A RUNCORN academy has been highly praised for its inclusivity.

Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy (OBA) has successfully retained its Inclusion Quality Mark (IQM) flagship status for another year in recognition of its ‘excellent inclusive provision’.

The Runcorn academy, part of Ormiston Academies Trust, is one of only 100 schools in the UK to achieve this flagship status.

Staff at the setting have been praised by the national body for their continued dedication to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students. This marks the sixth year that the academy has achieved this prestigious status.

Building on the accomplishments from the previous year, the academy had set out to further enhance inclusive practice using the THRIVE approach, which focused on training key staff to become Thrive practitioners - equipping them with tools to support students' emotional regulation and mental wellbeing.

Although initially designed as an intervention for vulnerable students at risk of disengagement from education, the THRIVE approach is now being integrated as a whole-school strategy aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of student behaviour and emotional needs.

Additionally, the academy is exploring ways to extend this approach beyond the classroom by engaging parents and even considering the introduction of student Thrive ambassadors to further promote emotional wellbeing within the school.

Inspectors applauded the school’s transformation of its learning environment to support inclusion, including creating opportunities for pastoral, attendance, and Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) staff to now work collaboratively in the same ‘village’ environment.

This in turn has helped foster better communication and create a holistic support system for students struggling to engage.

The report also highlighted support provided by tailored reading initiatives, the role of anti-bullying ambassadors and the popular ‘Head Salad’ emotional wellbeing programme.

Kathryn Evans, principal at OBA, commented on her ‘pride’ of the recent news. She said: “Retaining our IQM Flagship Status is a reflection of the dedication and care that our staff invest in supporting every student’s journey.

“I’m so proud of the work that we are doing to help build stronger relationships across the school, ensuring all our students feel valued, supported and ready to succeed.”

As part of the rigorous assessment, the academy was also described as moving from strength to strength in terms of its ‘superb inclusive practice’, with parents noticing increased engagement and positive attitudes of their children in school life, helping to create open dialogue around mental health and inclusion.

Sarah Cooke, assistant SENCo at the academy added: “The transformation we’ve seen through our focus on emotional regulation and relational stances is already making a significant impact on our students.

“The development of spaces like the Izone, where students can feel safe and understood, is essential in helping them re-engage with their learning, and I’m excited about the plans we have to further integrate the Thrive Approach in the years to come, ensuring that all our young people have access to the best possible learning opportunities.”