An Introduction to SIAMS
SIAMS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools) is the national inspection process for Church of England and Methodist schools in England. It evaluates how effectively a school’s Christian vision shapes its ethos, curriculum, relationships, and overall provision, ensuring that it enables all pupils and staff to flourish.
In a primary school, a SIAMS inspection explores the distinctiveness and effectiveness of the school as a Church school, focusing on areas such as collective worship, religious education, and the impact of Christian values on daily life.
The inspection supports the school in reflecting on its Christian foundation and continuous improvement.
What You Need to Know
At St Katharine’s, we value transparency and communication. We strive to keep parents informed about our school’s performance and the vital role of SIAMS in ensuring we meet educational standards. Your involvement can help us make our school an even better place for your children to grow and learn.
Why It Matters
The importance of SIAMS cannot be overstated. It helps us evaluate our teaching practices and ensures that we promote a supportive atmosphere for spiritual growth. By understanding its significance, you can better appreciate our school’s dedication to improving your child’s educational experience.
Our last SIAMS inspection was in January 2026
Love
Truth
Forgiveness
At St Katharine’s spirituality is understood as the deep human capacity to reflect, to wonder, and to seek meaning and purpose in life. It involves developing a sense of identity, belonging, and connection — to oneself, to others, to the world, and for many (but not all), to God. Spirituality is about recognising and responding to moments of awe and beauty, experiencing compassion and empathy, and engaging with questions of meaning, truth, and values.It also includes moments of challenge and even discomfort, which help us grow in understanding and resilience.
Our Christian vision shapes how we nurture the spiritual life of every child and adult, rooted in love, truth and forgiveness and the belief that each person is uniquely created and valued by God. While we as adults, can articulate this, we understand that children may focus on feeling it and part of our role is to give them the time and language to begin to express these deeper thoughts and emotions as they journey through the highs and lows of their lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your Questions Answered About SIAMS
SIAMS evaluates the effectiveness of Church of England and Methodist schools as church schools, specifically focusing on the impact of the school’s Christian vision on pupils and adults. This includes assessing how well the school’s Christian character ensures the development and achievement of the whole child.
SIAMS reviews occur approximately every five years, but schools can be inspected more frequently based on their specific circumstances and progress. Our next review is due in 2025/2026.
After the review, we receive a report outlining our strengths and areas for improvement.
If you have more questions about SIAMS and how it affects our school, please conact Mrs Veneziani, who is the subject leader for RE, or Miss Tormey.
You can support your child’s learning by engaging in conversations about their spiritual education and encouraging their participation in school activities related to faith and community service.
