Lea Valley Academy

Part of the EdAct Trust

Inclusion Quality Mark

At Lea Valley we are dedicated to making every possible opportunity available to all our students, and we do this by making sure every aspect of a Lea Valley education is tailored to the specific circumstances of the individual student.

Our IQM review and reassessment took place on 23rd May 2017.  This was extremely successful and as a result of three years as an IQM Centre of Excellence, Lea Valley will now go forward as an IQM Flagship School.

The Inclusion Quality Mark provides schools with a nationally recognised framework to guide their inclusion journey. Inclusion promotes equal opportunities for all pupils, whatever their age, gender, ethnicity, attainment and background, and the award pays particular attention to the provision made for, and the achievement of, different groups of pupils within a school and any pupils who are at risk of disaffection and exclusion.

The principle of the Flagship School idea is that an individual school can further its work in Inclusion through internal research activities. A Flagship School will determine for themselves who will be involved and the direction in which they choose to make progress.

Below is an extract of the report findings:  

Students come first at the school and their individual needs are a priority. Staff well-being is also carefully considered and measures are taken to try to make working conditions manageable. This work is never done and the school continues to consider ideas and suggestions on how to improve things further. Training and development of staff is an important part of this improvement agenda.

Inclusion in the Lea Valley High School is rooted in classrooms and the school remains focused on its core purpose of improving teaching and learning. Staffs at all levels understand that the classroom is where inclusion happens. Teachers fully accept their responsibility for all the students in their classes and they are given a great deal of support to make this happen. Teachers plan and deliver Quality First Teaching throughout the school. The SEND department is well organised and well run and provides excellent additional support for those who need more specialised help.

The ethos and atmosphere of the school is warm and friendly and clearly there are strong relationships between staff and students where staff are always prepared to go the extra mile for the young people in their care. Students are well motivated and they want to do well. Their attitudes to work and to each other are very positive.

The full report can be downloaded here: IQM letter 4th June, 2017