We are delighted to celebrate the outcome of the recent SIAMS inspection at Leybourne Church of England Primary School. This recognises the school as a welcoming, inclusive and joyful community where every individual is supported to flourish.
The report praises the school’s strong Christian vision and values, which are woven through daily life and shape a safe, nurturing environment. Inspectors describe how a ‘culture of compassion and wellbeing is at the heart of the school’.
The school’s vision, ‘Nurturing the Spark of God Within’, drives a curriculum and rich extra-curricular activity offer which ‘enable the school community to flourish’. This commitment is also evident in the way staff support pupils to grow in confidence and resilience, and in the pride pupils take in living out the school’s core values of love, trust, compassion and respect.
The report also acknowledges the school’s work as part of Tenax Schools Trust, noting the supportive alignment between the school’s vision and the trust’s Christian foundation. This shared ethos strengthens the school’s identity and work as a Church school.
Tina Holditch, Headteacher at Leybourne, said: “We are delighted with this SIAMS report. Through developing and living out our vision, we are committed to ensuring that everyone in our school community feels nurtured and valued. We believe this helps build excellence and so truly allows the ‘spark of God’ within to enable all to succeed. I would like to thank our former curate, Revd Kelly Parsons, and all in our school community who have been so important in helping us develop this positive culture in our school in which all can excel.”
Richard Tyson, Tenax Director of Workforce Development and Ethos, added: ‘This is a very affirming read of how Leybourne’s distinctive Christian vision of nurturing the innate spark within every child, is embedded into the life of the school. It truly provides the foundation from which children can flourish. We know that children can thrive when they are known and their needs understood. The report captures that sense of belonging that is so important for every child to feel in a school community, and which Leybourne does so well.’
All Church of England and Methodist schools are visited every five years by a SIAMS inspector, who evaluates how effectively the school knows and lives its theologically rooted Christian vision. SIAMS inspectors do not give a final ‘grade’ for an inspection in the way that Ofsted do. Instead, they are required to decide on one of the following judgements:
J1 – The inspection findings indicate that the school is living up to its foundation as a Church school, and is enabling pupils and adults to flourish.
J2 – The inspection findings indicate that the school has strengths, but that there are also issues that leaders need to address as a matter of priority.
Leybourne was found to be in the ‘J1’ category.