The Malling School Achieves Flagship School Status

August 18, 2026

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Congratulations to The Malling School on achieving Flagship School Status. This well-deserved recognition reflects the school’s unwavering commitment to inclusion, strong leadership and dedication to ensuring every student can succeed. The significant progress made across the school, together with its innovative approaches to behaviour, pastoral support and student wellbeing, demonstrates a culture where all members of the school community can thrive.

Strength Through Inclusion

The Malling School continues to go from strength to strength and is now the seventh most oversubscribed school in Kent and the numbers on roll has increased. The school is extremely well led and the headteacher is totally committed to inclusion in all its guises. Inclusion is integral to all that happens in the school, and this was obvious from all those I met and spoke to during my visit.

Inclusion on Call

Inclusion on Call is a new initiative to support students who need time-out or emotional regulation during the school day. The Inclusion on-call TAs have really helped when picking up students who are dysregulated or who are truanting from lessons and so on. It really works as students know them and have a good relationship with them. They have had additional training and been upskilled, and they are able to pick up other students who need attention during lesson time. The two TA in the HUB and now being asked to go back into class when HUB students are ready.

The Malling Way

A major and exciting initiative is the development of the Behaviour Curriculum. The curriculum is designed to “teach them how to behave.”  They used the agreed “Malling Way” behaviour charter developed by staff and students as a starting point and they asked the students what this meant to them. This is carefully thought out and is accompanied by a series of videos that Tutors can use when teaching the programmes.

This is now a spiral curriculum that works all the way up the school. The most effective strategy is getting the parents in, and they are very tenacious with that. The on-going pastoral work is essential as is the role of the tutor in delivering the behaviour curriculum and working with students and parents. Tutors know the children really well and they are the first post of call and for students.  The Curriculum throughout the school is broad and balanced and there is something for everybody. The school is introducing a new course and qualification through the Golf Academy which will earn students with a Diploma qualification.

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.