SIAMS – Our Church School: Let Your Light Shine
At Cold Harbour Church of England Primary School, our Christian vision is not something that is simply displayed on our walls or added to school life.
“Let your light shine” – Matthew 5:16
We want our vision to be living and breathing throughout our school community – shaping how we learn, how we treat one another, the choices we make and how we respond to the world around us. We believe that every child and adult has their own light to shine. Our role is to help them discover their gifts, develop the confidence and character to use them, and understand the difference they can make to others.
This can be seen in the everyday life of Cold Harbour: in our relationships and Christian values; in learning and collective worship; in the opportunities children have to serve, lead and speak up for others; in our care for our environment and community; and in the way we support one another through both joyful and difficult times.
Our Christian distinctiveness is therefore not an addition to the education we provide. It is part of the way we understand our purpose as a school and the community we are continually striving to become.
What is SIAMS?
SIAMS stands for the Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools.
SIAMS is the inspection process for Church of England and Methodist schools and takes place in addition to Ofsted. It considers how effectively a school is living out its foundation as a Church school and the impact that its Christian vision has on pupils and adults. The current SIAMS framework considers the difference that a school’s Christian vision makes to its community, including:
- How the school’s vision enables pupils and adults to flourish
- The curriculum and opportunities for spiritual development
- Collective worship
- Dignity, respect, justice and inclusion
- The wellbeing of pupils and adults
- Partnerships with families, churches and the wider community
- The quality and effectiveness of Religious Education.
SIAMS is not simply about what is written in policies, displayed on walls or presented on a website. It is concerned with the lived experience of being part of a Church school community and the difference that the school’s Christian vision makes to the education, relationships and opportunities experienced by its children and adults.
Our Christian Vision in Action
At Cold Harbour, “Let Your Light Shine” provides a thread that runs through school life.
We want our children to understand that flourishing is not simply about individual achievement. It is also about recognising the gifts of others, showing compassion, having the courage to make a difference and understanding our responsibility to the communities and world of which we are part.
Our Christian values of Respect, Trust, Honesty, Thankfulness and Resilience help us to put this vision into practice.
We want children to encounter our vision through what they experience, not simply through what they are told. This includes opportunities to reflect and be still, to ask big questions, to lead and serve, to care for creation, to encounter different beliefs and perspectives, to stand up for what is right and to recognise moments of joy, wonder and hope.
Our SIAMS Journey
Our last SIAMS inspection took place in 2019. Since then, both Cold Harbour and the national SIAMS framework have developed considerably.
We recognise that developing our Christian character is an ongoing journey. We continue to reflect carefully on what it means to be a Church of England school in our community and how our Christian vision can make a genuine difference to the lives of our children, families and staff.
We are proud of the progress we are making, while continuing to ask ourselves challenging questions about how our vision can become ever more deeply embedded in the life of our school.