The Shri Ram Schools Achieve IQM International Inclusive School Award with Centre of Excellence status

August 24, 2026

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We are delighted to celebrate The Shri Ram Schools’ achievement of the IQM International Inclusive School Award with Centre of Excellence status. At The Shri Ram Schools, each of the three campuses reflects a shared culture of warmth, excellence, and child-centric learning. They believe every child is unique, and the dedicated educators nurture curiosity, critical thinking, and a lifelong love for learning through engaging and meaningful experiences.

Inclusion as a Lived Philosophy

At The Shri Ram Schools (TSRS), inclusion is not simply an initiative but a deeply lived ethos that shapes every interaction, relationship, and experience across the school community. Since forming a clear vision for inclusion in 2022, the schools have continuously evolved their message and practice. The 2025 strapline, “Inclusion Starts With Me,” encouraged every individual to take ownership of building an inclusive environment, while the new 2026 theme, “Inclusion in Action,” reflects how the inclusion values are now actively embedded into daily life. The “Spirit of Inclusion” initiative has become uniquely identified with The Shri Ram Schools and is lived authentically by students, staff, and families alike.

The schools demonstrate a deeply embedded culture of empathy, kindness, and mutual respect. Students themselves demonstrate exceptional empathy, sensitivity, and understanding towards neurodivergent peers, while mainstream students willingly volunteer in Peer Buddy Systems and inclusive initiatives. Across the schools, relationships and emotional connections are consistently valued more than labels or differences, with students of all abilities interacting respectfully, comfortably, and supportively with one another. A range of carefully designed initiatives further embed this culture of inclusion into everyday school life, including Circle Time sessions, Peer Tutoring Programmes, the Buddy System and the school-wide campaign “#TSRS Ki Inclusive Duniya,” which celebrates diversity and promotes awareness across all age groups.

Leadership That Listens

The schools’ culture is strengthened by highly collaborative leadership and relationships grounded in mutual respect. A particularly strong partnership exists between the Principal and the Head of SEND, reflecting the schools’ belief that “nothing is done in isolation.” There is a clear freedom to speak openly, with a strong sense of empowerment. This allows all stakeholders to feel valued and heard.

Collaborative leadership remains central to the schools’ inclusive approach. The HSEN team, SEN Coordinators, Student Council, school leadership, educators and families all contribute towards shaping policies such as the Inclusion Policy and Anti-Bullying Policy, ensuring shared ownership and transparency.

A phrase heard repeatedly across the school community was: “We are a school that listens.” This openness is visible in the thoughtful changes made in response to parent feedback, including revised ID card terminology for single-parent families and standardised report card colours designed to promote dignity, sensitivity, and belonging for all students. The schools maintain a genuine open-door culture where communication is transparent, approachable, and encouraged at every level.

Strong Partnerships with Families

Parent partnership is viewed as essential to the schools’ success. Through Parent Survey Forms, PTA Executive Committee Meetings, SMT Coffee Connect Sessions, and Rainbow Smile Meetings, families are actively involved in conversations around inclusion and wellbeing.

Caring for Carers includes monthly online meetings for parents of neurodivergent children, alongside face-to-face Rainbow Smile meetings organised by parents for parents. These sessions provide emotional support, shared understanding, and practical guidance. This commitment to partnership is reflected in the evidence of families feeling that the school provides a “safe home” and is a “school that listens”.

Personalised Pathways for Every Learner

A key strength of the schools is their multiple curriculum pathways designed to meet diverse learner profiles. Three models operate within the school: Model A (no adaptations), Model B (adaptations including subject adjustments such as opting out of Science and Mathematics in Class 9), and Model C (full adaptations, including access to the NIOS pathway). The NIOS pathway, currently followed by 18 students from post-Class 8 onwards, offers a flexible alternative to the national curriculum with a strong focus on personalised learning, inclusivity, and future-ready skills. Across all stages, the curriculum is designed to build skills progressively, beginning with an intensive skill development programme in Junior School that continues into Secondary School. A structured and much emphasised “weaning-off” approach gradually reduces support so that students develop independence as they move through the school.

The impact of this model is clearly reflected in practice. One educator shared, “Before the adapted curriculum was introduced, children would be out of class for weeks… now they are part of the class with the core teacher, and they are seamlessly part of the class.” Another added, “Being part of the class has improved the social skills of the neurodivergent pupils. Other pupils are very empathetic and sensitive to their needs.” Reinforcing this ethos, staff also shared, “everyone is brought to the stage now and no one is left behind.”

Inclusion Beyond the Classroom

A significant strength of the school is its commitment to meaningful pathways for neurodivergent students, particularly in preparing them for adulthood. Students are provided with internship opportunities within the school itself, with some progressing into permanent support staff roles, while the school also actively explores employment links with external organisations that hire neurodivergent individuals and supports post-school pathways through both mainstream and NIOS routes after Grade 12. Neurodivergent adults and alumni are regularly welcomed back onto campus to sell products, photograph events, deliver talks, and contribute professionally, reflecting the school’s vision of “Inclusion in Action 2026.” International engagement remains a distinctive strength, with opportunities such as a long-standing exchange programme with schools in Singapore, active since 2005, enabling reciprocal learning experiences for students and staff, including neurodivergent learners. The school also works closely with therapists, vocational trainers, and external experts, while students are regularly exposed to real-world learning through competitions, educational visits, NGO collaborations, and outreach programmes.

Find Out More About IQM  

The Inclusion Quality Mark provides schools with a internationally recognised framework for developing and celebrating inclusive practice.  

If your school is interested in achieving the IQM International 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.