Purpose and focus of SIAMS inspections

All Church of England dioceses and the Methodist Church use the National Society'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.

What Is the SIAMS Framework? – A Parent‑Friendly Guide

The Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) is the way the Church of England and Methodist Church evaluate how well a Church school is living out its Christian foundation. It is required under national education law and happens roughly every five years. 

Unlike Ofsted, which focuses on academic standards, SIAMS looks specifically at the impact of the school’s Christian vision on the daily life of pupils and adults. The inspection explores how the school’s values shape decisions, relationships, wellbeing, learning and culture.

What Does SIAMS Look At?

Under the current national SIAMS Framework (updated for 2023/2024), inspectors explore how the school’s theologically rooted Christian vision influences:

Flourishing of pupils and adults, including wellbeing and personal growth 

The curriculum, and how it reflects the school’s Christian values and aims 

Collective worship, and whether it supports spiritual development for everyone in the school community 

Relationships and school culture, ensuring pupils and adults are treated with dignity, respect and fairness 

Responsibility and justice, helping children understand their role in contributing positively to society 

The effectiveness of Religious Education (RE), based on national Church of England expectations 

Each of these areas is explored through a set of Inspection Questions which guide the inspector’s evaluation.

How Are Schools Judged?

At the end of the inspection, SIAMS gives one of two overall judgements:

1. The school is living up to its foundation as a Church school and is enabling pupils and adults to flourish, or
2. The school has strengths but also issues that leaders need to address as a priority. 

This means SIAMS focuses on impact and recognises that every Church school expresses its Christian character differently, depending on its context.

Why SIAMS Matters

SIAMS helps ensure that:

• Your child experiences a school culture shaped by strong Christian values
• The school’s Christian vision has a real, positive impact on learning, relationships, wellbeing and personal development
• Leaders continually reflect on and strengthen the school’s distinctiveness as a Church school
• All pupils, whatever their background or beliefs, are supported to “flourish” academically, socially and spiritually

We are delighted to share with you the outcome of our recent SIAMS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools) inspection, which took place on 5 February 2026. The report affirms that St Mary’s Bluecoat Church of England Primary School is living up to its foundation as a Church school and is enabling pupils and adults to flourish.

This is a wonderful recognition of the daily commitment, compassion and hard work shown by our pupils, staff, governors and wider community.

Celebrating Our Strengths

The inspector highlighted several notable strengths which truly reflect who we are as a school family:

Our Christian vision is lived out every day, shaping decisions and guiding our whole community. Pupils and adults alike understand and apply the values of compassion, perseverance and respect in their daily lives.

Every child is nurtured and valued as an individual. The report recognises our strong commitment to meeting pupils’ personal, academic and spiritual needs so they can “have life in all its fullness.”

Collective worship is meaningful and inclusive, with pupils playing a central role in planning and leading worship. This ensures worship is engaging, relevant and deeply supportive of spiritual development.

Our curriculum and wider opportunities promote justice, responsibility and respect. Children develop a strong understanding of their responsibilities to one another and the wider world.

Religious Education is a significant strength, with meticulously planned, innovative lessons that enable pupils to make excellent progress and appreciate a range of beliefs and worldviews.

These strengths reflect the heart of our school: a nurturing, inclusive place where every child is encouraged to grow academically, socially, morally and spiritually.

A Community That Flourishes Together

The inspection praises the way our vision shapes our culture, from the calm, consistent role‑modelling of staff to the strong relationships built with pupils and families. Our commitment to wellbeing, inclusion and spirituality is recognised as central to enabling pupils and adults to flourish.