SIAMS Inspections
The Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS)
All Church of England schools have a SIAMS Inspection on a fixed five year cycle. However, SIAMS inspections have been stalled since March 2020 due to the coronavirus. Inspections may return in Autumn 2021 but this is yet to be confirmed.
The central, overarching SIAMS inspection question is:
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 question is unpacked through 7 strands:
- Vision and leadership
- Wisdom, knowledge and skills
- Character development: hope, aspiration and courageous advocacy
- Community and living well together
- Dignity and respect
- The impact of collective worship
- The effectiveness of religious education
Schools can access the SIAMS Evaluation Schedule here and you can download an editable version of the recommended school Self-Evaluation Form.
In line with the Church of England Vision for Education, the SIAMS framework centres on the school’s Christian vision, with the expectation that this will allow governing bodies to place more emphasis on their purpose in education. This, in turn, will ensure that the school’s Christian vision impacts in ways which enable the whole school community to flourish.
SIAMS reports are succinct and include clear evaluation statements, using the grading statements of excellent, good, requires improvement or ineffective as a Church school.
Inspections are carried out by inspectors registered with the Church of England, Education Department and trained by them.
Useful links:
The Church of England Education and Schools website
Church of England Schools RE Statement of Entitlement
Mental Health and Wellbeing Guidance
The SIAMS process is regulated by Section 48 of the Education Act 2005 and Inspectors are paid by the DfE via the National Society.
The Diocese of Exeter offers training courses to help schools prepare for a SIAMS inspection. We also run termly, twilight, free, open access SIAMS hub meetings at schools across the Diocese.
For more details of courses and SIAMS hubs see the CPD Prospectus page of the website
Please contact Ed Pawson (Diocesan Education Adviser) more information regarding SIAMS inspections in the Diocese of Exeter
Email Ed Pawson 01392 294943 or 07712321955
