Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools
All Church of England dioceses and the Methodist Church use the
National Society's framework for the Statutory Inspection
of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) under Section 48
of the Education Act 2005. The framework 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.
As a result of the 2011 Education Act and subsequent changes to the
Ofsted inspection framework, we have produced new guidance on
making arrangements for a SIAMS inspection.
The framework provides a process for evaluating the extent to
which church schools are "distinctively and recognisably
Christian institutions".
Inspection focus
SIAMS inspection focuses on the effect that the Christian ethos
of the church school has on the children and young people who
attend it. Church schools will employ a variety of strategies
and styles, which reflect their particular local context or church
tradition in order to be distinctive and effective. Inspectors
will, therefore, not be looking to apply a preconceived template of
what a church school should be like.
The principal objective of SIAMS inspection is to
evaluate the distinctiveness and effectiveness of the school as
a church school.
Towards this objective, inspectors seek answers to four key
questions.
- How well does the school, through its distinctive
Christian character, meet the needs of all learners?
- What is the impact of collective worship on the school
community?
- How effective is the Religious Education?
(in VA schools and academies)
- How effective are the leadership and management of the
school as a church school?
The National Society's Statutory Inspection of Anglican and
Methodist Schools (SIAMS) framework is used in all Section 48
inspections of Church of England schools and in the denominational
inspection of academies.