Statutory Inspection of Anglican Schools
All Church of England dioceses and the Methodist Church use the
National Society's framework for the
Statutory Inspection of Anglican Schools (SIAS)
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 SIAS inspection.
The framework provides a process for evaluating the extent to
which church schools are "distinctively and recognisably
Christian institutions".
Inspection focus
SIAS 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 SIAS 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 Schools
(SIAS) framework is used in all Section 48 inspections of Church of
England schools and in the denominational inspection of
academies.