This week we’re delighted to welcome 7 new schools to the IQM Family. Can we give a big shout-out to George Salter Academy, Somers Park Primary School, The Fermain Academy, Troedyrhiw Community Primary School, Woodfield School, North Walsall Primary Academy, and Woodside Primary School.
Happy Outward Facing Environment
First up this week we made our way to Macclesfield where The Fermain Academy achieved our prestigious Flagship status.
Our Assessor explained, “Those involved with the academy have a shared belief that the young people in their care should have access to the best education provision so that they are able to realise their ambitions for their future and their life chances are improved by embedding outstanding practice.
“Supported by the Headteacher’s statement, “At The Fermain Academy every young person should be given the opportunity to succeed in their learning and personal development and achieve their potential. Our aim is to prepare them for the future through a broad curriculum, combined with practical, vocational elements and full wrap-around pastoral support”. A truly inclusive statement, evidence of which was seen throughout the review.
“It is encouraging to see that there has been no loss of momentum since the last IQM review, despite changes in Leadership. In fact, the pace of change has increased and clearly demonstrates how the values and vision for inclusion underpin all developments. The academy is a vibrant, ever-changing, and developing community with a happy outward-facing environment. This was apparent on entering reception where our Assessor was warmly greeted by staff and made to feel very welcome.”
• Read more: The Fermain Academy Achieves Flagship Status
Space and Extra Provision
Next it was over to Croydon where Woodside Primary School achieved Centre of Excellence status.
Our Assessor explained, “Woodside is blessed with the amount of space and extra provision it has to support children from the age of 2-years-old. The ‘Nest’ is located in the Early Years provision and educates children between the ages of 2/3-years-old. It is the only school in the partnership that has such provision. The Nest use the Development Matters curriculum objectives in the same way as the Nursery and Reception Team.”
Our Assessor felt it was an absolute pleasure to observe the Nest provision. The multi-sensory teaching and learning were evident from the minute the door was opened. The pupils had recently read The Three Little Pigs and used the areas from the Early Years curriculum to make cross-curricular, meaningful links. There was an amazing display in the classroom, whereby pupils had made 3 houses – 1 out of hay, 1 out of bricks they had cut out of paper (thus practising their fine motor skills) and 1 with sticks, which they had collected from the outdoor space.
There were photographs of pupils engaging in the learning. When speaking to the class teacher, she explained how pupils learn whilst doing and she proceeded to show other examples of multi-sensory teaching and learning that was evidenced in the Nest provision. It is clearly evident that the Nest is an educational environment which clearly supports pupils as they transition to the Nursery setting. The high expectations and passion that exuded from the Nest was infectious and it was a pleasure to observe the learning and life skills each pupil was acquiring.
• Read more: Woodside PS Achieves Centre of Excellence
Pupil Voice is a Major Strength
Pupil Voice is a major strength at Troedyrhiw Community PS which achieved Centre of Excellence status this week.
Our Assessor explained “Pupil voice is well-organised, treated very seriously by pupils and staff and involves carefully planned, practical activities which have a positive impact on the school, local communities and charitable organisations. Furthermore, it is so comprehensive in its focus that pupils feel a strong sense of ‘ownership’ of their school. This has a knock-on effect on their behaviour towards others, their approach to their own learning, general attitudes and personal development.”
A Year 3 pupil told our Assessor that she “likes including everyone and helping other families” whilst her friend believed that inclusion means “thinking of everyone… people from different countries, different colours, religions and accents”. A Year 6 boy was proud to have been involved in interviews for the new caretaker and considered it to be normal practice.
Fitness to learn and to work underpins Troedyrhiw’s provision as an inclusive school, both within its curricular content and systems and framework for practical support. It goes above and beyond in its comprehensive and individualised approach to supporting pupils, parents/carers and staff. There is rapid response to any unexpected need and a willingness to seek expert external advice, both strategic and operational, from a range of agencies, when required. The Troedyrhiw ‘family’ does not hesitate to come together in collective support.
• Read more: Troedyrhiw Community PS Achieves Centre of Excellence
The ‘North Walsall Way’
Over in the West Midlands North Walsall Primary Academy secured Centre of Excellence this week.
Our Assessor explained, “Behaviour in the academy continues to be good and the ‘North Walsall Way’ is now clearly evident and embedded in the school’s behaviour management strategies. ‘Walking Hands’ is now embedded in everyday activities within school and the SLANT behaviour strategy; Sit up straight, Listen, Answer and ask, Nod your head, never interrupt, Track the speaker, is clearly evident and embedded in all classrooms. Good to Be Green is used consistently in all classes and displays are evident in all classrooms.
“Children are rewarded for good behaviour with DoJo points and the school has recently introduced a Class Dojo incentive that rewards classes when they reach identified amounts of Dojo points; 1000 Dojos = 15 minutes of a fun activity, 2500 = Extra play, 5000 = cooking activity and 10,000 = Bouncy Castle afternoon. The school has purchased a bouncy slide which they use for fundraising activities alongside rewards.
“The Academy works closely with the other schools in the ATT Trust across the country and has taken the lead with implementing the SEND Audit Continuum. Close links have been forged with nurseries in the area and the school has very good links with North Walsall College offering sessions for parents and holiday sessions for children at the College site. ”
• Read more: North Walsall Primary Academy Achieves Centre of Excellence
Ambitious for Every Child
Securing the Inclusive School Award this week is George Salter Academy in Sandwell.
Our Assessor explained, “The overarching approach of the school is best captured by its vision which states, “we are George Salter Academy and we are ambitious for every child. We defy disadvantage and believe that all students, regardless of their background should be equally able to realise personal goals, achieve outstanding outcomes and reach their full potential. We promise to provide the same breadth and depth to our curriculum and provision for all students, regardless of background and prior attainment.
“The school is at the heart of its community, raising aspirations through positive, ‘can do’ attitudes and supporting individual needs, whilst stretching and providing challenge for all. Staff create the conditions to fail safely by checking frequently for understanding in lessons which prevents misconception from becoming embedded and creates the supportive classroom culture.
“This is important because it demonstrates to pupils that staff care about them enough to not let them fail. The environment provides structure, routine and consistency to help support high expectations, opportunities and choices. The fundamental belief of leaders is that, “success breeds success”. “
• Read more: George Salter Academy Achieves Inclusive School Award
Inclusion at the Heart of Everything
Somers Park Primary School in Malvern also achieved the Inclusive School Award this week.
Our Assessor explained, “The school prides itself on having inclusion at the heart of everything it does and has a highly inclusive vision; ‘to have ambition for every child, to allow them to develop a lifelong love of learning and the self-confidence and social skills to enable them to achieve success in the future.’ SEND and inclusion are always a high focus within the SDP and great effort is made to ensure that all pupils who are vulnerable or have additional needs are fully included in all aspects of the school. This was recognised by Ofsted with the report quoting; ‘Staff have high aspirations for each child. They ensure that all pupils, including those with SEND, access a good quality of education.’
“What is highly apparent is the dedication and drive of the staff to make a positive difference. The staff our Assessor met at all levels were committed and passionate about meeting the needs and making a difference for every child. The school has gained a reputation within the local community as being fully inclusive, going that extra mile to be able to support children who were unable to manage in other settings. ”
• Read more: Somers Park Primary Achieves Inclusive School Award
Community of Lifelong Learners
Our final school to secure the Inclusive School Award was Woodfield School in Kingsbury.
Our Assessor explained, “Woodfield’s core values, including the Bill of Rights and the strategic priorities are focussed on Creating a Community of Lifelong Learners. The reception area is due to be re-developed in the summer break to showcase these values and the clear intent to provide personalised opportunities for every pupil.
“There is a key focus on developing the reading strategy to be used across the school consistently, including phonics and sight reading, with CPD to support all colleagues to deliver effectively.
“Displays throughout the school reflect the determination to ensure that the curriculum remains robust, purposeful and meaningful. Throughout the Learning Walk, it was evident that the high expectations of staff are reflecting aspirations and what pupils can achieve. There are examples throughout of how the curriculum captures the interests of pupils and builds on them. The pupils talk about ambition and aspiration and talk confidently with a sense of what they want to achieve and be able to do.”
• Read more: Woodfield 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.