SIAMS REPORT

SIAMS - Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools 

'St Thomas' is a place of inspiration, kindness and love.' 

SIAMS inspections focus on how our school vision underpins and informs all that we do here at St Thomas' Church of England School.  The inspection is undertaken by an independent inspector and is carried out against the 7 strands of the SIAMS schedule. The focus is on addressing one fundamental 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.  Our wonderful SIAMS report from June 2025 is below: 

Celebrating Our SIAMS Inspection Report – we did it again!

I am delighted to share with you the outcome of our recent SIAMS inspection (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools) which took place on 26th June 2025. The report is a lovely affirmation of the distinctive Christian character of our school and the nurturing, inclusive environment we strive to create every day.  This, along with our recent Ofsted Inspection (March 2025), really does celebrate, validate and confirm the strength, character, and excellence of our school community.

The inspector, Mrs Angela Knowles, recognised that St Thomas’.. ‘is living up to its foundation as a Church school and is enabling pupils and adults to flourish’.

The report highlights the deeply embedded Christian vision that underpins every aspect of school life, rooted in Matthew 5:16: “Inspiring others to shine.”  She praised our school as a place of inspiration, kindness and love, where pupils and adults are nurtured, respected and empowered. This is a testament to the dedication of our staff, the enthusiasm of our pupils and the support of our families and wider community.

Some of the many strengths highlighted in the SIAMS report include:

• Our deeply embedded Christian vision, rooted in Matthew 5:16, which inspires all aspects of school life and enables everyone to shine.
• A strong culture of trust, care and respect, where positive relationships are central to our nurturing family ethos and help our whole school community to flourish.
• A rich, inclusive and aspirational curriculum, enhanced by music, art, sport and enrichment opportunities.
• Collective worship that brings us together and supports spiritual growth and the development of our values.
• A high-quality Religious Education (RE) curriculum that encourages curiosity, deep thinking and understanding and respect for diverse worldviews.
• Vision-led school leaders who ensure every decision is rooted in our Christian values.
• The report also acknowledges the joy and eagerness of our pupils to learn, and the way our Christian values shape behaviour, relationships and a sense of justice and responsibility.
• The report recognises our commitment to spiritual development, noting that pupils and staff share a language to explore spirituality and reflect deeply.

As part of the reflective processes of the inspection, the inspector is required to highlight an area for further development and we welcome this as a positive next step in our journey: To deepen opportunities for spiritual growth beyond the classroom.  We welcome this as a positive challenge and are already exploring ways to enhance spiritual experiences across the wider life of the school and in the outdoors as we all know that this is an area of school we do particularly well!

This outstanding feedback follows our highly positive Ofsted inspection in March 2025, where the school was again rated Good. Our Ofsted Inspector commended our strong leadership, high expectations and the positive attitudes of our pupils, who are eager to learn and proud of their school. The report also highlighted the inclusive and supportive environment we provide for all our children.

Together, these two inspections reflect the exceptional dedication of our staff, the enthusiasm of our pupils, and the incredible support from our families and community. We are proud to be a school where every child is known, valued and inspired to shine.

Please do take some time to read the full report. It is a celebration of all that makes St Thomas’ such a special place to learn, grow and shine. 

‘Many hearts make our school...’