Ofsted & SIAMS

May 2026 SIAMs Inspection Report

Over the past three years, it has been my absolute privilege to lead Rusthall St Paul’s Church of England Primary School on what has been a truly transformative journey. When I began as Head of School in 2023, we took time to reflect deeply on who we are as a community and what we want for our children, families and staff. From this, we developed a renewed vision—one that is rooted in the parable of the mustard seed:

“From the smallest of beginnings, every individual can grow, flourish and offer shelter.”

This vision has become the foundation of everything we do. It is not simply words on paper; it shapes our daily practice, our relationships and our ambitions. Together with our six core values—individuality, respect, compassion, ambition, belonging and growth—we have worked tirelessly to ensure that they are lived out in every classroom, every interaction and every decision we make.

What makes me most proud is how deeply this vision is now embedded across our school community. Over time, we have intentionally woven it into our curriculum, our pastoral care and our culture. We have strengthened our focus on inclusion and belonging, ensuring that every child is known, nurtured and supported to succeed. Our curriculum has been designed to inspire curiosity, raise aspirations and offer rich experiences so that every child, regardless of their starting point, can flourish.

We have also prioritised wellbeing—for both pupils and staff—through strong pastoral systems, meaningful relationships and a culture of care. This has enabled us to create a school where children feel safe, valued and confident to face challenges, and where staff feel supported and empowered in their roles.

Just before half term, we welcomed our SIAMS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools) inspection—my first as Head of School. SIAMS inspections focus on how effectively a church school lives out its Christian vision and how this supports pupils and adults to flourish in all aspects of life.

I am incredibly proud to share that the inspection recognised the strength of our work and confirmed that we are living up to our foundation as a Church school and are enabling pupils and adults to flourish.

The report beautifully captures what makes our school so special. It highlights that:

“The school’s Christian vision is central to school life. It inspires the actions of leaders and staff, sustaining an environment where people are known and nurtured as unique individuals.”

It also celebrates the strong sense of community we have worked so hard to build:

“This is a happy, harmonious learning community that ensures pupils and adults are nurtured.”

Importantly, the inspector recognised our ambition for every child, particularly those with additional needs, noting that this enables pupils “to thrive.”

I was particularly pleased that the report acknowledges how our vision is lived out in practice, noting that staff “actively model the school's values and intentionally weave them into school life.” This is something we have focused on consistently, ensuring that our values are not simply taught, but experienced.

The inspection also recognised the richness of our provision, including our collective worship and our engaging religious education curriculum, which equips pupils with “secure knowledge of Christianity and a range of world faiths and worldviews.”

This outcome belongs to our whole community. It reflects the dedication of our staff, the enthusiasm and kindness of our pupils, and the ongoing support of our families, governors, church and wider community.

As we look ahead, we remain committed to continuing this journey—building on our strong foundations, deepening opportunities for spiritual growth and ensuring that every member of our community continues to flourish.

From small beginnings, something truly special has grown here at Rusthall St Paul’s—and I am excited for what the future holds.

Lyndsay Smurthwaite - Head of School. (June 2026)

SIAMs Report 2026

OFSTED report April 2023

Copies of our Ofsted Reports can be found here