Parkside Middle School has achieved the Inclusive School Award.
‘Embrace Opportunity, Nurture Success and Inspire Futures’
Parkside Middle School is a mainstream middle school and an attached Autism base from Year 5 to Year 8 with 603 pupils currently on roll. Based near the centre of Bromsgrove the school draws its pupils from a mixed catchment ranked 57 on the Local Authority (LA). Indices of deprivation pupils in school have a diverse range of need, some requiring high levels of individual care, others who are more able, both requiring individual plans for learning and developing. They speak proudly of being able to support every need imaginable and the school’s motto is “Embrace Opportunity, Nurture Success and Inspire Futures.”
Our Assessor thoroughly enjoyed their 2-day visit to Parkside. They extended their sincere thanks to Michaela Moffatt for preparing and co-ordinating the extensive paperwork and organising the timetable for the visit. Thanks was also extended to the Headteacher Natalie Mancini for her welcome into the school.
Our Assessor met leaders, all with energy levels all schools would benefit from. They have a clear mission and are committed to providing the children in their care with an equal opportunity to achieve their full potential, regardless of race, gender, ability, or disability. This is most needed based on the community they serve.
Leadership and Management is Very Strong
The leadership and management within Parkside is very strong and based around whole-school consistent principles and approaches to supporting the needs of all children regardless of need or ability. Through consistent processes, such as book monitoring, pupil progress meetings, performance management, staff coaching and subject teams, to name a few, all staff are aware of the expectations of them and their role but also of what they are to expect from the children.
Department ‘Deep Dives’ are completed with department leads to act as a support approach for staff to ensure that all pupils receive the best education possible. As a result of this consistent approach, whether the child is in Year 5 through to Year 8, they are aware of and understand their role in their educational journey. Consistency was a word that kept being repeated throughout the IQM visit by not just staff members, but also the Governor and parents spoken with.
Everybody was warm, welcoming, and extremely helpful from the moment the visit began. Over the 2 days our Assessor met with a variety of stakeholders, either in groups or individually. Learning walks afforded the opportunity to see first-hand how the school operates. Learning walks began immediately and during social time our Assessor was given the freedom to observe students in their natural environment. Nothing was off limits including conversations with a range of staff and children which is always a sign of believing in what they do.
Trust Their Teachers
Teachers and Learning Support Assistants (LSAs) are organised and well planned. LSAs are a natural part of the lesson, embedded in to support learning. Their understanding of their pupils and command of the classroom is excellent. Classrooms are well organised to support learning with learning walls, displays are relevant to support learning and not just a colourful add on. All material on the walls is used and changed with the curriculum. This was evidenced during numerous classroom visits. Children at Parkside reported that they feel safe at school, they trust their teachers and LSAs and they recognise how hard the staff work on their behalf.
A member of staff commented that, “we do things for the context of our children. Staff are determined that children get everything that they deserve. We treat each child as if they were our own.” It is clear that leaders are aware of the community they serve through the development of the curriculum to ensure that it is always relevant therefore creating a motivation for staff to deliver and children to absorb.
High Standards and Expectations are Visible
Remarkably high standards and expectations are visible throughout Parkside for pupils, staff, and parents and within everyday learning and life. The pupils engage positively in all aspects of learning and respect is very much a 2-way process. This is often referred to as the ‘Parkside Standard.’
This is a truly inclusive school, and you leave feeling inspired by the energy levels of all staff. Leadership and organisation of inclusion at Parkside is highly effective. Safeguarding processes and procedures are thorough and clearly communicated and all meetings triangulate to ensure there are no gaps in the Safeguarding Provision.
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.