulate the sense of working closely with pupils, staff and families. “At our school, we commit to being big-hearted. We choose to treat each other with kindness, warmth and care, believing that everybody matters and believing in one another.” 

Leaders and staff work relentlessly to actively promote the school values and embed these across all areas of school life recognising these are the bedrock of preparing all learners for happy, resilient, and successful futures. 

Removing Barriers and Raising Aspirations 

Leaders, rather than viewing these factors as barriers, have developed a highly responsive and inclusive approach that places equity of opportunity at the heart of school improvement. Through carefully targeted support, adaptive teaching and a deep-rooted emphasis on pastoral care, the school works tirelessly to remove barriers to learning and ensure that all pupils can access a broad, ambitious and engaging curriculum. Across the school there is clear analysis of need, with appropriate support implemented as necessary. Leaders are exemplary in their approach to ensuring the needs of all pupils are met whether this be via curriculum adaptations, bespoke support and intervention, opportunities offered linked to the role of the SENDCo. Leaders and staff demonstrate high aspiration for all with the aim of supporting pupils to access their age-related outcomes (and beyond) at every opportunity. “We always strive to push the limits. We don’t settle for less than excellent and we won’t allow our pupils to either. We resolve to overcome any self-imposed limits.” 

Reading at the Heart of Learning 

Every area, alcove and space has been utilised to drive the pupil’s engagement and immersion in language, oracy and reading. A language rich environment highlights the importance placed upon reading, language acquisition and development, with opportunities to practise, rehearse, question and respond alongside high quality teaching of phonics delivered both in classrooms and in breakout areas. The high quality Lift Hall Road Strategy for Reading provides a fantastic array of opportunities on offer to support, challenge and nurture a love of reading including the introduction of the Reading Plus programme which is proving to be highly successful. Leaders explained in detail that each subject area is carefully structured to build upon prior knowledge, ensuring that learning is progressive and meaningful over time. Reading is the cornerstone of the curriculum at Lift Hall Road, with a strong emphasis on developing vocabulary and inference skills of every pupil. Creating a love of reading is at the heart of the curriculum alongside a focus on language acquisition, concentration, listening skills and high-quality phonics teaching. 

A Community That Cares 

Pastoral care is a particular strength of the school and plays a pivotal role in creating a nurturing environment where pupils feel listened to, understood and supported. This highly relational approach, underpinned by a strong focus on emotional wellbeing, behaviour support and early intervention, enables pupils to develop resilience, regulate their emotions effectively and engage positively in learning and school life. In addition, the proactive approach by Leaders to signposting and providing support for pupils and families both within the setting and engaging with the wider support of external agencies is instrumental in ensuring that families have the support they need and in a timely manner. Lift Hall Road offers a home from home for its whole community. The entire staff team is wholly committed to supporting every pupil to achieve their best whilst supporting each other within a highly collegial atmosphere. 

Every Pupil Known, Valued and Supported 

The recognised success of Lift Hall Road is underpinned by strong, strategic leadership that places inclusion at the centre of all aspects of school life. Leaders have created a clear, ambitious vision, fully embraced by all. Leaders have established a culture in which inclusion, well-being and high expectations are not viewed as separate priorities but as the foundation upon which all aspects of school improvement are built. When asked to summarise their views of school life, pupils demonstrated sensitive and thoughtful responses: 

“this school includes everyone” “we are a bully free school” “we belong and are all treated the same.” 

At Lift Hall Road, leaders recognise the significant contribution that meaningful community engagement makes to pupils’ personal development, aspirations and sense of belonging. The school is committed to developing strong partnerships within the local, wider and global community, ensuring that pupils benefit from rich experiences that extend learning beyond the classroom and prepare them for life in modern Britain. 

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.