Our Church School Inspection
In simple terms
SIAMS looks at how well our Christian vision shapes school life and helps children and adults to flourish.
What is SIAMS?
SIAMS stands for Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools. It is the inspection process used for Church of England and Methodist schools and forms part of the legal arrangements for inspecting Church schools under Section 48 of the Education Act 2005.
SIAMS is different from an Ofsted inspection. Its particular focus is how effectively we are living out our Christian foundation and vision, and the difference this makes to the lives and learning of our children and adults.
At the heart of SIAMS is a simple but important question: How does our Christian vision help pupils and adults to flourish? The framework focuses on impact rather than asking schools to meet a checklist of requirements.
What does SIAMS look at?
During an inspection, the inspector explores different aspects of life in our school, including:
- how our Christian vision shapes the life and decisions of the school;
- how our curriculum enables children to learn, grow and flourish;
- how we support the spiritual development of pupils and adults;
- the place and impact of collective worship;
- how our vision influences the way people are treated, supported and included;
- how children develop an understanding of justice and responsibility; and
- the effectiveness of Religious Education (RE).
SIAMS recognises that every Church school is different. Inspectors therefore consider the school’s particular context rather than applying a ‘one size fits all’ model.
What happens during an inspection?
The inspection is designed to build a picture of what it is really like to be part of our school.
Inspectors gather evidence in a range of ways. They may talk with school and trust leaders, governors, staff, children, parents and carers, representatives of the local church and other members of the community. They may also look at children’s work and school documents, observe collective worship and spend time seeing everyday school life and relationships.
It is about lived experience
SIAMS is not simply about paperwork or what is written in policies. It considers the difference our Christian vision makes to the way we learn, care for one another and grow together.
The voice of parents and carers
Parents and carers are an important part of our school community. Their experiences can help an inspector understand how our Christian vision is lived out in practice. The SIAMS framework identifies parents among the people with whom inspectors may hold conversations during their evidence gathering.
You might therefore be asked about your experience of our school, including how welcoming and inclusive it is and the difference its values and Christian character make to your child.
There are no “right answers”
We want parents and carers to feel able to talk openly and honestly about their experience of our school.
What is the outcome of an inspection?
The inspector uses the evidence gathered to evaluate how effectively the school’s Christian vision and leadership enable it to live up to its foundation as a Church school. SIAMS is intended both to affirm what is working well and to identify areas where the school can continue to develop.
For us, SIAMS is therefore not simply about an inspection day. It is part of our ongoing reflection on who we are as a Church school, what we want for our children and families, and how our Christian vision can continue to shape a school in which everyone is valued and has the opportunity to flourish.
Further information
Further information about SIAMS is available from the National Society for Education: www.nse.org.uk/statutory-inspection-of-anglican-methodist-schools