What is SIAMS?
At Berkley First School, we are proud to be a Church of England school within the Diocese of Bath and Wells. As part of this, we take part in a special type of inspection called SIAMS – which stands for Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools. SIAMS looks at how our Christian vision shapes all aspects of school life – from the way we teach and care for our children, to the values we live out each day. It explores how well our school helps children grow not just academically, but spiritually and morally too. The inspection recognises the unique role Church schools play in nurturing children’s wellbeing, character and sense of community. At Berkley, this means helping every child feel valued, loved and encouraged to make a positive difference in the world. Our most recent SIAMS report (2024) highlighted the strength of our school community, the impact of our Christian values, and the many opportunities children have to reflect, grow in confidence, and care for others.
Berkley Church of England Voluntary Aided First School has a strong Christian vision. Sensitively created, and with regard to the local context, pupils are all very familiar with the idea of ‘Let your light shine’. They encourage one another in doing this from the moment they join the school. Many friendships formed continue beyond the school years, and as a result the vision enriches lives. Further impact is clearly seen in the wider community engendering a keen sense of family.