Inclusion Awards for CCOs
IQM works with Club Community Organisations across the UK and Ireland to accredit and celebrate exceptional inclusive practice within their programmes for children and young people.
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What are IQM Awards for CCOs?
The IQM Award for Club Community Organisations recognises when a club demonstrates outstanding commitment to inclusion within its programmes, outreach, and opportunities for children and young people. By achieving IQM accreditation, CCOs gain formal recognition that reassures sponsors, stakeholders, and parents of the quality and impact of their work.
The assessment process mirrors that of schools. CCOs complete self-evaluation forms, showing how they meet the criteria across the eight elements of the IQM Evaluative Framework. They then undergo an in-depth assessment by a highly qualified IQM Assessor, who provides a detailed report. If successful, the club receives formal IQM accreditation, validating its inclusive ethos and impact.
Why do Community Clubs choose IQM?
Decision-makers in Club Community Organisations select IQM accreditation because it allows them to:
- Showcase measurable impact in inclusive practice.
- Build trust and confidence with sponsors, funders, and stakeholders.
- Highlight how their programmes benefit all children, not just those with SEND.
- Track development and progress through annual feedback for Centres of Excellence and Flagship centres.
- Demonstrate accountability and quality assurance using an external benchmark.
- Strengthen community reputation as an inclusive organisation.
- Gain insights from expert assessors with extensive education and youth development experience.
- Position themselves for recognition at the highest levels of inclusion.
Everton in the Community, driving inclusive practice forward for youth sport
Everton in the Community became the first CCO to achieve the Inclusive School Award Status.
While their programmes take place outside the traditional classroom, the education, guidance, and personal development children receive in their care is exceptional. Their success demonstrates how inclusive values and structured opportunities can thrive in any environment.
The IQM way
Promotes access and diversity
Raises achievement for all
Improves inclusive nature of all schools
Creates an environment for all to succeed
Promotes access and diversity
Raises achievement for all
Improves inclusive nature of all schools
Creates an environment for all to succeed
The IQM way
Process
The process for CCOs follows that of the school assessment process and is tailored to the needs of each individual club or organisation.
Evaluative Framework
The IQM Evaluative Framework provides a natinoally recognised standard for measuring inclusive practice across all organisations.
Pricing
Costs for CCO accreditation vary by organisation. Contact the IQM team to discuss pricing.
Hear from IQM Organisations
Working with IQM has shown us how far we've come and how much more we can grow.
Sarra Ben Ammar, Principal, Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Awal School, Abu Dhabi
Since our whole school community embarked upon our IQM journey from September 2023, inclusion, equality, embracing diversity and equity has become THE driving force that is central to all aspects of our school improvement.
Chris Davey, Executive Headteacher, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School, Liverpool
The word inclusion is used lots, and quite rightly so, but actually when you really unpick the layers of what inclusion means, I think the IQM audit is a really valuable tool to help you look at what strengths you have and ways forward.
Headteacher, Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, Wirral
The IQM has given practitioners at our resource provision a chance to reflect on what they are doing and make adjustments as needed. It also gives families and carers reassurance of the inclusive practice at the setting.
Mike Stapleton-Chambers, Head of Service, Deliver Better Values initiative at Halton Borough Council
Our journey with the Inclusion Quality Mark has been a powerful reflection of how far we've come, a celebration of our collective efforts, and the inclusive culture we've built together.
Esraa Jararaa, Head of Inclusion, Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Awal School, Abu Dhabi
Being part of the cluster group is really important because people from other IQM Centres of Excellence and Flagship schools across the North West have come to our school and it's all about sharing best practice.
Chris Davey, Executive Headteacher, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School, Liverpool
At our school, inclusion isn't a policy or provision, it's a belief that every child belongs, every identity matters, and every learner shapes who we are and adds meaning to our community
Sarra Ben Ammar, Principal, Khalifa Bin Zaye Al Awal School, Abu Dhabi
It was very clear from the outset that those [assessment] days were there for us to celebrate and showcase all that we've achieved as a school.
Chris Davey, Executive Headteacher, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School, Liverpool
Inclusive education begins with the belief that every learner matters—and thrives when we teach not just to the class, but to each child within it.
Mike Stapleton-Chambers, Head of Service, Deliver Better Values initiative at Halton Borough Council
Inclusion starts and ends with culture. Building a culture that skyrockets children's self-esteem and motivation is like crafting the perfect recipe
Christopher Nourse, Executive Principal, Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Awal School, Abu Dhabi
Being part of the cluster group is really important because people from other IQM Centres of Excellence and Flagship schools across the North West have come to our school and it’s all about sharing best practice.
Chris Davey, Executive Headteacher, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School, Liverpool
Make Inclusion Matter
FAQs
A nationally and internationally recognised accreditation that celebrates and supports outstanding inclusive practice in schools.
The average time for schools to complete the award is two terms, though timescales vary depending on readiness and chosen award level.
Yes - we work with schools in the UAE, Europe, and beyond, adapting our assessments to different curricula and cultural contexts.
Pricing information can be found on each award page. The cost of a school's registration is £299.50 + VAT. This is renewed every 3 years. The cost for Flagship and Centre of Excellence are UK prices.
No - while SEND is a core focus, IQM covers all aspects of inclusion, from diversity and equity to staff culture and community engagement.
About IQM
The only national award for inclusion in the UK, IQM has been committed to recognising exemplary inclusive schools for over 20 years and in over 20 countries around the world. The three awards allow schools and organisations to dcelebrate their inclusive practice against nationally recognised framework.
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