St Botolph's C of E Primary School
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WE ARE AN OUTSTANDING CHURCH SCHOOL
23 March 2016
On Wednesday 9th March, St Botolph’s Church of England Primary School received their Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS). The National SIAMS framework is used in all inspections of Church of England schools. The principal objective of the SIAMS inspection is to evaluate the distinctiveness and effectiveness of the school as a Church school. Following the inspection the school were graded as outstanding in all areas. The report highlighted 4 particular points:
• The Christian vision and strong commitment of the headteacher, staff, governors, pupils and parents has ensured that the ethos and gospel values permeate all aspects of school life.
• A welcoming and worshipping Christian environment is evident which enables pupils to become confident and articulate learners who achieve well.
• The excellent partnerships with the church and community enrich the lives of all involved.
• The centrality of prayer and reflection and the high value placed on worship significantly contribute to spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
The report commented on how the schools distinctive Christian values were seen to be “deeply embedded in this fully inclusive school. They have created an environment where pupils are proud to belong, feel valued and achieve well. Behaviour and relationships are excellent. Pupils have a strong sense of right and wrong because the school sets very clear expectations. This results in an atmosphere of calm and respect throughout.”
It also reported on how “Governors are very involved in the school including monitoring the development plan and supporting class activities. They share the view of it being a Christian place of learning. This is seen in the way that children and staff speak of the importance of caring for others.” In addition, it was noted how Religious education [RE] makes a considerable contribution to the distinctive Christian character of the school and how the school provides exceptionally well for the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development (SMSC) of the pupils.
The report concluded with how “it is clear that the Christian values and a welcoming and worshipping environment have a strong impact on the lives, behaviour and achievement of children and indeed all stakeholders. The headteacher and governing body are especially proud of the mutually beneficial relationship with the church. This ensures that the school continues to develop as a church school at the heart of its community. This view is shared by parents and other community figures.”
This report was clearly a true endorsement of the continuous hard work of all the children, staff, Parents, Governors and whole Church community and everyone can be very, very proud of the achievement.