Selling CE Primary celebrates “highly effective ethos” after statutory inspection

Published: 27 June 2024

A statutory inspection by the Church of England has described a village primary school near Faversham as “a happy and positive place to be” where “leaders have created a highly effective ethos where all are treated well”.

Selling Church of England Primary School received the top grade in the recent Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) report, and is “living up to its foundation as a Church school”.

Headteacher Richard Paez said the inspection would provide further reassurance for parents that the school is fostering an enriching and spiritual educational journey. He said: “We are incredibly proud of the positive feedback received and the recognition of our strong sense of community and support for student well-being. This is a fantastic SIAMS report and a massive thank you to the amazing pupils, staff, parents, Governors and members of the Our Community Multi-Academy Trust (OCMAT) Central Team and Directors who supported the process so brilliantly.”

David Whitehead, CEO of Our Community Multi-Academy Trust that oversees 10 primary and junior schools in Kent, said: “The SIAMS assessment every five years is a significant event and we’re delighted in the outcome. Selling is a nurturing and inclusive school and, alongside its Ofsted Good grade, is a great example of how we’re approaching primary school education – enabling children to flourish and grow. The team at Selling should be rightly proud of the outcome.”

The report made several observations about the school, describing how pupils feel “like seeds and coming to Selling makes us grow” and as a result, “pupils make progress, developing from their own individual starting point”. The report also stated that “all pupils, including those with SEND, are known deeply and celebrated for their uniqueness. As a result, they are supported and achieve well.”

Under the Education Act 2005 all Church of England schools are subject to a Section 48 inspection. The Church of England recently scrapped its grading system of Excellent, Good, Requires Improvement and Ineffective – a system similar to the controversial Ofsted grades. Schools are now categorised as either “living up to” or “not fully” living up to the Christian foundation.