Buckland Newton CE Primary School is celebrating the outstanding outcome of its recent Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS), which praised the school’s Christian vision, inclusive ethos and inspirational leadership.
Carried out on 1st May, the inspection found that the school lives out its Christian foundation in a way that enables both pupils and staff to flourish. At the heart of this ethos is the school’s vision: “Let your light shine – on everyone, everywhere, every day” (Matthew 5:16). The report commends this vision as a powerful, deeply embedded influence across all aspects of school life, inspiring aspiration, compassion and inclusion.
Key strengths identified in the SIAMS report include:
- Inspirational Christian leadership that ensures all strategic decisions reflect the school’s vision
- A biblically informed ethos that encourages every individual to shine and support others in doing the same
- A strongly inclusive and nurturing environment, particularly for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), creating a real sense of belonging
- Collective worship that is both meaningful and valued, promoting spiritual reflection and a sense of community
- A highly effective Religious Education (RE) curriculum that builds deep understanding and respect for a range of faiths and worldviews
Headteacher Phillip Sales shared his pride in the findings:
“We are delighted with this SIAMS report that shows our school is a flourishing church school. It is a testament to the dedication of our staff, the enthusiasm of our pupils, and the strength of our school community. We are especially proud that our Christian vision is recognised as being so clearly lived out in everything we do.”
The report also praised a number of innovative initiatives at the school, including its ‘Big Question’ approach to spiritual and ethical reflection, the integration of RE with home learning and community engagement, and a strong emphasis on wellbeing and personal development.
Buckland Newton CE Primary is part of the Sherborne Area Schools’ Trust (SAST), a multi-academy trust made up of 18 schools across Dorset and South Somerset. Sarah Willoughby, who leads the Trust’s Church School Flourishing programme, added:
“It has been an absolute pleasure to work with and support Buckland Newton. Inspiring, impressive and inclusive are some of the many adjectives used to describe this amazing church school and I know that they will continue to shine their light, both within their own school and beyond.”
With just 95 pupils, Buckland Newton CE Primary School continues to make a big impact, offering a rich, inclusive and faith-led education that resonates far beyond the classroom.
