Statutory inspection of Anglican & Methodist schools

SIAMS

Margaret James&

Shahne Vickery

Why make changes to the inspection schedule?

• To raise standards

• To increase parity of standards nationwide

• To clearly define ‘outstanding’

Scheduling arrangements

• No link with scheduling of Ofsted inspections

• No more than 1 week’s notice• No negotiation of date• Pre inspection support• Getting evidence to the inspector• SIAMS inspection briefing (SIB)

When can you expect a SIAMS inspection?

• Schools judged to be good or outstanding at the last inspection – in the 5th year after the end of the academic year within which the last inspection took place

• Schools judged to be satisfactory or inadequate – between 3 & 5 years after the end of the academic year within which the last inspection took place

The principle objective of a SIAMS inspection is to evaluate

the distinctiveness and effectiveness of the school as a

church school

Structure of the evaluation schedule

• 4 core questions• Evaluation statements – MUST• Supporting evidence – MAY• Grade descriptors• Satisfactory remains• Change to inadequate• Summary judgement

How well does the school, through its distinctive Christian character, meet the needs of all

learners? • Academic achievement, personal well

being, attendance & exclusion• RE• Distinctive Christian values, as opposed to

shared human values, understood by all• Understanding of spirituality & spiritual

development across the curriculum• Understanding of Christianity as a multi

cultural world faith

What is the impact of collective worship on the

school community?• Distinctively Christian• Christian basis of school values• Trinity• Spiritual development• Planning, leadership & evaluation• Prayer• Engaging, inspiring, transformative

Collective worship cont…

• Theological basis of worship & pupils’ understanding of this

• Key elements of worship• Centrality of prayer• Inclusive

How effective is the religious education?

• Emphasis on standards of attainment & achievement

• Quality of teaching & learning• Teaching of Christianity• National Society Statement of Entitlement• Role of subject leader & profile of subject• Learners’ acquisition & application of skills• Christian values

How effective are the leadership & management of the school as

a church school?• Role of governors• Monitoring & evaluation of the impact of

the school’s distinctive Christian character

• Explicit Christian vision & its impact• Future leaders of church schools• Self evaluation of the school’s distinctive

Christian character involving the whole school community

Leadership & management cont.• Areas for development

• Statement of Entitlement for RE• Live out & promote Christian values• Governors well informed about the

school’s performance & distinctiveness through self evaluation

• Whole curriculum informed by distinctive Christian vision

• Responsibility for leadership of RE & worship

Summary judgement

• 4 core questions

• Ofsted

• School’s tracking data

• Attendance & exclusion data

Self evaluation

• Needs to identify distinctiveness & effectiveness as a priority

• Should include all members of the school community

• Must lead to improvement• Should be up to date• See Traffic Light Grids• National Society self evaluation

models

Timetable

• Informed by the SIB• Initial discussion with headteacher• Data scrutiny • Joint lesson observations• Staff, pupils, governors, parents,

academy sponsors• Time for reflection• Feedback

Evidence required

• All self evaluation on day of notification

• School development plan• RE action plan• RE assessment data, planning and

books• Relevant policies• Actions since last inspection

Complaints

• Any disagreements should be resolved with the inspector on the day of the inspection if possible

• Contact Margaret James post inspection if necessary

• Resolved by Diocese or passed onto National Society

Inspection support from the Diocese

• Mid inspection cycle support visit• Pre inspection visit or phone call• Post inspection visit• Training courses, resources &

publications• Website