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Awards & Accreditations
Celebrating Excellence at Burley Oaks
Burley Oaks Primary School, described by Ofsted as an “exceptional school”, is celebrating an extraordinary year of national recognition across creativity, inclusion, wellbeing and online safety. This year, we have achieved Artsmark Gold, retained our prestigious IQM Flagship School status, been recognised as a Healthy Minds Beacon School, secured the 360° Safe Online Safety Mark and been selected as a Lead School for the West Yorkshire Music Hub.
Together, these awards highlight what makes Burley Oaks so special:
- A vibrant creative curriculum enriched by artists, poets and cultural partners
- A deeply rooted commitment to inclusion where every child is known and valued
- A strong whole‑school focus on emotional wellbeing for pupils and staff
- Robust safeguarding and digital safety practice embedded across the school
- Leadership in music education across West Yorkshire
We are incredibly proud of these awards. They reflect the commitment of our staff, the enthusiasm of our pupils and the support of our community. Education is about so much more than results—it is about creativity, inclusion, wellbeing and safety. These achievements show that our children are not only learning but truly flourishing.
Burley Oaks continues to shine as a beacon of excellence—both in Bradford and beyond.
IQM Flagship School for Inclusion
About the Award
The Inclusion Quality Mark (IQM) is a national recognition framework for schools with exceptional inclusive practice. The Flagship Award is the highest level, awarded to only a small number of schools demonstrating sustained excellence, innovation and leadership in inclusion. Below are some extracts from our latest assessment.
Areas of Success
A School Where Inclusion Is Who We Are
- “Burley Oaks Primary School is exceptional in meeting the needs of children, families and staff; a wonderful inclusive haven for all to succeed.”
- Inclusion was described as “embedded in the school’s culture and evident at every level of leadership and in every classroom.”
Confident, Articulate Pupils
- “Children… were knowledgeable, articulate, enthusiastic and keen to share their leadership roles.”
- Children feel “valued, supported and empowered to achieve their best.”
Exceptional Staff Commitment
- “Every member of staff… gave a fulsome, enthusiastic and detailed overview of their roles and their commitment to support all children to succeed.”
- Staff were described as “highly skilled, dedicated and passionate about making a difference.”
A Relentless Focus on Meeting Every Child’s Needs
- “There is a relentless focus on ensuring every child receives the support they need to succeed.”
Ambitious, Inclusive Curriculum
- “The curriculum is ambitious, engaging, and designed to meet the needs of all learners.”
Our IQM Flagship status recognises Burley Oaks as a national leader in inclusion—a school where every child belongs, every child is valued, and every child thrives.
360° Safe Online Safety Mark
About the Award
The 360° Safe Online Safety Mark is a nationally recognised accreditation that celebrates schools with outstanding digital safeguarding. Awarded through the SWGfL 360‑degree safe framework, it recognises schools where online safety is not just a policy but a deeply embedded culture — spanning leadership, curriculum, training, technology and whole‑school practice.
Areas of Success
The assessor’s report makes clear that online safety at Burley Oaks is not an isolated initiative but a long‑standing strength woven into the fabric of school life. Having held the award for over a decade, the school was praised for its consistent, thoughtful and proactive approach to keeping children safe online.
One of the strongest features highlighted was our dedicated Online Safety Group. Meeting every half term and bringing together leaders, teachers, support staff, the network manager, a governor and pupil voice, the group was described as “a particular good model of practice that other schools could learn from.” The assessor noted the depth and continuity of this work, with minutes showing how online safety discussions and improvements have been meaningfully sustained over many years.
The leadership of the Online Safety Lead (OSL) received particular praise. His deep understanding of both the curriculum and the technical aspects of filtering and monitoring was evident throughout the visit. He was described as having “great knowledge and passion for keeping children safe online,” and his partnership with the DSL and network manager was seen as a major strength of the school’s approach.
The report also celebrated the way pupils at Burley Oaks speak confidently and thoughtfully about staying safe online. They explained their understanding of screen time, gaming, online bullying, password strength and the importance of reporting concerns — all without prompting. The assessor recognised that this level of awareness doesn’t happen by accident; it reflects purposeful teaching using Project Evolve, regular wellbeing check‑ins, and a culture where children feel empowered to talk openly about digital life.
A further point of praise was the school’s blend of clear policy and meaningful practice. In addition to the trust-wide policy, Burley Oaks has created its own e‑Safeguarding Handbook, demonstrating not only compliance but genuine ownership of online safety. The school’s systems — from monitoring and filtering to device checks, site requests, annual staff training and cyber‑security drills — were described as robust, organised and responsive to new challenges. The assessor noted the strong vigilance around iPads, where older non‑monitorable devices had been removed from WiFi access to ensure safeguarding integrity.
Parents, too, are part of the picture. The school’s communication channels — newsletters, social media, blogs, update videos — ensure families stay informed, while access to pupil e‑portfolios provides insight into children’s learning about the digital world.
Perhaps the most telling comment from the visit was the recognition of the school’s warm, welcoming and highly professional environment. The assessor concluded that Burley Oaks has fully met the standards required for the Online Safety Mark, praising not only the systems in place but the people who consistently uphold them day after day.
Our 360° Safe Online Safety Mark reflects over a decade of commitment to creating a digital environment where children feel safe, confident and well‑informed. It recognises a school where online safety is championed by knowledgeable staff, empowered pupils and strong leadership — and where safeguarding sits at the heart of everything we do.
Artsmark Gold Award
About the Award
Artsmark, accredited by Arts Council England, is the national creative quality standard that celebrates schools dedicated to high‑quality arts, culture and creativity.
Areas of Success
Artsmark, accredited by Arts Council England, is the national creative quality standard that recognises schools that champion high‑quality arts, culture and creativity. At our school, creativity sits at the heart of daily life. Staff regularly ask “Who can we share this with?” and “Who can we work with?” which has helped embed a culture where collaboration and imagination thrive. Children now talk about creativity as “a unique expression of individuality and innovation rather than making stuff,” showing how deeply this mindset has taken root.
Our commitment to cultural engagement has led to outstanding connections within our community and beyond. Pupils played an active role in planning our village carnival entry, contributing ideas and shaping the final outcome. Year 6 designed and built their own WW2 museum which became a powerful example of leadership and pride in their learning. Through wider partnerships, children have taken part in Bradford City of Culture competitions and have even seen their work exhibited publicly, an experience that has given them a real sense of achievement.
Working with creative practitioners has broadened pupils' understanding of the arts while making learning vivid and memorable. Poets, actors, musicians, photographers and artists have all shared their expertise, helping children experience creativity in authentic and meaningful ways. These encounters have enriched the curriculum and inspired pupils to explore new forms of expression.
Equality, diversity and inclusion are woven through our creative journey. The curriculum highlights artists from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds which helps every child see themselves represented and valued. Pupils have taken on leadership roles in cultural events such as our Diwali project which celebrates both learning and community identity. We are committed to ensuring that all children have access to high‑quality arts experiences that broaden their horizons.
Our staff team has also grown in confidence and expertise. Training opportunities such as Laulau song‑drawing have enhanced creative practice across the school particularly in EYFS and KS1. This professional development has strengthened our collective belief in the power of the arts to inspire curiosity and joyful learning.
Artsmark Gold recognises Burley Oaks as a creative, culturally rich school where every child experiences meaningful, joyful and inclusive arts education.
Healthy Minds Gold & Platinum Chartermark- A Beacon School for Mental Health & Wellbeing
About the Award
The Healthy Minds Chartermark, awarded by Bradford Council, recognises schools that demonstrate exceptional whole‑school practice in mental health, emotional wellbeing and SEMH. Schools progress through Silver, Gold and Platinum, and those achieving all three levels are recognised as Beacon Schools — exemplars of leading practice able to inspire and support others across the district.
Areas of Success
The moderator’s report painted a deeply personal picture of a school where emotional wellbeing is not an add‑on, but a lived daily experience for children, families and staff. At Burley Oaks, our motto “Belong, Believe, Achieve” is not simply aspirational — it is visible in every relationship, every conversation and every decision we make.
The report praised the way our whole community prioritises wellbeing. Children experiencing emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA) receive prompt, sensitive and highly personalised support, with staff using attendance patterns, progress data, safeguarding information and parental insight to understand each child's story. The moderator highlighted the strength of our approach, noting how pupils can self‑refer, how families feel listened to and how staff work with compassion to ensure children feel genuinely safe in school.
What particularly stood out was the quality of our interventions. From Talking Mats sessions that help children express what they can’t yet say in words, to carefully planned 1:1 or small‑group sessions, to bespoke transition support, the moderator recognised that our team goes above and beyond. Even when attendance improves, staff continue to walk alongside children and families, anticipating challenges and maintaining support so progress is sustained.
The commitment to staff wellbeing was also celebrated. The school’s supervision and performance management systems have been reshaped in response to staff voice, reducing unnecessary workload, improving confidence and ensuring wellbeing remains a priority for adults as well as pupils. The moderator praised the school for being proactive, reflective and responsive in creating a positive environment for every member of staff.
Professional development was highlighted as another strength, with staff accessing rich training across mental health, safeguarding, SEND, behaviour support, cultural inclusion, and more — all contributing to a knowledgeable, empathetic and highly skilled workforce.
The moderator described Burley Oaks’ practice as “exceptional” and confirmed that the school is “in a position to legitimately act as a role model to other schools and settings” across Bradford.
Our achievement of the Healthy Minds Gold and Platinum Chartermark and our recognition as a Beacon School reflects a deeply embedded culture where emotional wellbeing is central to everyday school life. The award celebrates a community where children feel safe, understood and supported, and where staff feel valued and cared for. At Burley Oaks, wellbeing is not just something we talk about, it is something we live, together.
West Yorkshire Music Hub – Lead School
About the Award
The Lead School Programme, part of the West Yorkshire Music Hub, identifies schools that champion high‑quality music education across the region and support the delivery of the National Plan for Music Education.
Areas of Success
One of Only 18 Schools Selected Region‑Wide
Burley Oaks was chosen as a Lead School for:
- Excellence in music curriculum design
- High-quality performance opportunities
- Strong commitment to inclusive music education
- Leadership in music across Bradford and West Yorkshire
Regional Leadership in Music Education
As a Lead School, Burley Oaks:
- Champions music education across the region
- Models strong curriculum, co-curricular and extra-curricular practice
- Helps develop school‑to‑school networks
- Advises the Hub on what young people need musically
- Supports and inspires other schools to strengthen their music provision
As a West Yorkshire Music Hub Lead School, Burley Oaks plays a central role in shaping music education across the region, enriching opportunities for children locally and beyond.
