St Mary’s CE (VA) Primary School Achieves Flagship School Status

August 27, 2026

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Congratulations to everyone at St Mary’s CE (VA) Primary School on achieving the IQM Inclusive School Award with Flagship School status. This is in recognition of how the staff at St Mary’s are fully committed to inclusion and making their primary school the best that it can be. They empower each other to ensure that each child has the best holistic educational offer and skill up each child to have a set of learning tools so that they can access to the best of their abilities the extensive curriculum and enrichment offers.  

Everyone Learning Together 

The staff want each child to achieve the success that they are working so hard to achieve, so that they have the best start to their secondary education and into adulthood. As the new school strap line indicates ‘everyone learning, everyone succeeding – envisioning greatness’ it permeates across the school throughout the day with smiles, laughter, looking out for each other and encouraging everyone to work together as they work side by side. 

Building Lifelong Character 

The basis of the learning culture at this school is that all staff, regardless of their roles and responsibilities, have high expectations of each child to reach their academic and social potential. Enabling them to have a ‘toolkit’ of positive interpersonal skills and attributes of compassion, trusting, sharing & respecting each other; being truthful, generous and forgiving of each other in all their friendships as they continue along their own individual learning journeys. 

Families Fuelling Fun 

The school has a thriving Parents Teachers Association, with a dedicated group of parents who work closely with staff to have various half termly events for the children and at times for the whole family. Events include discos, summer and winter fayres. The next big spending plan is to purchase black out blinds for the school hall that hosts the very well attended school discos. 

Outdoor Learning Flourishes 

Every bit of space inside and outside is fully utilised. Outside has a flourishing allotment, where the children learn how to grow and tend to their plants which are a range of flowers and vegetables. Alongside this is an established Forest School area which compliments the outdoor classroom which is more of a fantastic treehouse! 

Play Explore Recharge 

There is a MUGA (Multi Use Games Area) for football, cricket and other sports; a large wooden play area that challenges the children to improve their balance, climbing skills and movement off the ground. There is also a quiet area outside that some children prefer rather than the bikes/trikes that follow the trail on the main playground. 

Shine, Flourish, Thrive 

The Senior Leaders and Governors have taken quality time to review the values and vision of this small community school and have used the word ‘shine’ to be the basis of the achievement that they want for each child in academic terms and personal development. Together with the staff, they will shine and enable everyone to continue to flourish and thrive. 

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.