Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS)
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Notice: SIAMS inspections will not resume until the Autumn term 2021.
Following the announcement by the government on 29th March that routine Ofsted graded inspections will remain suspended until the Autumn term we can confirm that SIAMS Inspections will not resume until the Autumn term of 2021. We will be working with the Department for Education and the other section 48 providers to consider the most effective way of resuming SIAMS inspection and will be in touch with more details about this as we also introduce our new nationally integrated system for SIAMS. |
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Welcome from the National Director of SIAMS
The Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) is the Church of England and Methodist Church’s outworking of the requirements of section 48 of the Education Act 2005. It is a key element of the life of all Church of England and Methodist schools in England.
A national system for managing inspections has been developed with the dioceses to ensure greater consistency in experience and processes. Read the full letter from the Chief Education Officer to schools here.
Approximately every five years, schools are subject to an inspection which explores the 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 overarching inspection question is examined through seven strands:
1. Vision and Leadership
2. Wisdom, Knowledge, and Skills
3. Character Development: Hope, Aspiration, and Courageous Advocacy
4. Community and Living Well Together
5. Dignity and Respect
6. Impact of Collective Worship
7. Effectiveness of Religious Education.
In March 2020, SIAMS inspections were suspended as part of the Government’s Covid-19 legislation. They resume in the Autumn Term 2021.
The purpose of SIAMS Inspection is the improvement of Church school education through a focus on the centrality of Christian vision, shining a spotlight on the fundamental right of all pupils and adults to flourish. SIAMS inspectors ask questions about and seek evidence that demonstrates the impact that the school’s vision has directly on the lives, learning, and development of all within the school community.
The National SIAMS Team is responsible for the scheduling of inspections and other inspection logistics, as well as for the production of all inspection material. To contact the team, please refer to the 'National SIAMS Team' section below.
From September 2021, an amended Evaluation Schedule is available. The amendments relate to the impact that Covid-19 and subsequent school closures have had on the education system, enabling schools to provide evidence that specifically relates to the impact of their Christian vision during this extraordinary time. This amended Evaluation Schedule and other documents and resources can be found below.
Please explore the information on these pages and contact us if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Dr. Margaret James
National Director of SIAMS
Purpose and focus of SIAMS inspections
As mentioned above, 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:
SIAMS advice and training for schools is available through your Diocesan Education Team. For questions on policy and process, please contact the National SIAMS Team (siams@churchofengland.org).
SIAMS Documents September 2021 – see below
The National SIAMS Team
The contact details for the National SIAMS Team are below.
Please note, we use two generic email accounts:
Please use the following links for further information:
The Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) is the Church of England and Methodist Church’s outworking of the requirements of section 48 of the Education Act 2005. It is a key element of the life of all Church of England and Methodist schools in England.
A national system for managing inspections has been developed with the dioceses to ensure greater consistency in experience and processes. Read the full letter from the Chief Education Officer to schools here.
Approximately every five years, schools are subject to an inspection which explores the 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 overarching inspection question is examined through seven strands:
1. Vision and Leadership
2. Wisdom, Knowledge, and Skills
3. Character Development: Hope, Aspiration, and Courageous Advocacy
4. Community and Living Well Together
5. Dignity and Respect
6. Impact of Collective Worship
7. Effectiveness of Religious Education.
In March 2020, SIAMS inspections were suspended as part of the Government’s Covid-19 legislation. They resume in the Autumn Term 2021.
The purpose of SIAMS Inspection is the improvement of Church school education through a focus on the centrality of Christian vision, shining a spotlight on the fundamental right of all pupils and adults to flourish. SIAMS inspectors ask questions about and seek evidence that demonstrates the impact that the school’s vision has directly on the lives, learning, and development of all within the school community.
The National SIAMS Team is responsible for the scheduling of inspections and other inspection logistics, as well as for the production of all inspection material. To contact the team, please refer to the 'National SIAMS Team' section below.
From September 2021, an amended Evaluation Schedule is available. The amendments relate to the impact that Covid-19 and subsequent school closures have had on the education system, enabling schools to provide evidence that specifically relates to the impact of their Christian vision during this extraordinary time. This amended Evaluation Schedule and other documents and resources can be found below.
Please explore the information on these pages and contact us if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Dr. Margaret James
National Director of SIAMS
Purpose and focus of SIAMS inspections
As mentioned above, 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.
SIAMS advice and training for schools is available through your Diocesan Education Team. For questions on policy and process, please contact the National SIAMS Team (siams@churchofengland.org).
SIAMS Documents September 2021 – see below
The National SIAMS Team
The contact details for the National SIAMS Team are below.
Please note, we use two generic email accounts:
- SIAMS – SIAMS@churchofengland.org – for general SIAMS enquiries, including inspections, training, SIAMS Portal queries, and queries regarding documents and resources.
- SIAMS Admin – SIAMSadmin@churchofengland.org – for any specific administrative functions (e.g. DBS Right to Work Checks, IR35 checks, employment paperwork, payment of invoices).
Please use the following links for further information:
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Links to the Church of England SIAMS Section:
https://www.churchofengland.org/about/education-and-schools/church-schools-and-academies/siams-inspections
https://www.churchofengland.org/about/education-and-schools/church-schools-and-academies/siams-inspections
