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Quality Assurance through School Self-Evaluation: the role of External Review and Inspection David Taylor Formerly Director of Inspection, Ofsted Slide 2 Structure of presentation Quality Assurance and Self-Evaluation Quality Assurance and Self-Evaluation Working with schools on self-evaluation Working with schools on self-evaluation Slide 3 Quality Assurance (QA) and School Self-Evaluation (SSE) Quality Quality Assurance and control Assurance and control The place of SSE in a QA system The place of SSE in a QA system Slide 4 What is school self-evaluation? Self-evaluation is the process by which a school is able to look critically at itself in order to improve further the quality of its provision and its performance. Self-evaluation is the process by which a school is able to look critically at itself in order to improve further the quality of its provision and its performance. Slide 5 SCHOOL SELF-EVALUATION: the 3-step process What are we going to do next? How do we know? How good is our school? Through self-evaluation, a school is asking questions of itself which probe thoroughly all aspects of quality. Slide 6 Promoting School Improvement (1) Self-evaluation aims to promote school improvement by seeking: Self-evaluation aims to promote school improvement by seeking: To inform improvement planning all staff are, or should be, involved in improvement planning improvement planning must have standards of achievement, quality of teaching and quality of learning as high priorities; monitoring and evaluation are indispensable parts of the improvement planning cycle; schools need to integrate a programme of self-evaluation into their improvement planning. Slide 7 Promoting School Improvement (2) Self-evaluation aims to promote school improvement by seeking: Self-evaluation aims to promote school improvement by seeking: -To promote effective learning and raise standards all pupils are learners and should take part in self- evaluation; all pupils are learners and should take part in self- evaluation; good teachers are good learners; they continually ask questions of their own practice to improve provision; good teachers are good learners; they continually ask questions of their own practice to improve provision; different people learn best in different ways; different people learn best in different ways; teachers need to know how their pupils learn best; teachers need to know how their pupils learn best; school managers need to know what makes members of staff effective learners and therefore effective professionals; school managers need to know what makes members of staff effective learners and therefore effective professionals; parents/carers and governors have a key role in supporting learning parents/carers and governors have a key role in supporting learning Slide 8 Promoting School Improvement (3) Self-evaluation aims to promote school improvement by seeking: Self-evaluation aims to promote school improvement by seeking: -To encourage a climate of professional trust self-evaluation is most effective when the process is transparent; self-evaluation is most effective when the process is transparent; everyone is part of the self-evaluation process; no-one hides behind status; everyone is part of the self-evaluation process; no-one hides behind status; positive outcomes for teachers and pupils are evident and people have faith in the process; positive outcomes for teachers and pupils are evident and people have faith in the process; good practice is celebrated in more than one way. good practice is celebrated in more than one way. Slide 9 The Improvement Cycle Slide 10 Improving schools self- evaluation Improved training in leadership and management Improved training in leadership and management More available data More available data Growing use of external performance indicators Growing use of external performance indicators Effective use of classroom observation Effective use of classroom observation Understanding how to carry out self-evaluation Understanding how to carry out self-evaluation Slide 11 Involving all staff in planning and self-evaluation Staff should: Understand the planning and evaluation process Understand the planning and evaluation process Have ownership of it Have ownership of it Focus on pupils attainments and experiences Focus on pupils attainments and experiences Engage in appropriate professional development Engage in appropriate professional development Review their approaches to teaching and learning Review their approaches to teaching and learning Slide 12 Internal and external: complementary roles SSE: event or process? SSE: event or process? Which comes first? Which comes first? Frameworks and criteria Frameworks and criteria Training and development Training and development Slide 13 Working with schools on self- evaluation Preparing for self-evaluation Preparing for self-evaluation Data collection and data analysis Data collection and data analysis Understanding how to evaluate Understanding how to evaluate Collecting evidence Collecting evidence Securing trust Securing trust Self-evaluation and staff appraisal Self-evaluation and staff appraisal Slide 14 Six acid tests for effective SSE Is the SSE based on a good range of convincing evidence? Is the SSE based on a good range of convincing evidence? Does the SSE identify the most important questions about how well the school serves its pupils? Does the SSE identify the most important questions about how well the school serves its pupils? How well does the school compare with similar schools and use such comparative data? How well does the school compare with similar schools and use such comparative data? Does the SSE include the views of key groups, especially parents, pupils and wider community? Does the SSE include the views of key groups, especially parents, pupils and wider community? Is SSE integrally linked to key management systems? Is SSE integrally linked to key management systems? Does SSE lead to action to achieve he schools longer-term improvement goals? Does SSE lead to action to achieve he schools longer-term improvement goals? Slide 15 A focus on learning outcomes (1) Taking responsibility for learning Taking responsibility for learning Good features: Learners Know their most effective ways of learning Can apply themselves to learning effectively Sustain concentration Appreciate what they need to do to make progress Slide 16 A focus on learning outcomes (2) Learners Plan sensibly how they will achieve their learning goals Seek appropriate help in working towards their goals Show initiative and take responsibility Work well without supervision Review their progress and adjust their learning as necessary Slide 17 A focus on learning outcomes (3) Taking responsibility for learning Taking responsibility for learningShortcomings:Learners: Have limited awareness of how they learn best Plan inadequately to address deficiencies Rely too much on others for assurance and support Are easily distracted Slide 18 A focus on learning outcomes (4) Learners: Do not work well without direct supervision Are too compliant and passive Work too slowly Seek the direction of the teacher too readily Are uncertain about their own progress. Slide 19 A focus on effective leadership action (1) Leadership has consistently been shown as the key factor in determining the success of a school. Leaders who seek to transform their schools tend to: Have self-knowledge and clarity about values and commitment Have self-knowledge and clarity about values and commitment Focus on developing people, and empowering them to bring about a shared vision which produces good learning outcomes for pupils Focus on developing people, and empowering them to bring about a shared vision which produces good learning outcomes for pupils Be found operating at all levels in the school, not just the senior management team Be found operating at all levels in the school, not just the senior management team Slide 20 A focus on effective leadership action (2) Leaders who seek to transform their schools tend to: Encourage, manage and sustain school improvement Encourage, manage and sustain school improvement Manage the organisation well, respond to change effectively and welcome greater school autonomy and innovation Manage the organisation well, respond to change effectively and welcome greater school autonomy and innovation Ensure that there is an unvarying focus on improving teaching and learning Ensure that there is an unvarying focus on improving teaching and learning Slide 21 A focus on effective leadership action (3): Take early, firm intervention to secure effective leadership and management Take early, firm intervention to secure effective leadership and management Establish and implement systems to identify key priorities for improvement through effective data management, ie: Establish and implement systems to identify key priorities for improvement through effective data management, ie: Gathering, analysing and presenting data on pupils achievement Using the data to identify good practice Surveying the opinions of staff and students Gaining the commitment of staff Slide 22 A focus on effective leadership action (4): Focus on dealing with issues in a staged manner, with measures to ensure early success, eg: Focus on dealing with issues in a staged manner, with measures to ensure early success, eg: Developing pride and self-esteem Targeting specific under-performance, while developing long-term improvement strategies Improving attendance, punctuality, uniform- wearing Slide 23 A focus on effective leadership action (5): Focus on teaching and learning: Focus on teaching and learning: Establishing a set of core behaviours Re-skilling teachers in their repertoire of teaching methods Implementing a firm and consistent policy on behaviour (around the site as well as in classrooms) Supporting and building on models of excellent teaching Establishing collaborative working as a way of improving teachers practice Slide 24 A focus on effective leadership action (6) Introduce models of leadership and teaching quality: Introduce models of leadership and teaching quality: Building effective leadership teams throughout the school Bringing in new staff with developing teaching skills (eg Advanced skills teachers) Coaching staff to develop their teaching skills Slide 25 1. Characteristics of the School Context of school and learners Context of school and learners School aims School aims Slide 26 2. Views of Learners, Parents/Carers and other Stakeholders How are views gathered? How are views gathered? What do they say about provision? What do they say about provision? How are findings shared? How are findings shared? What action is taken? What action is taken? Slide 27 3. Achievement and Standards What are the standards achieved? Are there significant trends? What are the standards achieved? Are there significant trends? Are there any underachieving groups? Are there any underachieving groups? How do you know? How do you know? What action do you intend to take? What action do you intend to take? Slide 28 4. Personal development and well-being (Every Child Matters outcomes) Learners should : Be healthy Be healthy Be safe Be safe Enjoy their learning and achieve Enjoy their learning and achieve Make a positive contribution to the community Make a positive contribution to the community Be prepared for the future and for their economic well-being Be prepared for the future and for their economic well-being Slide 29 5. Quality of provision How effective are teaching and learning? How effective are teaching and learning? Do the curriculum and other activities meet the needs and interests of learners? Do the curriculum and other activities meet the needs and interests of learners? How well are learners cared for, guided and supported? How well are learners cared for, guided and supported? Slide 30 Example: Teaching and Learning Slide 31 6. Leadership and Management How effectively do leaders and managers set a clear direction? How effectively do leaders and managers set a clear direction? How effective is performance monitoring? How effective is performance monitoring? How well are equal opportunities and inclusion promoted? How well are equal opportunities and inclusion promoted? What is the adequacy of staffing, resources and accommodation? What is the adequacy of staffing, resources and accommodation? How effective are links with other providers and agencies? How effective are links with other providers and agencies? How effective are Governors? How effective are Governors? Slide 32 7. Overall effectiveness and efficiency The extent of improvement since the previous inspection? The extent of improvement since the previous inspection? Is there sufficient capacity for further improvement? Is there sufficient capacity for further improvement? What steps are being taken to improve provision? What steps are being taken to improve provision? Slide 33 Some key questions for discussion Suppose you were a person such as a school improvement partner, how would you set about working with a school on SSE? Suppose you were a person such as a school improvement partner, how would you set about working with a school on SSE? How does a school inspection/review gain evidence of the effectiveness of SSE? How does a school inspection/review gain evidence of the effectiveness of SSE? What should happen if the inspection/review disagrees strongly with the results of the SSE? What should happen if the inspection/review disagrees strongly with the results of the SSE? How far should SSE go in incorporating the views of students, parents and the wider community? How far should SSE go in incorporating the views of students, parents and the wider community? How should schools develop the skills of evaluating lessons and outcomes for students? How should schools develop the skills of evaluating lessons and outcomes for students? Slide 34 Some conclusions Inspection/review and SSE should complement each other and dovetail closely, using related: Inspection/review and SSE should complement each other and dovetail closely, using related: Frameworks Criteria Data sources Effective SSE has clear goals, clear evaluation of teaching and learning and of leadership and management Effective SSE has clear goals, clear evaluation of teaching and learning and of leadership and management The whole school community should be involved in SSE The whole school community should be involved in SSE Inspection has much to offer in developing and improving the quality of SSE. Inspection has much to offer in developing and improving the quality of SSE.