Purpose and focus of SIAMS inspections

All Church of England dioceses and the Methodist Church use the Church of England Education Office's framework for the Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) under Section 48 of the Education Act 2005. The SIAMS Evaluation Schedule sets out the expectations for the conduct of the Statutory Inspection of Anglican, Methodist and ecumenical Schools under Section 48 of the Education Act 2005.

SIAMS inspection focuses on the impact of the Church school's Christian vision on pupils and adults. This involves looking at the school’s Christian vision, the provision the school makes because of this vision and how effective this provision is in enabling all pupils to flourish. Church schools will employ a variety of strategies and styles appropriate to, and reflective of, their particular context in order to be distinctively and effectively Christian in their character and ethos. SIAMS inspectors therefore do not look for a set template of what a Church school should be like, but rather take the particular context of the school into account and base their evaluation on the outcomes rather than the process.

The Evaluation Schedule has one inspection question: “How effective is the school’s distinctive Christian vision, established and promoted by leadership at all levels, in enabling pupils and adults to flourish?”

This is explored through seven strands:

Vision and Leadership

Wisdom, Knowledge, and Skills

Character Development: Hope, Aspiration, and Courageous Advocacy

Community and Living Well Together

Dignity and Respect

Impact of Collective Worship

Effectiveness of Religious Education.

One overall grade is awarded reflecting the contribution of these strands to the flourishing of pupils and adults in a Church school. In addition a standalone grade is awarded in all schools for collective worship and in voluntary aided (VA) schools and former VA schools for religious education (RE). This grade is based on teaching and learning alone.

We are proud to share our SIAMS inspection report from November 2017.

As the report confirms, St Mary’s Bluecoat C.E Primary School has demonstrated the school’s committed leadership team, fuelled by deeply held Christian values, has built strong foundations for success. This principal approach has fostered a community of trust and hope, enabling the school to flourish as a distinctively Christian school. The school’s Christian values shine through, illuminating the lifework of the school. The executive headteacher’s dedication to inclusivity, nurture and care is making a positive difference to the daily lives of the school’s pupils and their families.

Where can we find more information about worship and religious education?