St Mary’s CE Primary School Achieves IQM Flagship Status

September 7, 2026

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St Mary’s CE Primary School has achieved IQM Inclusive School Award with Flagship Status in recognition of its commitment to inclusion, children’s rights and its values-led approach to education. The assessment highlighted a school where the principles of a UNICEF Rights Respecting School are embedded into daily life and where every pupil is supported to thrive academically, socially and emotionally. 

The Peace Curriculum 

The school’s innovative Peace Curriculum is deeply embedded across the community, with its positive impact clearly evidenced through triangulation with staff, parents, governors, and pupils. The ethos is highly visible in daily school life, notably during whole-school assemblies and targeted lesson observations. In Years 3 and 4, pupils successfully build upon their foundational peace lessons to explore complex concepts of inclusion, maturely discussing personal experiences of feeling ‘welcome’ and ‘not welcome’. Furthermore, during lesson observations, children demonstrated exceptional communication skills, speaking confidently and articulately about conflict resolution while skilfully utilising Oracy tactics to structure their discussions. Pupils with additional needs are exceptionally well-supported by skilled teaching assistants, ensuring equitable access to the curriculum. Empowered by this high-quality support, these children demonstrated the confidence to actively contribute to class discussions regarding inclusion. 

Manchester Child Friendly City 

The school community took immense pride in the recent high-profile visit from the Leader of Manchester City Council, who used the occasion to announce the ‘Manchester Child Friendly City’ initiative. Pupils spoke with great excitement about the event, which served as a powerful platform for them to showcase their learning. Staff reported a profound sense of pride in how eloquently the children presented to the Council Leader, demonstrating an advanced knowledge and mature understanding of human rights and linking these global principles to their local community. Pupils expressed pride that their school had been selected to host such a significant announcement, further demonstrating the high regard in which St Mary’s is held across Manchester. 

The White Ribbon Campaign 

The school’s commitment to fostering a progressive, inclusive culture is further exemplified through its strategic partnership with the White Ribbon campaign. 

Led by the school’s Community Lead Teacher, the initiative focuses on educating pupils about healthy relationships and actively challenging sexism. During an assembly observed by the assessor, pupils were encouraged to consider how they can actively promote gender equality during unstructured times such as lunch and break periods. 

To ensure the longevity of this message, pupils were challenged to design posters and compose slogans centred on anti-sexism. The winning entries have since been transferred onto the playground walls, creating permanent reminders of the school’s commitment to equity. 

A Strategic Vision for SEND 

The school’s Flagship project centres on a strategic three-year vision designed to elevate and sustain Special Educational Needs and Disabilities provision. At the heart of this vision is the principle that all teachers are teachers of SEND. The project includes a universal training offer to ensure that every staff member feels equipped, confident and empowered to support children with complex needs. Recognising the increasing complexity of pupil needs, St Mary’s has proactively established The Pod, a dedicated classroom provision for children for whom the mainstream classroom is no longer the most appropriate environment for progress. Curriculum pathways are planned collaboratively by class teachers and the SENDCo and delivered by highly trained support staff. The curriculum within The Pod is personalised, and staff have worked intentionally to ensure that children maintain meaningful connections with their peers and remain active members of their year groups. 

Rights, Inclusion and Belonging 

The assessment found that the principles of a UNICEF Rights Respecting School are totally embedded into the fabric of daily life at St Mary’s. Children talk confidently about the articles linked to their learning and recognise the confidence and strength that understanding their rights gives them. A particularly striking feature of the school is the presence of large photographs of pupils displayed throughout the building. These images celebrate the diversity within the school and help to create a strong sense of identity, ownership and belonging. The report also highlighted the school’s innovative approach to parental engagement. Every morning, parents are welcomed into classrooms for the first fifteen minutes of the school day, allowing them to work alongside their children and gain a deeper understanding of learning. 

Pupil Voice 

Learning behaviours across the school are exemplary and characterised by mutual respect, resilience and pride. One Year 5 pupil proudly told the assessor: “Out of all the schools in Manchester, they chose ours to announce their pledge to a Child Friendly Manchester.” Pupils also spoke positively about the school’s rewards culture, explaining: “It’s great to see someone get rewarded, it makes us proud and we are pleased for them.”

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.