St John the Baptist RC Primary School Achieves IQM Inclusive School Award with Centre of Excellence Status

August 14, 2026

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Congratulations to St John the Baptist RC Primary School on securing the IQM Inclusive School Award with Centre of Excellence Status. This recognition acknowledges the school’s dedication to building a nurturing and ambitious learning community in which every pupil is encouraged to reach their full potential.

One Family, Working Together and Aiming High

The school’s mission statement explains how they are ‘one family, working together and aiming high,’ and the term ‘family’ was referred to by all stakeholders’ throughout the assessment. The Headteacher states that whilst academic standards are good, the school is ‘about so much more than that,’ explaining how their ‘Catholic faith gives everyone the opportunity to shine and be proud, having the confidence to have a go at anything and the belief that you can succeed.’ This view is inherently shared by all stakeholders and is explicit throughout the school community and reflected in their policies and extensive practice.

The school reception is warm and welcoming, with visitors greeted promptly by friendly and approachable staff. In the school reception, there is a wonderful display stating very simply that ‘everyone is welcome here,’ in many languages, as well as information leaflets, designed by pupils, for parents and carers which immediately communicates a sense of belonging.

Relationships at the Heart of School Life

Relationships within the school are exceptional. They are characterised by mutual respect, genuine warmth, and a clear sense of care. Staff described the school as ‘a family,’ a sentiment that is clearly reflected in the daily experiences and interactions across the school.

The school’s ethos of high expectations, kindness, and unity is lived by all staff, who model respectful relationships and they describe a ‘zero toxicity’ culture. All staff spoke passionately about their work at St John the Baptist’s and how they feel supported and listened to by leaders.

Inclusive Practice in Action

The passion for inclusion permeates through all areas of the school and from every member of staff. Every class has an Inclusion File, and staff share emerging concerns through well-understood processes. Strategies such as ‘Band A’ guidance support early and effective intervention for EAL learners and these ensure there is graduated support to enable learners to make rapid progress.

The curriculum strongly celebrates diversity, with careful selection of texts and resources that represent the school’s international community. Sensitive topics such as refugee experiences or global events, are handled carefully, with communication to parents in advance and early conversations with pupils. There are a range of pupil leadership opportunities, including Young Interpreters, helping children support one another and strengthen the sense of belonging across the school community.

Leadership of personal development is a particular strength. The school offers a rich range of enrichment activities, including opportunities for every pupil to take on a leadership role. From early years responsibilities to whole-school student leadership days, pupils experience genuine influence and ownership of their roles and responsibilities. Children confidently described planning and leading enrichment events, including IT days and worship activities.

Growing Together Through Leadership and Service

‘Seeds and Gardeners’ provide purposeful relationships between Year 6 and Reception pupils, strengthening bonds and modelling values of support, and respect. Year 6 pupils spoke ardently about their role of ‘gardener’ and how they wrote to their allocated ‘seed’ prior to them starting at the school. Their articulation of the process highlights the positive relationships that they have developed with the younger pupils, and they clearly value the responsibilities that this role gives them.

The school’s relationships with the Parish are particularly strong. Pupils work with parishioners on gardening projects funded through the National Lottery, and learning within the Church grounds enriches the RE curriculum. Parish volunteers read regularly with pupils, and the Parish Priest, Father Michael, is a committed advocate for the school, reinforcing shared values of compassion, welcome, and community. He described feeling ‘privileged to be part of a school that gives such exceptional care to children and families.’

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.