Penwortham Primary School retains IQM Flagship status

August 14, 2026

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The retention of IQM Flagship status highlights Penwortham Primary School’s enduring commitment to inclusion. Having held the IQM Inclusive School Award consecutively since 2020, the school continues to lead through innovation and the development of outstanding inclusive practice.

Families at the Heart of School Life

Parents and carers of pupils at the school spoke extremely highly of the support given to their children and the family. They praised the effective communication and varying support on offer to parents.

The Parent Teacher Association continues to play an important role within the school community, organising events that promote inclusion, engagement and connection. Activities such as film nights, wreath-making workshops and quiz nights have strengthened relationships between families and the school, further enhancing the strong sense of community.

An Inclusive Curriculum for Every Learner

The Penwortham School curriculum represents the school community and offers a diverse range of educational experiences for the pupils at the school. Pupils shared that they “love learning as the teachers make it fun” and this was evident on the learning walk around the school with pupils heavily engaged in discussions about the core texts they were reading, developing skills in PE and learning new skills in the pottery class to name a few examples. Pupils spoke highly of how the curriculum is delivered, incorporating a wide range of activities to suit all learning styles and promote discussions with peers. Pupils are happy and confident at Penwortham and interventions used to support pupils are integrated successfully into the classroom to support the inclusion of pupils, including the use of sensory equipment such as ear defenders, alternative seating arrangements and the creation of individual workstations whilst still promoting social interactions with peers in the class.

Developing Understanding Together

Penwortham has delivered a range of targeted workshops for parents, including sessions on Masking in Girls, School Avoidance, Supporting Speech and Language Development and Overcoming Literacy Challenges. Delivered by external professionals and specialist staff, parents reported increased confidence in supporting their children at home and valued the opportunity to learn alongside other families.

Supporting the Wellbeing of Staff and Pupils

Staff wellbeing is paramount to a successful school, and it is evident that the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) prioritise this. Coaching is embedded throughout the school for staff, and many staff utilise this to support their own wellbeing, as well as being able to have the opportunity to speak with the Educational Psychology Team. Coaching sessions have included how to successfully have difficult conversations which has had a positive impact on teacher wellbeing. There is an environment of honest and open communication and a school culture of “the door is always open.” Staff feel that they are actively listened to by the SLT and feel confident to approach them for these conversations.

The school’s inclusive practice is evident from the moment you set foot through the door and are welcomed in the reception. They are a school that are continually reflecting on the needs of the pupils and staff in order to be the very best they can be.

Find Out More About IQM

The Inclusion Quality Mark provides schools with a nationally recognised framework for developing and celebrating inclusive practice.

If your school is interested in achieving the 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.