Ashton Park School and Sixth Form celebrates double recognition for inclusion
Ashton Park School and Sixth Form is delighted to have been officially awarded the Inclusion Quality Mark (IQM) Inclusive School Award following an extensive two-day assessment, and has subsequently achieved prestigious Centre of Excellence status. Serving 1,280 students across South Bristol, including sixth form students and pupils attending its specialist Speech, Language and Communication Resource Base, Ashton Park was praised for its ambitious, community-focused culture and its lived values of Respect, Determination and Community.
Following the assessment, the IQM assessor recommended that the school apply for Centre of Excellence status – recognition of schools that demonstrate an exceptionally high level of inclusive practice and are able to share their learning with others. The assessor noted: “inclusion is not presented as a programme, intervention or strategic priority; it is simply the way school operates”.
A culture built on relationships and family values
Under the leadership of Headteacher and IQM Lead Richard Uffendell, Ashton Park School operates under the core vision: “Growing Great Learners, Growing a Great Community, Growing Great Leaders; we are the family community school in the area where every person thrives and makes a positive impact on the wider world”.
Throughout the assessment, students, parents, and staff repeatedly described the 11–18 school as having a genuine “family feel”. The report praised leaders for refusing to accept deficit thinking, focusing instead on creative solutions, equity, and removing barriers to achievement.
Among the key strengths identified by the IQM assessor were:
- Targeted Specialist Provision: Internal structures such as The Beacon alternative provision, the Speech, Language and Communication Resource Base, and proactive graduated response systems.
- Early Transition & Community Roots: An innovative transition programme starting as early as Year 4, ensuring pupils and families – especially those with SEND – develop a deep sense of belonging long before formally joining the school.
- Enrichment & Horizons: Deep partnerships with organisations such as South Bristol Youth (including Unlocking Potential and Future Quest), university visits, Duke of Edinburgh, and international social action trips to South Africa.
Success looks different for every child
Headteacher Richard Uffendell said the school’s approach to inclusion is rooted in recognising that success can look different for every young person: “I’ve always believed that success can look very different for different children. For some, it may be GCSE outcomes; for others, it might be qualifications, apprenticeships, work experience or engaging in enrichment programmes.”
The school’s approach includes an adapted curriculum designed to provide opportunities for every student to achieve success in ways that are meaningful to them, including programmes such as the Velo Bike Project and ASDAN.
Praise from staff and parents
The IQM assessment also highlighted exceptionally positive staff morale and strong parental trust.
- Staff Culture: Staff spoke enthusiastically about a supportive environment where leaders bring out the best in people. One colleague remarked, “I love coming to work and not many people can say that,” while others noted that positive behaviour systems mean they are no longer “fighting unnecessary battles” and can focus fully on teaching.
- Parental Pride: One parent reflected on selecting school when it felt like “a gamble,” explaining that she had since witnessed “significant improvements in standards, behaviour and aspirations” and now speaks with genuine pride about the school.
Richard Uffendell explains that the IQM award represents two years of work involving staff, students and families: “It has been a genuine collaboration across our community, with overwhelming positivity throughout. Our parents have been on this journey with us and have appreciated the challenges we’ve faced along the way.
“The staff have been amazing too, playing a huge part in creating an inclusive environment. There has been a real shift in culture since I started four years ago. It doesn’t happen overnight; it has to be embedded and consistently nurtured to help it grow.
“I feel humbled to serve such a great community, and we couldn’t do it without them.”
Looking beyond the school
The achievement of Centre of Excellence status also marks the beginning of the school’s next chapter: sharing its experience and supporting other schools and communities.
In her final evaluation, the IQM Assessor concluded that Ashton Park is “a highly inclusive and aspirational school that understands its community, responds to its needs and remains relentlessly focused on improving life chances for young people”.
