MAST is proud to include both Church of England and community schools within our family.

For our Church schools, Christian vision is not something that sits separately from school improvement, inclusion or the curriculum. It shapes the way we understand children, adults, relationships and flourishing.

Our Trust vision is rooted in the belief that every child is known and every child is enabled. Inspired by the words of Isaiah, “I have called you by name; you are mine”, we seek to create communities where no one is overlooked and where every person is valued, supported and able to succeed.

This is reflected in our shared values of Belong, Be Safe and Flourish.

We believe that when people truly belong, they are more able to feel safe; and when they feel safe, they are more able to flourish.

For our Church schools, this provides a strong theological foundation for the way we think about inclusion, relationships, dignity, curriculum, worship and the wider life of the school.

Through high-quality teaching, strong relationships and a shared sense of responsibility, we seek to remove barriers and create environments in which children and adults can thrive.

A distinctive Christian vision

Every Church of England school within MAST has its own context, community and Christian vision.

We support leaders and governors to ensure that this vision is:

• clearly understood;
• rooted in theology and Christian teaching;
• relevant to the school’s community;
• reflected in strategic decision-making;
• visible in the curriculum and wider life of the school; and
• understood by pupils, staff, governors and families.

We do not believe that Church school identity should be reduced to displays, events or inspection preparation.

It should be experienced in the daily life of the school and evident in the way people are known, included, supported and enabled to flourish.

Supporting Church school leadership

Our Central Team works closely with Headteachers, senior leaders and governors to support the development of strong Church school leadership.

This includes support with:

• developing and reviewing Christian vision;
• evaluating the impact of that vision;
• strengthening collective worship;
• developing religious education;
• preparing governors for their role in Church school oversight;
• supporting staff understanding of Church school distinctiveness;
• engaging with diocesan guidance and expectations; and
• helping schools connect their Christian vision to wider school improvement priorities.

We want leaders to be confident in articulating what makes their Church school distinctive and how that distinctiveness makes a difference to children and adults.

Collective worship

Collective worship is an important part of the life of a Church school.

We support schools to ensure that worship is inclusive, invitational and inspiring, and that it provides opportunities for reflection, spiritual development and engagement with Christian teaching.

Schools are encouraged to think carefully about the quality, structure and impact of worship, rather than seeing it simply as a timetable requirement.

Our support may include:

• reviewing worship practice;
• developing themes and planning;
• supporting pupil leadership;
• strengthening links with local churches;
• developing staff confidence; and
• evaluating the impact of worship on the wider life of the school.

Religious education

Strong religious education is central to the educational and distinctive character of a Church school.

We support schools to develop ambitious, well-sequenced RE that enables pupils to explore Christianity, other faiths and worldviews with depth, curiosity and respect.

Our Trust-wide approach supports:

• subject leadership;
• curriculum development;
• assessment;
• staff professional development;
• sharing effective practice; and
• preparation for external review and inspection.

We want pupils to develop both knowledge and the capacity to think deeply about belief, meaning and the diversity of the world around them.

Spiritual development

We believe spiritual development is broader than worship or RE.

It can be found in moments of curiosity, reflection, creativity, compassion, challenge and connection.

We support schools to think intentionally about how pupils and adults are given opportunities to:

• reflect on themselves and their experiences;
• consider questions of meaning and purpose;
• respond to beauty and creativity;
• develop empathy and compassion;
• explore faith and belief; and
• understand their place within wider communities.

This should be woven through the life of the school rather than confined to a single subject or activity.

SIAMS

The Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) provides an important external evaluation of the effectiveness of a Church school’s Christian vision and how that vision enables pupils and adults to flourish.

Within MAST, we do not view SIAMS as something schools should prepare for only when an inspection is approaching.

Instead, we encourage schools to use the SIAMS framework as part of ongoing self-evaluation and development.

Our support includes:

• helping schools understand the SIAMS framework;
• supporting leaders with self-evaluation;
• reviewing evidence and impact;
• developing governor understanding;
• supporting staff preparation;
• exploring the relationship between vision, curriculum, worship and inclusion;
• identifying strengths and areas for development; and
• helping schools respond to previous inspection findings.

The aim is not to create an artificial inspection narrative.

It is to ensure that the lived experience of the school genuinely reflects its Christian vision.

Working with governors

Governors have an important role in maintaining and developing the distinctive character of Church schools.

We support governing bodies to understand their responsibilities and ask appropriate strategic questions about:

• Christian vision;
• collective worship;
• religious education;
• spiritual development;
• inclusion and dignity;
• relationships with the local church and Diocese; and
• the impact of Church school identity on pupils and adults.

This ensures that Church school distinctiveness remains part of strategic governance rather than becoming the responsibility of a small number of individuals.

Partnership with the Diocese and local churches

Church schools do not work in isolation.

We value strong relationships with diocesan colleagues, clergy, parishes and local church communities.

These partnerships can provide spiritual, practical and professional support and help schools remain rooted in the communities they serve.

MAST works to maintain constructive relationships with diocesan partners and to support schools in making effective use of the guidance and opportunities available to them.

Flourishing in a Church school

Our ambition is that the Christian identity of our Church schools is authentic, confident and evident in the everyday experience of pupils and adults.

We want schools to be places where dignity is respected, relationships matter, difficult questions can be explored and people are supported to grow.

For our Church of England schools, this work sits naturally alongside our shared Trust ambition that every child and every adult should Belong, Be Safe and Flourish.

Through strong Christian vision, thoughtful leadership and ongoing self-evaluation, we support our Church schools to remain distinctive, outward-looking and deeply rooted in the communities they serve.