St Joachim’s Catholic Primary School Achieves IQM Inclusive School Award

August 27, 2026

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Congratulations to everyone at St Joachim’s Catholic Primary School on achieving the IQM Inclusive School Award. This well-deserved recognition reflects the school’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that every pupil feels valued, supported and empowered to succeed. This achievement is a testament to the hard work, compassion and dedication of leaders, staff, pupils and families, and is a wonderful milestone for the entire school community. 

Inclusion Through Action 

St Joachim’s Catholic Primary School has developed a sustainable approach where pupils’ individual needs are understood, barriers are identified and addressed, and all pupils are supported to participate fully in the life of the school. The strength of practice across leadership, curriculum, specialist provision, teaching and learning, assessment and partnerships with families and the wider community demonstrates a school that is committed to continuous improvement and the development of inclusive practice. 

Diversity Inspires Belonging 

A significant strength of St Joachim’s is the way inclusion is understood across the school community. Leaders, staff and pupils demonstrated a shared understanding that inclusion is everyone’s responsibility. The school’s strong Catholic identity is lived alongside a commitment to welcoming and celebrating the diverse backgrounds, cultures and experiences represented within the school community. The “Seven Continents, One School” initiative provides clear evidence of the school’s commitment to belonging, representation and celebrating diversity, ensuring pupils develop respect and understanding of the wider world. 

ARK Transforms Opportunities 

The development of the ARK resource provision is an exceptional example of inclusive practice. Established in September 2024 to support pupils with EHCPs whose needs required a more adapted learning environment, ARK reflects the school’s commitment to ensuring that pupils with complex needs receive highly personalised support while remaining connected to the wider school community. 

Belonging Beyond Placement 

The strength of ARK is not only in the specialist provision offered but in the inclusive model it represents. Pupils are not viewed as separate from the school community; instead, adaptations are made to enable meaningful participation. Evidence showed pupils accessing whole-school experiences, enrichment opportunities and shared activities alongside their peers. This demonstrates a strong understanding of inclusion as belonging, participation and access rather than simply placement within a mainstream environment. 

Reflecting Improving Evolving 

A further strength is the school’s reflective approach to improvement. Leaders demonstrate an understanding that inclusive practice requires ongoing development and refinement. The introduction of iTrack assessment systems and the continued development of approaches to tracking progress for pupils with complex needs demonstrate the school’s commitment to ensuring that assessment systems accurately capture individual progress and inform future provision. This reflects a culture where leaders identify areas for improvement and take purposeful action to strengthen outcomes for pupils. 

Leading Inclusive Practice 

The school’s approach to inclusion, particularly through the development of ARK, the strength of relational practice and the focus on ensuring meaningful participation for all pupils, represents significant practice that could support and inform other settings. Leaders demonstrate a willingness to reflect, refine and share their learning, positioning St Joachim’s as a school that not only sustains high-quality inclusive practice for its own pupils but also has the capacity to contribute positively to wider professional learning and inclusive development. 

 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.