St Damian’s RC High School Achieves IQM Inclusive School Award

September 1, 2026

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St Damian’s RC High School has achieved the IQM Inclusive School Award in recognition of its outstanding commitment to inclusion, pastoral care and ensuring that every student feels valued, supported and challenged to succeed. The assessment highlighted a school where relationships, ambition and genuine care for individuals underpin every aspect of school life. 

A School Built on Relationships 

Relationships are a defining strength of the school and sit firmly at the heart of its ethos and practice. Leaders prioritise knowing students as individuals and consistently promote the principle of ‘start with the child, don’t go wrong.’ During the visit, senior leaders were observed interacting positively with a high number of students, consistently addressing them by name, and demonstrating a detailed understanding of their individual circumstances and needs.  

The structured 30-minute form time programme ensures that students have a secure and consistent relationship with a trusted adult. Students spoke emphatically about the support they receive from staff and described feeling safe and valued within the school community. Students repeatedly highlighted the inclusive nature of the school and explained that they feel safe, respected, and listened to.  

Inclusion at the Heart of School Life  

Leaders place significant emphasis not only on inclusion, but also on celebrating diversity and promoting mutual respect for all members of the school community. As a result, the school has established a highly effective inclusive culture where all stakeholders fully embrace the school’s Catholic ethos and values, ensuring that all feel a strong sense of belonging within school, and stakeholders strongly emphasise that the school is truly a ‘family.’  

SEND provision is a significant strength of the school. Leaders have created a highly collaborative and proactive SEND team, strengthened further through the appointment of an Assistant SENDCo. Staff repeatedly emphasised that ‘SEND is at the top of the agenda’ and described a holistic approach to understanding and supporting students with additional needs.  

Literacy at the Heart of Learning  

Leaders have placed literacy and reading at the centre of school improvement. Whole-school literacy training has strengthened staff understanding of reading and a recent focus was on how fluency affects students’ access to the curriculum, and this has enabled staff to embed strategies into their planning and delivery, having a demonstrable impact on students’ progress. 

Form-time literacy activities are exceptionally well planned and engaging, with creative approaches such as ‘Call My Bluff,’ root word activities and the St Damian’s Reading Route maintaining students’ enthusiasm for reading and language development.  

A Culture of Support and Professional Growth  

Staff retention is exceptionally strong, with many staff remaining at the school for significant periods of time, including senior leaders who began their careers at the school. Staff expressed how they feel ‘very proud’ to work at the school and spoke passionately about the positive culture, describing it as a ‘place where people genuinely want to come to work.’  

A discussion with an Early Career Teacher further highlighted the extensive support offered to staff at St Damian’s. She explained that she has been supported ‘so much’ since joining the school and reflected on the consistent support she receives from colleagues and leaders, including regular check-ins to discuss how her day has gone along with offers of help when it may be needed.  

Ambition Beyond the Classroom  Set featured image

All stakeholders spoke passionately about the school’s commitment to charitable work at both local and national level and this commitment to community and enrichment is extensive. The school supports a significant number of organisations including Macmillan Cancer Support, the Teenage Cancer Trust, and Willow Wood Hospice. Students actively participate in fundraising through non-uniform days, the immensely popular Share Day and community initiatives such as food bank collections. Leaders spoke passionately about how the school community raised over £10,000 for local charities last year, reflecting the generosity, compassion and strong sense of social responsibility that permeates throughout the school. 

The school’s commitment to enrichment and aspiration is reflected in the extensive opportunities available to learners. Students spoke animatedly about trips to Barcelona, Paris, London, and the Lake District. Many students participate in the Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award programmes, and during the visit Year 10 students were camping out in school grounds as a trial run for their forthcoming expedition. 

Find Out More About IQM  

If your school is interested in achieving 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.