Workshop 2.5: Thursday afternoon

Preparing for Inspection

Anne Wood

MarchburnInfant School, Aberdeen

SCOTLAND/ GREAT BRITAIN

1)Self-evaluation

  • Every school in Scotland uses a set of Quality indicators - " How Good is Our School?"
  • In January /February each year, as a staff we use several Q.I's. Staff work in pairs to gather evidence & report back
  • H.T. then completes an audit, using these results
  • Staff & parental questionnaires are looked at
  • New development planning priorities are decided on results of audit and questionnaires
  • School's key strengths and areas of weakness are then easily identified

2.) A School Inspection

  • 3 weeks notice given that inspection is to take place, prepare & gather evidence
  • Questionnaires from HMI to be sent out to parents immediately. Their replies are confidential.

The following paperwork to be sent back by return:

  • School's Development Plan
  • Standards & Quality Report
  • Class timetables

Examples to be gathered in readiness for inspection:

  • National Test results
  • Questionnaires used with parents, staff & pupils
  • All policy documents
  • Examples of assessments
  • Evidence of Head Teacher's monitoring a) in the classroom

b) sampling children's work c) teachers' forward plans

  • Monthly & termly plans
  • Samples of letters to parents
  • Induction procedures for new entrants
  • List of targets for the session, for example, in reading, spelling, writing, maths, writing, National tests
  • Samples of Personal Pupil Files
  • Staff Development & Review evidence

3.) Pre-visit by HMI Lead Officer

  • Discussed Development Plan & S & Q report
  • Gave results of questionnaire to parents
  • Had a tour of building
  • Head Teacher made a presentation highlighting school's key strengths, current priorities and approaches to improving effectiveness
  • Met with all staff at end of day
  • Explained role of Lay Inspector

4.) Count Down

  • School clean & tidy, children's work attractively displayed
  • Staff prepared for visits in all areas to be inspected ( maths, English Language, & science)
  • Staff aware that no warning given of when visits to take place

5.)Inspection Week

  • For Marchburn, this entailed 2.5 days of 3 inspectors making regular visits to classrooms. Visits lasted anything from 30mts - 1 hour
  • Maths, English Language & science were inspected in every class. Each teacher received 4 visits
  • I received daily feed back from the Inspectors on how progress was going
  • The Lay Inspector met with some parents, inspected the toilets, cloakrooms and had lunch with the children. She spoke to some children & read reports sent home to parents
  • I had intensive interviews with each of the inspectors to discuss planning and assessment in detail. They told me how their class visits had gone.
  • By the end of the inspection, each inspector was able to read me their draft report and asked for my comments
  • Within 2 days, the Lead inspector returned and read me the draft report - This was my main opportunity to challenge anything I was not happy with - once the draft report is published, it is extremely difficult to get the Inspectors to change any part of the report
  • The draft report was received 3 weeks later
  • The report was published 10 weeks later & distributed to the Press, members of the Scottish Parliament, Local Council, Local Education Committee, the Director of Education and all parents

6.)Looking Back

  • On reflection, the inspection proved to be a very positive experience for Marchburn. The school came out of it very well and doors have opened - that's why I'm here today.
  • The experience is nerve-racking and the process none too pleasant
  • However, if you follow all the guidelines and do as you are told, it shouldn't be too bad!