Ranelagh Primary Achieves Flagship Status

April 17, 2018

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Ranelagh Primary School in Newham has become an IQM Flagship School.

School Context

On 1st September 2017 Ranelagh Primary ceased to be a local authority-maintained school and converted to Academy status. It is a larger than average primary and nursery school within a small but supportive Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) and is situated within the London Borough of Newham where there is a high level of deprivation. The report on Ranelagh written after its last Ofsted inspection in November 2013 and before Academy-conversion describes it as being a ‘good school’ with an ‘outstanding leadership team.’

Background

A high proportion of Ranelagh families are from minority ethnic backgrounds and most pupils speak English as an additional language. The percentage of children who are eligible for pupil premium funding, who are disabled or who have special educational needs is higher than the national average, nevertheless the school’s most recent outcomes for mathematics are within the average range, for writing they are above the average range, and for reading they are well above the average range. The school has the highest attendance level in Newham and the vast majority of children at Ranelagh Primary School are doing very well indeed, even those who have needs that another school might find it difficult to provide for.

Inclusive Ethos

Ranelagh Primary School has been an Inclusion Quality Mark school for a number of years and is now an IQM Centre of Excellence with significant involvement in the support of an inclusive ethos in schools within the local area and beyond. School professionals and their governing body constantly reflect on the inclusion values and practice of the school and on how these impact on the learning environment, teaching methodology and curriculum, also the personal development and academic progress of individual pupils and the support of Ranelagh staff members, families and partners in the local community.

A Day of Celebration

The inclusive ethos of this school is very much a living and developing thing. Every year the IQM review day is a celebration of new ideas, reflection and planning relating to the empowerment of individual children and family members. During the past year the school has become involved with NewDay, an innovative and therapeutic Newham initiative providing family support. During the IQM review day Ranelagh staff members were described by a NewDay representative as being “really good partners.”

Shared Values and a “Can-Do” Attitude

At the heart of Ranelagh inclusion is the inspiration of a strongly cohesive group of senior leaders with shared values, and the ‘can do’ attitude they inspire in their carefully chosen staff. Evidence presented for this year’s Centre of Excellence review shows that although the school is now an Academy and part of a small Multi-Academy Trust, very little has changed in terms of the positive certainty of senior leaders and staff, that inclusion is the way to succeed as a school. It is clear that mutual support between Ranelagh and her sister schools can only have long-term benefits for all.

Established Procedures

The Inclusion Team take advantage of the secure planning, assessment and tracking procedures that have been established to monitor and support the progress of all pupils. Interventions are described as having been ‘built on difference, rather than deficit.’ Teaching, support, and other staff work closely together, and everyone is aware that the children who are most vulnerable to academic failure may also be the most vulnerable in terms of safeguarding. Difficult conversations are managed empathetically, and parents are supported by experienced staff members who understand the concerns that must be addressed immediately.

A Dynamic Driving Force

The Assistant Headteacher (Inclusion and Safeguarding) is a reflective but dynamic and driving force within the school. Other senior leaders, her Inclusion Team and the rest of the staff body work together with the newly-confirmed Headteacher to ensure that inclusion remains a key focus of the school.

IQM Flagship Status

Having discussed the progress made since the IQM review a year ago and the school’s plans for the future I am of the opinion that Ranelagh Primary School continues to fulfil the criteria as an IQM Centre of Excellence. I would like to recommend that the school moves to Flagship status. The Flagship period will run until the end of academic year 2020-2021 assuming successful annual reviews each year.

IQM Cluster Group

The next review will look closely at how the school has interacted with its Inclusion Cluster and promoted continuing outreach. Evidence of Cluster working will underpin the capacity for the school to maintain its COE status.

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@inclusionmark.co.uk for further details.