Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS)

All Church of England Schools receive a Section 48 Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) inspection as well as the regular Section 5 or Section 8 Ofsted inspection.

From September 2023 SIAMS will no longer grade schools it inspects. Instead, a school will receive a context driven judgement that is based on evidence gathered from 6 or 7 high level inspection questions. The context of the school and how it informs the school’s Christian vision will be evaluated. The impact of the vision is central to this; inspectors will be considering how the vision and provision it provides ensures every pupil and adult flourishes in the fullness of life. Schools are invited to share their own stories of how their Christian vision enables pupils and adults to flourish.

The new SIAMS Framework (September 2023) will ask the following high level inspection questions:

How does the school’s theologically rooted Christian vision enable pupils and adults to flourish?
How does the curriculum reflect the school’s theologically rooted Christian vision?
How is collective worship enabling pupils and adults to flourish spiritually?
How does the school’s theologically rooted Christian vision create a culture in which pupils and adults are treated well?
How does the school’s theologically rooted Christian vision create an active culture of justice and responsibility?
Is the religious education curriculum effective (with reference to the expectations set out in the Church of England’s Statement of Entitlement for Religious Education)?
What if the quality of religious education in voluntary aided and former voluntary aided schools, and in former voluntary controlled schools in which denominational religious education is taught? (VA Schools Only)

For additional information please Click here for the national Church of England SIAMS page

SIAMS inspections will be carried out with 1 weeks’ notice and the school will be informed of the date by the National SIAMS Team.

After the inspection, schools will be offered a post-inspection visit or call by a member of the education team to support the school in addressing the areas for development and inspection findings.

A mid-term monitoring visit will be carried out to assess progress against the areas of development.

Schools that are likely to be inspected between September 2023 and July 2024 can be found in the list here: SIAMS 2023-2024 likely list of schools PUBLISHED. The full national list can be found here.

The National SIAMS team have recently published the 2024-25 SIAMS inspection ‘likely’ list which can be viewed via the following link – noting Gloucester Diocese schools are on page 5: https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2024-03/siams-list-of-schools-to-inspected-list-2024-25-final.pdf

Congratulations to our schools who have successfully been inspected under the SIAMS schedule this academic year. Please click here to read their reports.

National SIAMS documents for schools

Additional SIAMS resources for schools including model policies and templates

Essential training for all schools

The Education Team organise core SIAMS training annually in the autumn, spring and summer terms. Please see the training brochure and book in via the google form. These and more information about all our training on the Schools Training, Support and Events page.

Help! How can I prepare for SIAMS?
For Headteachers, governors and those who lead on the Christian character of the school including trust leaders
This is a one day course, with lunch, for headteachers, governors and those who lead on the Christian character of the school or aspects of the SIAMS framework.
The focus of this day will be to update you on the 2023 SIAMS framework. We will explore what is meant by a theologically rooted Christian Vision. We will unpick each of the inspection questions and look in more detail at the judgements and the self-evaluation process (SEF).
Please choose whether you wish to attend in the autumn, spring or summer term when making your booking.
“Excellent, incredibly clear and informative. Great overview suitable for wide-ranging types of church schools and academy trusts.” “Excellent – practical, theoretical and supportive. Lots of information, clear and concise”, “Very helpful, with many ideas to move forwards”
Autumn Term
Wednesday 2 October 2024 9.45am-3.00pm
Venue: Holiday Inn, Crest Way, Barnwood, Gloucester, GL4 3RX
COST: £120.00 per delegate
Discount – second place half price, if head and chair of governors attend together on the same date
Book here

Schools, particularly where there is a change in leadership structure, or if they are due their SIAMS inspection shortly, and have not attended training, are strongly advised to attend this training. In addition, schools may also request bespoke in school training via the Education training, support and events webpage.

Collective Worship, Spirituality & SIAMS
For all
Collective worship and spirituality can have a huge impact on shaping both the character of your school and the character of individual pupils and adults. To help ensure that this is happening in your school, this course will aim to inspire your engagement and leadership of worship and develop your understanding of spirituality, enabling you to encourage spiritual growth throughout your school community.
We will also explore how these themes link to the SIAMS framework, with the hope that by the end of the day you will be looking forward to SIAMS style conversations which will enable you to share all your good practice!
“Excellent. So much shared to take away”
Spring Term
Wednesday 13 November 2024 9.45am-3.00pm
Holiday Inn, Crest Way, Barnwood, Gloucester, GL4 3RX
COST: £120.00 per delegate
Book here

For further information about SIAMS inspections within the Diocese of Gloucester, please contact: ku.gr1733558866o.coi1733558866dsolg1733558866@smai1733558866s1733558866

The Inspection Questions (IQs): How then can we live and learn together?

IQ1 – How does the school’s theologically rooted Christian vision enable pupils and adults to flourish?

IQ2 – How does the curriculum reflect the school’s theologically rooted Christian vision?

IQ3 – How is collective worship enabling pupils and adults to flourish spiritually?

IQ4 – How does the school’s theologically rooted Christian vision create a culture in which pupils and adults are treated well?

IQ5 – How does the school’s theologically rooted Christian vision create an active culture of justice and responsibility?

IQ6: Is the religious education curriculum effective (with reference to the expectations set out in the Church of England’s Statement of Entitlement for Religious Education)?

IQ7: What is the quality of religious education in voluntary aided and former voluntary aided schools, and in former voluntary controlled schools in which denominational religious education is taught?