SIAMS Inspections

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.

SIAMS explores ways in which each school’s theologically rooted Christian vision drives its work and enables the school to live up to its foundation as a Church school. It does so by seeking to answer six or (in the case of Voluntary Aided schools) seven Inspection Questions (IQs).

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?

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.

Inspectors make one of two judgements:

The inspection findings indicate that the school is living up to its foundation as a Church school, and is enabling pupils and adults to flourish.

Or

The inspection findings indicate that the school has strengths, but that there are also issues that leaders need to address as a matter of priority.

Please explore the information on these pages and contact us on [email protected] if you have any questions about the process.

If you have questions about how to access training and advice for your school, please contact your diocesan education team.

Sincerely,

 

Dr Margaret James

National Director of SIAMS

List of Schools Likely to be Inspected 2023-24

List of Schools Likely to be Inspected 2024-25

Find a SIAMS Report

SIAMS 2023 Documents & Resources

SIAMS Documents are included below for reference by schools, dioceses, and inspectors for use from September 2023:

A Fresh Look at Church School Inspection: Examining the 2023 SIAMS Framework by Margaret James, National director of SIAMS. To purchase this book please go to Education - Grove Books

Listen to the recent interview with Margaret James, National Director of SIAMS:
Called, Connected, Committed: Flourishing for All: SIAMS - Understanding the changes for September 2023
Listen to our recent podcast

New Inspector Training

The next cohort of training will start in September 2024. Please read the following documents before completing the application form. The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Friday 22 March 2024.

For further information please contact [email protected]

The National SIAMS Team

The contact details for the National SIAMS Team are below. 

Please note, we use two generic email accounts: 

  • SIAMS – [email protected]  for general SIAMS enquiries, including inspections, training, SIAMS Portal queries, and queries regarding documents and resources.  

  • SIAMS Admin [email protected]  for any specific administrative functions (e.g. DBS Right to Work Checks, IR35 checks, employment paperwork, payment of invoices). For inspector use only.   

 

Margaret James, National Director of SIAMS

 Dr Margaret James

 National Director of SIAMS

 Phone: 020 7898 1187
 Mobile: 07909 212568
 Email[email protected]

David Tait, Deputy Director of SIAMS

 David Tait

 Deputy Director of SIAMS

 Phone: 020 7898 1008
 Mobile: 07951 214853
 Email[email protected]

Allyson Taylor, SIAMS

 Allyson Taylor

 SIAMS Adviser

 Phone: 020 7898 1253
 Mobile: 07467 992900
 Email:  [email protected]

Jan Chandler, SIAMS Management and Training Officer

 Jan Chandler

 SIAMS Management and Training Officer 

 Phone: 020 7898 1495
 Email: [email protected]

 or [email protected] 

 For enquiries relating to:

  • Training
     
  • Inspections (scheduling & notifications)
     
  • SIAMS Documents and Resources
Kiri Thompson

 Kiri Thompson

 SIAMS Systems and Data Officer

 Phone: 0207 898 1407
 Email:  [email protected] 

or [email protected] 

 For enquiries relating to:

  • Data management
     
  • Finance
     
  • SIAMS Portal
Gemma Grim SIAMS

 Gemma Grim 

 Administration Officer

  Email: [email protected]

 or [email protected] 

 For enquiries relating to:

  • Inspection notifications
     
Diocese

Main administrative and pastoral area in the Church of England – often roughly coincides with local county boundaries. There are 42 dioceses.