Woodsetton School Achieves IQM Centre of Excellence Award

August 20, 2026

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Woodsetton School has achieved the IQM Inclusive School Award with Centre of Excellence status in recognition of its outstanding commitment to inclusion and its determination to create a fully inclusive model of education that reflects the needs, aspirations and lived experiences of its school community.  

Every Pupil Matters, Every Moment Counts 

The motto of the school is ‘Every pupil matters… Every moment counts’ and this encapsulates the child centred approach that is tangible across the whole school. This was echoed in the OFSTED report where it stated, ‘staff understand their pupils incredibly well’ and one parent commented on how well her son has settled into the school and it was evident “the teacher really knows him well”. 

The school ethos, ‘A.I.M High’ (Ambitious, Inclusive and Meaningful) permeates everything the school does. 

Strong Relationships at the Heart of School Life 

The school is committed to building and maintaining strong relationships with all stakeholders. There is a viewpoint that a partnership approach is advantageous for all and supports communication and a consistent understanding, where all parties feel valued and heard. The school environment itself is purposeful, calm and inclusive. The “family” ethos is palpable.  

Creating Meaningful Experiences for Every Child  

Woodsetton has been on a transformational journey over the last few years, and the current leadership have been resilient in their determination to ensure the pupils progress academically as well as socially and emotionally. They are determined the children “have the same experiences as children in mainstream schools”, be that with educational visits, careers input, sporting opportunities and opportunities to really celebrate all levels of achievement.  

There is a focus on balancing nurture input alongside academic input and maintaining those high expectations for all, and therefore there are opportunities to sit external assessments where appropriate.  

An Environment Designed for Inclusion & Investing in Staff Development 

Woodsetton leadership have worked hard to ensure the environment is fit for purpose as well as being a safe and welcoming one. Designated spaces for emotional regulation have been established and there are places available to socialise. There has been a focus on creating a Total Communication environment across the school and this has been vital in creating a school where each individual can access and succeed in their education and be ‘heard’, despite many pupils being pre-verbal or non-verbal. The environment is incredibly inclusive and there are plans to still develop this further. 

The leadership of the school are very committed to not only helping the pupils grow and progress, but also the staff. There is a culture of ‘growing their own’ and many members of staff have been supported in their professional development with opportunities to gain qualifications and further their careers. As a result, staff feel invested in and “valued” with many commenting on how “grateful” they were for the support of the leadership team in the school and the Trust. 

The progress that The Woodsetton School has made over the last few years has been transformational and they are enthusiastic about the next steps, maintaining the trajectory and not resting on their laurels. 

Find Out More About IQM 

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.