Our local church

There has been a church in Northill since the 16th century. Schools in rural areas, got under way in the 1850s and churches were instrumental in this process. In Victorian times, it is thought that the wives of the local vicars in rural villages, started to teach children.

The Church of England decided to form proper schools, and thus Church of England (CofE) schools were established across the country. Church of England schools were established primarily for the communities they are located in. 

They are inclusive and serve equally those who are of the Christian faith, those of other faiths and those with no faith. Northill School is one of around 4,500 CofE primary schools across the country and is lucky to be part of such an established church within a strong village community.

Diocese

The Church school system is managed and developed through the individual diocese. Each Diocese has a Diocesan Board of Education (DBE), which is served by a Diocesan Director of Education (DDE). DBEs oversee local developments and support schools on a day to day basis. Northill Church, is part of the Diocese of St Albans.

Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS)

All Church of England dioceses, and the Methodist Church, use the National Society's framework for the Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) under Section 48 of the Education Act 2005. The framework sets out the expectations for the conduct of the Statutory Inspection of Anglican, Methodist and ecumenical schools under Section 48 of the Education Act 2005 and provides a process for evaluating the extent to which church schools are "distinctively and recognisably Christian institutions".

Inspection focus

SIAMS inspection focuses on the effect that the Christian ethos of the church school has on the children and young people who attend it. Church schools will employ a variety of strategies and styles, which reflect their particular local context or church tradition in order to be distinctive and effective. Inspectors will, therefore, not be looking to apply a preconceived template of what a church school should be like.

The principal objective of a SIAMS inspection is to evaluate the distinctiveness and effectiveness of the school as a church school.

Towards this objective, inspectors seek answers to four key questions.

• How well does the school, through its distinctive Christian character, meet the needs of all learners?
• What is the impact of collective worship on the school community?
• How effective is the Religious Education? (in VA schools and academies).
• How effective is the leadership and management of the school as a church school?

The National Society's Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) framework is used in all Section 48 inspections of Church of England schools and in the denominational inspection of academies.