Primary wins inclusion award

A primary academy based in Ripon is celebrating after receiving a nationally recognised award for its work on inclusion.

Outwood Primary Academy Greystone, based on Quarry Moor Lane, was awarded the Inclusion Quality Mark Award by IQM.

The award provides UK schools with a nationally recognised validation of their inclusive practice and ongoing commitment to developing educational inclusion.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The academy’s success comes after a long assessment process, which was split into two phases beginning with a self-evaluation followed by a two-day assessment by the IQM team.

Victoria Kirkman, Principal at Outwood Primary Academy Greystone, said: “We are delighted to have been accredited with the IQM Award, which we believe highlights our commitment to inclusion at all levels.

“At Outwood we believe that every child deserves the best education, no matter their start in life, and we work tirelessly to deliver on this belief.”

During self-evaluation, the criteria for Outwood Primary Academy Greystone was broken down into five sections, focusing on inclusion values and practice of the school, the learning environment, resources and ICT, learner attitudes, values and personal development, learner progress and impact on learning, and learning and teaching.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The follow-up two-day virtual inspection consisted of an IQM assessor meeting with members of staff, and going through the five self-evaluation topics in detail for a full formal assessment.

Focusing on the Inclusion Team, the report was full of praise claiming ‘it was evident that staff are there for children and their families and the whole staff team’ with an emphasis on ‘creating a culture of mutual love, understanding and respect’.

The positive findings led to the IQM team recommending Outwood Primary Academy Greystone to apply for Centre of Excellence status, which it subsequently did and was successful in becoming a Centre of Excellence.

Principal Kirkman added that they were excited: “We were thrilled to have been recommended for IQM Centre of Excellence Status and are proud to have achieved this status too.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We are excited and confident that if we continue with our hard work and maintain our determination to always be improving, we will be successful.”

The report also praised the academy’s journey since becoming part of the Outwood Family in 2018, noting it had gone ‘from strength to strength’ and maintained a ‘child-centred approach’ and being a place ‘where children can flourish.’

Related topics: