The John Wallis Church of England Academy has been awarded both the Inclusion Quality Mark (IQM) Inclusive School Award and the prestigious IQM Centre of Excellence (CoE) status, a recognition held by less than 1% of schools nationally. What makes the achievement even more remarkable is that schools typically take around three years to progress to Centre of Excellence status. However, The John Wallis Academy was awarded the recognition immediately due to the exceptional quality, impact and reach of its inclusive practice. The national assessment praised the academy’s “unwavering commitment to high standards and aspirational outcomes for all pupils” and described inclusion as being “at the heart of the academy’s ethos.” Mrs Kelly McBeath, Director of Inclusion and Head of Primary, said: “We are incredibly proud that our work has been recognised in this way. Inclusion is not an initiative at John Wallis — it is who we are. We know many parents are understandably concerned about inclusion and what the future may look like following the Government’s recent White Paper proposals. At John Wallis, we are embracing the opportunity and remain fully committed to doing even more. Achieving Centre of Excellence status so quickly reflects the passion and dedication of our staff, students, families and wider community. We are already looking at how we can expand our inclusive offer further so that we can meet the growing demand and support even more children and families locally.” Inspectors highlighted the academy’s strong culture of belonging, its ambitious curriculum, exceptional pastoral support and its commitment to ensuring “no pupil is left behind.” The report praised the academy’s work locally, nationally and internationally, recognising partnerships with families, community organisations and global inclusion projects. Staff and leaders have contributed to conferences and educational work in countries including Uganda, Kosovo and Kazakhstan, helping to influence inclusive practice beyond the UK. The academy’s “United as One – Together We Shine” campaign was also recognised as a leading example of promoting equality, diversity and belonging across the school and wider community. Inspectors described behaviour across the academy as “exemplary” and praised the strong relationships between pupils, staff and families. The final report concluded that The John Wallis Church of England Academy “fully meets the standard required” for the IQM award and identified the school as a leading example of inclusive education. Sojan Joseph wrote: “I am delighted that The John Wallis Church of England Academy has been awarded both the Inclusion Quality Mark Inclusive School Award and the Centre of Excellence status. This is a fantastic achievement – and I congratulate all the staff, students, and the wider school community. At a time when children are facing growing mental health challenges and communities feel increasingly divided, providing support and fostering a sense of togetherness has never been more important. I stay in regular contact with the team at John Wallis Academy and am consistently impressed by their dedication to ensuring inclusivity is an essential part of the school community.”