All church schools are inspected under the SIAMS schedule in order to ascertain, ‘How effective is the school’s distinctive Christian vision, established and promoted at all levels, in enabling pupils and adults to flourish.’ However, due to the Covid 19 pandemic all SIAMS inspections have been suspended until at least January 2021.
Under the 2018 SIAMS schedule one overall grade is awarded – excellent, good or ineffective. In addition a stand alone grade is awarded in all schools for collective worship and in voluntary aided (VA) schools and former VA schools for Religious Education. This grade is based on teaching and learning alone.
If a school was judged to be a good or outstanding (or excellent under the 2018 schedule) church school in its most recent SIAMS inspection, then it will be inspected within five years from the end of the school year of that Section 48 inspection.
If it was judged to be satisfactory or inadequate (or ineffective under the 2018 schedule) then the next SIAMS inspection will be scheduled three years from the end of the school year in which the school was last subject to a Section 48 inspection.
The inspection has to be carried out by a trained and National Society registered inspector. The Diocesan Board of Education manages the process for schools and holds a list of inspectors. All inspectors carry a Church of England Education Office photo ID badge that confirms their DBS status.
The Board of Education has a protocol for church school inspections and follows the deferral procedures as set out by the National Society.
Preparation
In order to prepare for the inspection each school is expected to ‘ensure that a robust and continuous (Church school) self-evaluation is in place’.
This document is offered by the Church of England Education Office as a model which may be used, but schools are free to carry out their Church school audit/self-evaluation however they feel its appropriate for them. This could be in the form of a mind-map, spider diagram, charts etc. There is also now a separate form to be filled in to make the case for excellence. Finally, there is a SIAMS reflection form which, if schools choose to use it, could best be used as an ongoing audit tool to share with governors, keeping them informed of progress in the school.
Here is a checklist to help ensure that your school celebrates on your website its Christian foundation and how it impacts on every aspect of school life.
Each year a summary of the inspections is compiled and presented to the Board of Education. It may be useful for those schools waiting to be inspected to have a look at the strengths and weaknesses that were prominent.
To find the latest SIAMS report for a school click on the school’s name below:
All Saints VA Primary, Youlgrave
Bishop Lonsdale CE Primary, Derby
Bishop Pursglove VA Primary, Tideswell
Carsington and Hopton VA Primary
Christchurch CE Primary, Chesterfield
Crich Carr VC Primary, Whatstandwell
Duke of Norfolk VC Primary, Glossop
Fairfield Endowed VC Junior, Buxton
Fitzherbert VA Primary, Fenny Bentley
Holy Trinity VC Primary, Matlock Bath
Longstone VA Primary, Great Longstone
Newbold CE Primary, Chesterfield
Risley Lower Grammar VC Primary
Sale and Davy VC Primary, Barrow on Trent
Scargill VA Primary, West Hallam
St Andrew’s CoE/Meth VA Primary, Dronfield
St Andrew’s VC Junior, Hadfield
St George’s VA Primary, New Mills
St Georges’ VC Primary, Church Gresley
St Giles’ VA Primary, Killamarsh
St Joseph’s VA CoE/Cath, Staveley
St Laurence CE Primary, Long Eaton
St Michael’s VA Primary, Hathersage
St Oswald’s VC Primary, Ashbourne
St Peter’s VA Junior, Littleover
St Peter’s VC Primary, Netherseal
Stanley St Andrew’s VC Primary
Stanton in the Peak VC Primary
Taddington and Priestcliffe VA Primary
Walter Evans CE Primary, Darley Abbey
William Gilbert Endowed CE Primary
