Polegate School Retains IQM Flagship Status

September 2, 2026

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Polegate School has successfully retained IQM Flagship Status for the ninth consecutive year. The review found that the school continues to be a recognised centre of excellence for inclusion, with a nurturing ethos, outstanding relationships and a commitment to ensuring every pupil can access the support they need to thrive. 

Strengthening Partnerships with Families 

The school recognises that relationships are key and they have focused on improving communication, and their work with families. This has resulted in improved engagement with families, increased confidence in supporting children at home, and a stronger sense of partnership between school and parents. The school launched an online Parent Portal on the school website, which provides families with easy access to a wide range of resources designed to support learning, well-being and home-school communication. 

Workshops are delivered for parents in partnership with Eastbourne College such as cookery classes and managing a budget. A recent session on anxiety was attended by more than twenty parents and carers. Further sessions on sleep and toileting have also taken place. 

The 12 Rocks of Wellbeing 

The school is actively embedding the 12 Rocks of Wellbeing, with pupils increasingly able to articulate what each ‘rock’ represents and how it supports their personal development. Each pupil’s home school journal includes a clear list of the 12 Rocks, enabling them to independently tick off when they demonstrate or practise a particular rock. This simple but powerful system promotes self-reflection, ownership and daily habits that bolster physical and emotional wellbeing. 

The pupil home school journal also has a dedicated mental health section which signposts a range of recommended wellbeing apps and outlines other mental health programmes available to families. 

Learning Without Limits 

The review found a positive, aspirational culture permeating the school, with the vision of ‘learning without limits’ woven seamlessly into daily practice and reflected in the attitudes, routines and expectations seen throughout the review day. 

All classrooms make effective use of a wide range of visual, communication and learning support to ensure that every pupil can access the curriculum. Whole school approaches are embedded consistently, including calm corners, movement breaks, a bell for attention, literacy washing lines, class visual timetables, working walls, the ‘no hands up – stand and be proud’ strategy and talk friends. These shared practices create a predictable, inclusive learning environment where pupils feel secure, supported, and ready to learn. 

Forest School, Bruno and Spaces That Support Wellbeing 

It was a privilege to observe the variety of soft start provision including Forest School access, The Sanctuary, and sensory circuits all accessible before the start of the school day. The variety of support enabled the pupils to be regulated before entering the classroom environment. The Assessor also met the new school dog, Bruno, who has already become an invaluable part of the school community, playing a key role in supporting pupils with anxiety and gently encouraging those reluctant to come into school.  

Pupils spoke articulately about the range of wellbeing spaces across the school, clearly explaining the purpose of The Sanctuary as a place to go when feeling overwhelmed, and the HIVE as a space where they can talk to a trusted adult. 

Talk for Writing and Preparing for the Future 

Polegate is recognised as a Talk for Writing Centre and highlight school, recently hosting a school bringing all teaching and support staff to observe a T4W session. At a recent Year 6 moderation session the school was praised for their successful outcomes with the moderation lead stating, “your pupils writing inspires other schools.” The school has also recently become a Lead Careers school and has been awarded the prestigious Skills Builder Gold Award. The eight skills builder competencies are prominently displayed in classrooms, with the school focusing on one skill each term to ensure pupils build these attributes progressively. 

Going Above and Beyond 

Parents confirmed the school’s highly collaborative approach, explaining that they work closely with staff and ‘learn together’ to support their child. They spoke positively about the school’s commitment to understanding each pupil as an individual and providing a truly unique approach tailored to their specific needs. The Assessor concluded that what continues to stand out very clearly is the pride and passion of the staff and this is demonstrated in the way they engage and work with each other, pupils, and families to more than meet needs, going above and beyond what is expected.

Find Out More About IQM 

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.