West Acton Primary School named Centre of Excellence

West Acton Primary School has been officially recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the Inclusion Quality Mark (IQM) UK, following its success in achieving the prestigious Inclusive School Award.

This national accolade places West Acton among a select group of schools celebrated for their outstanding commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

The recognition follows a detailed two-day assessment carried out by IQM in July 2025, during which assessors praised the school’s “deeply embedded culture of inclusion”. The report commended West Acton as a place where “inclusion is not just a policy but a lived value”, visible across classrooms, playgrounds, and the wider school community.

West Acton Primary serves more than 660 pupils from a richly multicultural community, with children speaking a wide range of languages. The school’s Additionally Resourced Provision (ARP) for pupils with autism, alongside its trauma-informed and therapeutic approach to wellbeing, was singled out for particular praise. Assessors highlighted initiatives such as in-house psychotherapy, the use of Zones of Regulation, and Microsoft Reflect, which support pupils’ emotional and mental health.

The school’s adaptive and culturally responsive curriculum was also recognised for its innovative use of digital tools, visual supports, and decolonised content — ensuring that every child can access and engage with learning. Strong partnerships with parents and carers, particularly families new to the UK education system, were noted as a key strength.

Headteacher Karen Kondo said:

“This award reflects the dedication of our staff, the strength of our partnerships with families, and above all the resilience and brilliance of our children. Becoming a Centre of Excellence gives us the opportunity to share our inclusive ethos more widely and continue to learn from others.”

The Centre of Excellence status will enable West Acton Primary to collaborate with other schools across the UK, sharing best practice and continuing to develop innovative approaches to inclusion and wellbeing.

https://www.westactonprimaryschool.org