IQM Flagship School

 
We are delighted to announce in January 2026 we were designated as an IQM Flagship School.  This award is celebratory of our high quality inclusive practice, and our commitment to share impactful strategies and research with other professionals.   It celebrates schools that not only model inclusion within schools but those who actively influence the broader educational landscape through innovation, research, and sharing best practices.   Schools at this level demonstrate sustained excellence in inclusive teaching, actively contribute to national discussions on education, and act as hubs of inspiration for others seeking inclusion awards for schools. This award acknowledges that inclusion is deeply embedded in ethos, strategy, and classroom practice.  We are justifiably proud of this accoladate.
 
 
 
IQM Inclusive School logo
 
Becoming a Centre of Excellence is an opportunity for schools to build on the success of being one of the very special schools which holds the Inclusion Quality Mark award.  Hirst Wood Nursery School is delighted to achieve the Centre of Excellence status which will allow us to share and build on our inclusive best practice.
 
Centre of Excellence Criteria
  • Committed to sustaining the Inclusion Quality Mark ethos through collaborative activities.
  • Have demonstrable plans to sustain and develop internal inclusive practice.
  • Have good mechanisms to disseminate and share good practice between the schools.
  • Have the capacity to share and disseminate good inclusive practice across a broader cluster of schools.
  • Are willing to engage in classroom level research activity that explores inclusive practice.
  • Agree to have an annual IQM visit to ratify or validate the progress and develop an annual plan for development.
  • Agree to contribute an annual written update of progress against the eight elements as the basis for the annual review.
  • Are prepared to contribute to the overall development aims of IQM, supporting the need for expertise or trialling practice.