STAFF and pupils at Seend Church of England Primary School are celebrating after they received glowing praise in its 2019 SIAMS report.

Seend was awarded a good overall rating, with the impact of collective worship judged to be excellent in the Statutory Inspection of Anglican, Methodist and Ecumenical Schools report for the school, which currently has 110 pupils.

The report, which is a requirement for all Anglican and Methodist schools, was published following a school inspection by the Church of England Education Office in April.

Head teacher Jackie Chalk said: “At Seend CofE Primary School, we are extremely proud of our Christian vision. It is an essential part of our school’s identity, and lies at the heart of everything we do.

“Receiving such an impressive and complimentary SIAMS report is a reward for our hard work in promoting our Christian vision, and we will continue to reinforce this ethos with passion and enthusiasm.”

The report highlights a number of key findings, including: “Seend’s Christian vision has been deeply influential in establishing a nurturing, caring, inclusive Christian community with a strong family ethos.”

The inspectors also found that ‘collective worship is an enjoyable experience for the pupils, and they participate enthusiastically. A range of worship leaders and a strong partnership with the church supports this’.

As part of their key findings, the inspectors praised Seend’s staff, saying: “The exceptionally strong leadership of the headteacher, ably supported by an experienced governing body and dedicated staff, has ensured that the school’s Christian character has remained at the forefront of its identity, despite major organisational changes.”

The organisational changes mentioned in the report refer to the school becoming part of The White Horse Federation in August last year. It was formerly part the Academy Trust of Melksham (ATOM).

Simon Cowley, the federation’s regional director for Wiltshire, said: “We are all so proud of Seend School and would like to congratulate them on this wonderful report.”

“Its findings are a testament to the commitment everyone at Seend School has made to implementing their Christian vision. These values support the school’s staff in nurturing children and helping them become valuable contributors to society.”

Another of the areas analysed during the inspection was the effectiveness of religious education (RE) at the school. Seend received a ‘good’ rating in this category, with the report stating: ‘Religious education is well planned, engaging, and carefully monitored. It is highly effective in supporting pupils’ spiritual and personal development’.

If you would like to read the full SIAMS report, visit https://seend.wilts.sch.uk/downloads/seendCofe/siams-Seend-Final-April-14.pdf