The McAuley Catholic High School Achieves IQM Inclusive School Award

September 3, 2026

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The McAuley Catholic High School has achieved the IQM Inclusive School Award in recognition of its commitment to inclusion, belonging and ensuring that every pupil can thrive. The assessment highlighted a highly inclusive school where dedicated staff truly care for students and where leaders continue to prioritise inclusion in every aspect of school life. 

A School Where Inclusion Thrives 

The school has partnered with NEXUS to establish a resourced provision attached to the mainstream site, creating a small, therapeutic Key Stage 3 SEMH hub for up to 12 pupils identified through Local Authority consultation. The hub is designed to support children with an EHCP for SEMH, particularly those who have been out of formal education or placed in alternative provision, by offering a purposeful, nurturing environment while maintaining access to mainstream lessons. 

Collaboration with the LA, Diocese and Nexus has delivered a functioning SEMH Hub that is already oversubscribed and producing positive integration outcomes. Early signs show successful inclusion of Nexus pupils into McAuley’s KS3 provision and a planned increase in mainstream lesson access. 

The Beating Heart of the School 

One of the most incredible areas of the school visited during the assessment was the Emmanus Centre, described as a “one stop shop” for emotional wellbeing and support. It was noted that it “really is the beating heart of this truly inclusive school.” 

Led by a practitioner with 19 years’ service to the school, the centre provides a calm, safe and non-classroom environment that links closely with specialist external services to identify needs, deliver support and coordinate further interventions for learners. The centre’s ethos and setting encourage self-referral and enable timely, tailored responses for students in crisis. 

The Centre’s impact is clear. In 2024/25 there were 168 referrals and, to date this year, 110 referrals. In total, 1,201 appointments have been processed this year, including referrals and external appointments via GPs, CAMHS and WMIM, reflecting the Centre’s strong reputation and reach. 

Young People Supporting Young People 

The McAuley Buddy programme comprises a cohort of 30 trained peer mentors drawn from Year 8 through to the sixth form, supported by the Emmanus Centre to provide effective pastoral support across the school. 

Buddies run a range of initiatives including “safe space” sessions, open-door events and lunchtime activities to build relationships and offer emotional support. They are easily identifiable by purple lanyards and report that their role increases younger students’ confidence and resilience. 

Support begins at transition, with every prospective Year 7 student receiving a Year 6 information booklet. The team analyses responses to identify barriers, existing support and individual needs and to create early intervention and monitoring plans. 

Contributions from individual buddies demonstrate the programme’s wider benefits. A sixth-form mentor described how participation has developed his communication skills, supported his career aspirations and helped him learn coping strategies for stress, while he also manages the group’s social media. 

Demand for the scheme remains high, with 66 applications received for the new cohort, and the programme continues to strengthen the school’s pastoral offer and student wellbeing. 

Creating Opportunities for Every Learner 

During the learning walk, the assessor visited the school’s nurture group, a small class of 12 supported by multiple staff, where pupils were working on verbal communication through paired reading of newspaper articles and carefully adapted resources. 

Identified by the SENCO prior to transition and disapplied from SATs, these students follow a primary-style model for half their timetable, taught by a single lead teacher who covers topic work, literacy and social skills. Around half the group hold EHCPs and the remainder receive similarly intensive support, reflecting the school’s commitment to providing a bridge between primary and secondary education through a bespoke KS3 pathway curriculum. 

At KS4, the cohort follows a Kings Trust pathway that combines core lessons, selected GCSE options where appropriate, and qualifications from the Kings Trust curriculum, enabling students to achieve positive outcomes they might not otherwise attain. 

The target to develop a KS4 Nurture Base has been met and embedded. Attendance and engagement are strong, there have been no fixed-term suspensions for this cohort, and student work from the provision has been used as an exemplar by other settings. 

Staff know their students well and are committed to securing the best possible outcomes. 

Leadership Beyond the Classroom 

Upon arrival, the assessor was warmly greeted by the student-led Care for Creation team, a group focused on improving the school’s cleanliness and environmental sustainability. 

The panel uses an environmental analysis to identify strengths and weaknesses and to develop a sustained action plan, which has driven continuous improvement and contributed to the school achieving the Eco School Award at distinction level. 

Major projects include a LA funded “mini forest,” which students visit fortnightly to document growth. The group also supports the wider community through a successful uniform swap shop for disadvantaged families. 

One of the most impactful projects has led to the school installing solar panels and LED lighting to reduce costs and lower its carbon footprint. The panel recognises individual contribution through an Eco Student Award, reinforcing positive behaviour and long-term engagement. 

The group is led by a Year 12 student who provides leadership and serves as a positive role model for younger pupils. 

The assessor concluded: “It was a pleasure to visit The McAuley Catholic High School to conduct their Year 3 COE review. The school continues to move from strength to strength in terms of its inclusive practice and I am firmly of the opinion that the school fully meets the standard required by the Inclusion Quality Mark’s Inclusive School Award in all eight elements.” 

Find Out More About IQM 

If your school is interested in achieving 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.