7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
1/30
SDPI Summer School
Thursday 23 June 2005
Gary DonnchadhaSenior Inspector
Office of the Chief Inspector
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
2/30
SDP role in schools
The Evolving Education Landscape: System Change and Development
The Programme of Inspection in Schools / WSE
Thematic or Programme Evaluation
SDP and External Evaluation
Discussion
Outline
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
3/30
SDP role in schools
SDP
Parents
Pupils
Teaching and Learning
Action planning and monitoring
Leadership and Management
Ethos - Characteristic Spirit
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
4/30
System change anddevelopment
Education legislation
o Education Act (1998) - Education Welfare Act (2000) - Teaching Council Act (2001) -
Education for Persons with Special Needs Act (2004)
Restructuring in the Department of Education and Science
Service Delivery through Agencies
o (NCCA) (NEPS) (SEC) (NEWB) (NCSE) (10 Regional Offices)
o Development of Services to Schools
o School Development Planning, Curriculum Support, Education Centres
Public Sector Management Reform Strategic Management Initiative (SMI)
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
5/30
Planning for school and system
improvement
SLSS
SchoolDevelopment
PlanningInitiative
Quality ofExternal
Evaluation
Monitoringand Reportingon Outcomes
ResourceSupports for
Students
ProfessionalBases forTeaching
LeadershipDevelopment
in Schools
CurriculumDevelopmentand Review
Continuum ofTeacher
Education
School andSystem
improvement
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
6/30
The Inspectorate
A centralised Inspectorate: primary and second level
Statutory remit under the Education Act 1998
o A programme of inspection in schools: 8,000 inspections 2001 to 2004
o Promoting compliance with regulation and legislation
o Advisory role for schools and for the Department
o Contribution to policy development
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
7/30
150/170 inspectors under the Chief Inspector organised in two subdivisions:
Regional Subdivision and Policy Support Subdivision
Strategic change in theInspectorate
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
8/30
Primary
o Teachers on probation
o Tuairisc Scoile (School Report)
o WSE
o Thematic / Focused Evaluations
Post-primary
o Subject Inspection
o WSE
o Thematic / Focused Evaluations
Range of evaluationmodels
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
9/30
Post-Primary Subject Inspection
Number of subject inspection reports issuedfrom September 2001 to December 2004
Subject Inspection
Affirm good practice
Promote continuing improvement
Discussions with Principal and
subject teachers
Classroom observation
Feedback / Report
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
10/30
From WSI to WSE
WSI Consultative Conference in 1996
o White Paper Charting Our Education Future
o A guiding rationale for WSI
Evolution of WSE
WSE Pilot Project in 1998/1999
o WSE based on partnership and co-operation
o 35 participating schools
The key word is ownership.
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
11/30
Purpose
Provide an external perspective on the work of the school
Affirm good practice
Identify constructively areas for improvement
Facilitate school self-evaluation
Assure quality in education system
Whole School Evaluation
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
12/30
Public /Taxpayer
Minister forEducation
Inspectors
ParentRepresentatives
Board ofManagement
In-schoolManagement
Principal
Teachers
Pupils
Whole School Evaluation
SDPsupport
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
13/30
Area 1: Quality of school management
Area 2: Quality of school planning
Area 3: Quality of curriculum provision
Area 4: Quality of learning and teaching
Area 5: Quality of support for students
WSE Framework
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
14/30
Reporting Inspector responsible for the overall management of the process
Supporting Inspectorassists the Reporting Inspector
The Reporting and Supporting Inspectors attend and chair all of the meetings during the WSE process
other than those taking place as part of the subject inspections
Subject Inspectors carry out subject inspections as part of the process
WSE evaluation team
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
15/30
Initial Phase
Meetings with CEO of VEC, BOM, Parents, staff
Documentation / Information from school
Mission Statement, Timetable, Prospectus, School plan (including all policies),
Handbooks/Journals, Staffing, Curriculum (planning, options, assessment, etc.), Extra-curricular
activities, etc.
Information from other sources
SEC, Administrative sections of DES (e.g. Building Unit), VEC, etc.
WSE Initial Phase
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
16/30
In-school Phase
Review of documentation, meetings, observation, subject inspections
Meetings with;
Senior management
Middle management
Education support team
School planning team
Pastoral care team
Student Council representatives
other
WSE In-School Phase
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
17/30
Preliminary meeting with subject teachers
Discussions around whole school provision, planning and preparation and assessment
and achievement
Evaluation of the quality of learning and teaching
Observation of a range of lessons, interaction with students, discussions with teachers,
review of documentation
Feedback meeting with subject teachers / principal
Discussion of main findings and recommendations
Subject Inspection within WSE
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
18/30
PlanningDocumentation
AssessmentRecords
Interaction withPupils
Discussion withSchool Personnel
School InformationForm
Observation ofTeaching and Learning
Evidence gathering for WSE
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
19/30
Final Phase
Meetings with senior management, staff, BOM
WSE report is factually verified with principal
Individual Subject Inspection Reports appended
Report cleared by Inspectorate and issued to school
and follow up development activity in schools
WSE Final Phase
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
20/30
Information on WSE for schools?
Reporting on individual teachers?
Resource implications of recommendations?
Follow-up to WSE?
Timing of WSE and the School Year?
Reviewing the process?
WSE FAQ
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
21/30
Literacy and Numeracy in Disadvantaged Schools
12 of the 100 most disadvantaged
Primary Schools
Poverty - drug abuse, lack of effective
parenting
Widespread low achievement
Absenteeism is a major problem for
some pupils
Between 9% and 40% absent for more
than 30 days
Poor attendance has serious, long-term
educational consequences
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
22/30
The report highlights serious levels of low achievement among pupils
Very few pupils in the top category of achievement
Almost two-thirds in lowest achievement band in Mathematics
Pupil achievement
Literacy Mathematics
M t d Pl i i
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
23/30
One-third of the teachers had 3 years teaching or less
9% of teachers not qualified - High teacher turnover in a few schools
Most felt unprepared for teaching in disadvantaged schools
Management and Planning inthe Schools
not MORE planning! - more FOCUSED planning
delegation of curriculum leadership
should plan for improvement in literacy and
numeracy
additional non-contact time is required to support
school planning and review
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
24/30
An Evaluation of Curriculum Implementation
Primary School Curriculum (1999) -an exciting opportunity for change and
renewal in primary schools
Inspectors observed teaching and learning
Reviewed whole-school planning, classroom planning
and childrens work
Interviews with class teachers and principals
h l h l l i
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
25/30
Whole-school planning:
Primary Curriculum
Effective school plans - a collaborative and consultative process
Subject co-ordinators played an important role in whole-school planning
Structure of the curriculum positive response from teachers for the Mathematics
and Visual Arts curricula
Planning for English challenges for the future
Effectiveness of whole-school planning
37%
72%
48%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
English Visual arts Mathematics
School Development
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
26/30
Understanding school Vision and a strategic perspective on school change
Supporting constructive change in school context and culture
Realistic expectations and professionalism in the change leadership role
o Making connections in the teaching / learning process
o Making connections in the functioning of the school as an organisation
Supporting school leadership to promote excellence in the school
School DevelopmentPlanning in action
Making Connections for
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
27/30
gSchool Improvement
Professional development
and expertise of teacher in
teaching, learning and
assessment
teacher
Translating whole schoolteaching, learning and
assessment policies intoclassroom actions
School to classroom
Improving teaching,
learning andassessment in the
school
Professional leadership
for teaching, learning
and assessment
principal
Connecting class-based
teaching, learning and
assessment and whole schoolpolicy and practice
classroom to school
SDPsupport
Managing and monitoring
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
28/30
Balanced Scorecard Planning models in industry [ref: Kaplan and Norton]
Clarity in major goals and in particular objectives specific initiatives tied to the
achievement of objectives eg development of teaching methods
Emphasis on making the priorities everybodys everyday business
Setting of targets and monitoring progress towards achievement of objectives
o What are the observables of improvement?
Managing and monitoringimplementation of plans
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
29/30
SDP and WSE / Subject Inspection focusing on school improvement
Evaluation capability as central in both SDP and WSE
o Sources of data for evaluation and effective analysis
o Reporting on the findings of monitoring and review
SDP and follow-up actions recommended in WSE / Subject Inspection
SDP and WSE / Subject Inspection as mutually supportive processes
SDP and Evaluation
Di i
7/31/2019 Curriculam and School Development
30/30
Discussion
Contact:Gary Donnchadha
Senior InspectorOffice of the Chief Inspector
Department of Education and ScienceTelephone +353 1 889 6425Fax: +353 1 889 6541