St White’s achieves Inclusive award

June 17, 2026

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St. White’s Primary School is a passionate and driven school within the Forest of Dean. The school has a committed and energetic approach to learning and an ethos of including all children and encouraging every learner to reach their full potential. The school boasts an impressive array of physical activities and sports as well as a Forest School area, making full use of its location in such a picturesque area. The school works extremely hard to ensure that all pupils are given equal access to opportunities and equitable opportunities to learn, taking into consideration rural deprivation, SEND, and those speak English as an additional language.

Inclusive Community

Inclusivity is firmly embedded in all aspects of the school and curriculum, with a commitment to getting to know each child as an individual and ensure they are fit to learn, however this may look, so that they can “keep up, not catch up.” Makaton and Sign Language are interwoven throughout lessons, communication is encouraged, and there is a culture of appreciating differences and understanding that everyone may need to access support at different times.

St White’s accepts that their school is in a comparatively isolated location, but they turn this into a strength rather than a weakness, as fits their school ethos of “Challenge, Commit, Conquer and Celebrate.” The school starts

 by helping children understand the The Forest of Dean and appreciate their local “world” but broadens out historically and geographically to give all learners an understanding of the wider world and diverse cultures. This is

 accomplished holistically, through a mixture of academic learning, hands-on enrichment and extra-curricular activities, inside and outside school.

Children are encouraged to understand why they are learning each subject and how this connects them with the wider global community, such as how language can help them make friends from other countries. Schemes of learning are adapted for individual classes and the children within them, and SEND pupils have customised plans, ensuring that all children can access the same curriculum and experiences with the correct support and access to help.

Enrichment for Everyone

One particularly important and popular subject is PE, where children learn about Healthy Lifestyles and the importance of movement for health and wellbeing without the need for competition. Young people can take part in classes such as yoga, dancing, and strength training, with children in wheelchairs and with mobility aids taking part alongside their friends, with proper accommodations made. Children are encouraged to walk a mile a day, and there has been an intentional choice to provide a wide range of activities such as hockey and rugby.

Sports Week allows the school to highlight more unusual sports, display sports in more depth, and make connections to current sporting events – in the past children were given the use of a climbing wall, and this year they

will be learning about the Soccer World Cup to coincide with this being held in summer. Additionally, there is an allotment area where children can grow plants and food, the Forest School supporting mental health, and residential visits to The Wilderness Centre/Outward Bound, where they can swim, knap flint, and try abseiling.

St White’s should be proud of their physical education offer, and how it is made enjoyable for all – everyone is encouraged to partake, without a need to compete. Sports and physical activity are made accessible.

This connects back to the school’s passion for inclusivity and commitment to “making things happen” – rather than being confined to theory and planning, inclusivity is practical and action is immediate and noticeable, with staff and pupils being full of energy and enthusiasm.

St White’s is committed to inclusivity and we are proud to award them IQM Inclusive School status.