Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools

Welcome to our SIAMS page.

To see a copy of our last SIAMS inspection report from April 2015, click here.

To see a copy of our latest SIAMS Online Review from January 2021 click here.


What is a SIAMS inspection?

This from the Church of England website. To see for yourself, click here

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.

Purpose and focus of SIAMS inspections


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:

  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. The impact of collective worship
  7. The effectiveness of religious education 


One overall grade is awarded reflecting the contribution of these strands to the flourishing of pupils and adults in a Church school. In addition a standalone grade is awarded in all schools for collective worship and in voluntary aided (VA) schools and former VA schools for religious education (RE). This grade is based on teaching and learning alone.

For more information about the processes, policies and protocols of SIAMS in this area please contact The Bath and Well diocese.