Outwood Academy Darfield Achieves Inclusive School Award

October 27, 2022

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Outwood Primary Academy Darfield in Barnsley, South Yorkshire has achieved the Inclusive School Award.

An Inclusive Setting

This is a happy and inclusive setting that is replete with examples of inclusive practice across the full range of its educational offer to pupils and to the wider community. As an academy, Darfield is part of the Outwood Grange Academy Trust (OGAT), and it has drawn strength from the Trust’s overarching commitment to inclusive practices and systems designated by the Trust in terms of the support that this brings and the structure within which it is required to work. That being said, the model of 80% consistency and 20% local divergence which underpins the academy’s relationship with the Trust, allows Darfield both to innovate and to develop opportunities that are appropriate and impactful for the community it serves.  A member of the Central Team of the Trust was available onsite to contextualise the relationship between the academy and the Trust and to understand which elements of the excellent practice seen flow directly from the Trust themselves and which are a result of local innovation.

Strong Leadership

Leadership is strong, not least in the clear lead given on inclusion by the Head of School, and it is committed to creating an inclusive environment where all may progress, not only academically but in the widest possible sense.  Local Governors, as part of the Trust governance model, are well known to pupils and staff and are actively involved in the academy, demonstrating a commitment to challenging and supporting it in its improvement journey. One Governor interviewed visits the academy weekly and is involved in supporting extracurricular activities including gardening. Governors feel that the academy is inclusive and understand their roles as Community Ambassadors and have ensured that the school community knows who they are and have confidence talking to them.

Support For All

Mention was also made of the way in which the academy provides support for pupils from a range of different cultures and backgrounds and of the positive way in which the academy has reached out to support the re-engagement of pupils post-Covid via attendance rewards. The academy presents a welcoming environment that is conducive to positive engagement and thereby promotes learning. Both staff and pupils are positive, friendly, and outgoing towards visitors and keen to celebrate their academy and its achievements.

Parents Are Positive

Parents speak well of the academy and what it is achieving for the young people in its care and for the wider community in particular. Parents attest to excellent communication from the academy about general matters and to the level of support provided in cases of specific need.  Parents cited several examples of these including the adaptation of the classroom environment to meet specific needs. Good support was provided during the pandemic and there was appropriately differentiated support made available for those with the most extreme needs. Positive mention was made by parents of the ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’ sessions led by the academy in collaboration with visiting professionals such as CAMHS and the Summer School activities, which are free to the disadvantaged. Parents feel that the academy has helped them to better understand the ‘support that is out there’.

Pupils Feel Safe

Staff ensure that pupils are safe.  Pupils strongly articulate that they feel safe and are supported in understanding how to be safe outside school.  They also feel that they know who to turn to in case of difficulties and are supported in doing well.

A Continuous Journey

The academy is to be congratulated on the way it has embraced the principles of inclusive practice and worked with the Trust and others to ensure that its commitment to realising an ‘inclusive’ provision has made a strong start. Examples of the fruits of the academy’s labours in this regard, that were revealed and referenced were too numerous to include more than a selection and it will be interesting for future assessors to follow these golden threads as the academy continues its inclusion journey.

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: info@iqmaward.com for further details.

Want more information on the IQM Award? Click here to request your free IQM information pack