School celebrates SIAMS report

St Mark’s School: A Good School Under the Most Demanding SIAMS Framework To Date

St Mark’s Church of England School is celebrating a glowing SIAMS report, under the most demanding framework seen for school inspections.

In addition to school Ofsted inspections, Church of England Schools are also subject to an independent Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) that assesses the Christian character of the school, the effectiveness of the leadership and management of the school, the provision of religious education and the impact of collective worship on the school community.

The school was subject to a two-day inspection in March, in a similar process to Ofsted, and the recently released report praised the school for their ‘commitment to students’ well-being and academic development.’

Comments from the SIAMS team noted the very significant improvement at St Mark’s School and the school’s commitment to further raise attainment and progress, commenting:

‘Pastoral and academic support to individual students is good in its impact on attainment and progress, and for some it is outstanding.’

They also noted the benefits that a smaller school can have on the students and the school community, adding:

‘Students and their families enjoy and benefit from the small school ethos and the ways in which every young person is known and valued.’

‘There is a spirit of inclusivity, positive thinking and community achievement that should enable St Mark’s to flourish as a Church of England school.’

Mr Ash, was noted as being a ‘leading example’ for staff members, following a period of transition in school leadership in the past year.

Four areas of school performance are now assessed by SIAMS, with a final grade given for the school’s overall distinctiveness and effectiveness. The grades achieved by St Mark’s were:

• The school, through its distinctive Christian character, is good at meeting the needs of all learners
• The impact of collective worship on the school community is good
• The effectiveness of the religious education is good
• The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the school as a church school is good

Mr Ash, is delighted with the report, saying that, “The bar has been raised in a very marked manner with the new SIAMS framework and we are delighted that we have once again been recognised as a ‘Good’ school.”

“St Mark’s School is in a strong group of schools locally in the Good category for Ofsted and now, with our SIAMS inspection report, that judgement has been further evidenced.”

“The team at St Mark’s have been working hard to tell the local community how good a school St Mark’s is and what an excellent, all-round education our children receive, but now it’s official for the second time – we’re GOOD.”

He continued:

“We are committed to moving beyond ‘Good’ and will continue on our journey towards making St Mark’s an ‘Outstanding’ school that families and students aspire to be a part of.”

You can read the full report here.