Chester high school head overjoyed at top inspection report

The Bishops’ Blue Coat Church of England High School has received an exceptional Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) report, rating the school as excelling in all areas.

This follows a thorough inspection that highlighted the school's commitment to nurturing a vibrant educational environment, where students flourish.

The report found that "dedicated leaders and governors are fully committed to ensuring that the biblically rooted Christian vision drives all the school’s actions. This results in wise, ambitious, and transformational decision-making. Consequently, pupils and adults excel in a community where they are ‘known, nurtured, and inspired’."

Helen Cairns, headteacher, said: "We are overjoyed with the SIAMS report! It reflects the dedication of our staff, the enthusiasm of our pupils, and the support of our entire community.

Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England is celebrating receiving a top report from SIAMS.

"We will continue to build on this success to ensure everyone feels known, nurtured, and inspired."

Miss Cairns became headteacher of Bishops’ last year and the inspector commented that the “headteacher had refreshed and revitalised the school vision” in her short time leading the school.

The report also noted: "National, diocesan, and local strategic partnerships are very strong. These enhance the impact of the vision and contribute significantly to ensuring that pupils and adults are given every encouragement and plentiful opportunities to 'live life in all its fullness' (John 10:10)."

The inspector praised the school's pastoral care and chaplaincy support, stating: "Pastoral care and chaplaincy support is exemplary. Pupils and staff are treated with dignity and respect and feel very well-supported.

"This imparts a deep sense of wellbeing and helps to foster a vibrant culture of service and mutual support."

Pastoral support manager Liz Evans said: "Being part of The Bishops’ Blue Coat Church of England High School is incredibly rewarding. The supportive environment here allows both staff and pupils to thrive.

Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England is celebrating receiving a top report from SIAMS.

"The SIAMS report is a wonderful affirmation of the work we do."

Beyond the classroom, the report highlighted the active role pupils play in leadership, noting: "Pupils play active and purposeful leadership roles in helping to change their school, their community, and the wider world for the better. They are inspired to be agents of change with a strong sense of moral purpose."

In visiting classrooms, the inspector found: "Religious education (RE) is considered to be a very important subject. It is constantly being reviewed to improve it further. Pupils benefit from high-quality teaching and achieve exceptional examination results."

The inspector was impressed with the school’s ambitious curriculum, stating: "The school provides a broad, balanced, well-sequenced, and ambitious curriculum that supports the flourishing of pupils very well."

In addition, the report praised the collective worship at the school, adding: "Collective worship is central to the life of the school and enables pupils and adults to flourish spiritually. Innovative and creative approaches to worship, through drama, art, and music, make it fully accessible and ensure it contributes strongly to pupils’ flourishing."

A SIAMS inspection is different from an Ofsted inspection, and focuses on ways in which each school’s theologically rooted Christian vision drives its work and enables the school to live up to its foundation as a church school.