School Self-Evaluation A Framework in Action

St Peter’s College

Saint Peter’s College Dunboyne, Co. Meath

Established 1994

Now 1000 pupils approx.

80+ teachers

Since September 2012 schools have been obliged to engage with this formally

SSE @ St Peter’s College Subject department meetings, reviews of

methodologies and schemes of work Student Council Meetings Care Team Meetings A-Post Meetings Evaluation and review of TY, LCA, PLC programmes Assessment Reports Annual Examination Results Analysis – Subject &

Whole School Team Teaching Board of Management Meetings

SSE @ St Peter’s College New Teacher Induction Special Educational Needs review and

evaluation Participation in Wellbeing Jigsaw Project Feedback sessions from Support Services 33 hour Planning Schedule evaluation and

review Parents Association Meetings Prize-giving & Awards Staff Meeting Workshops Research Projects Numeracy & Literacy Initiatives

Background

Whole School Development Committee WSD Chaired by Principal + 10 Staff (voluntary)

Management Advisory Committee MAC Deputy Principal + 10 Staff + 2 students – rotating

Chair Student Assessment, Learning and Teaching SALT

Deputy Principal + 10 Staff – rotating Chair Behavioural Improvement Committee BIC

Deputy Principal + 6 Staff

School Self

Evaluation

MACChoos

es theme

s

SALTChoos

es targets

Page 22, Guidelines

Step 1 Gathering Evidence

Who would gather this information?

What information did we want?

How would we gather this information?

• Questionnaires - online• Interviews• Observation• Analysis of pupils’ work• Spot checks• Posters, Postet walls• Portraiture/photo inquiry• Critical incident analysis• Suggestion boxes• Subject Department Reports• Research Projects

SAMPLE TOOLS OF SELF EVALUATION

Step 1 Gathering Evidence

How we were going to evaluate this information?

When would we evaluate this information?

Structure of School Self-Evaluation Cycle

Not knowing how to study/How to study

When teacher talks too much/Teacher talking while we take down notes

Sun shining in the window!

Teaching and Learning School Self-Evaluation Questionnaire for 1st Year Students May 2012 Any other comments... I like this school Lighten up with the bad notes! Explain first... Then let me take it

down I hate hate hate the Maths Book!

I love Mr Potter x

A petting farm would be good at lunch

time

School Self Evaluation

MACChooses themes

for evaluation& improvement

priorities

SALTChooses

improvement targets

Subject Planning Folders - SALTLast Year Subject Departments given planning guidelines and templates

Department policy on methodologies/teaching approaches Subject Inspection Reports & Improvement Plans FYA First Year Continual Assessment – Subject Specific

Policy

Attainment Levels in Literacy/Numeracy

National Numeracy & Literacy drive July 2011 Launch of Literacy and Numeracy for

Learning and Life Outlines the necessity that all subjects take

responsibility for increasing literacy and numeracy The introduction of standardised testing in second

year The requirement of all schools to analyse the primary

school scores, correlate with second year scores and identify strengths/weaknesses and formulate evidence based targets to address these weaknesses

From September 2011 – SALT investigated various initiatives to improve L & N in St Peters

Attainment Levels in Literacy/Numeracy

Dec 2011 SEN coordinator gave a L & N presentation to staff

May 2012 Presentation given to Subject Coordinators Whole school, coordinated approach Proposed L & N initiatives identified by SALT

June 2012 Feedback from departments June 2012 Discussion of feedback by SALT and

decision on 2012/2013 plans Sept 2012 Targets agreed by all teachers

Agreed Whole School Literacy Initiatives Common Approach to

mis-spelling

First ten words misspelt in a test or homework are corrected by the teacher

Space is given at the end of the test/homework for students to rewrite the word and its meaning

Misspelt words are noted with their meaning in the vocab copy

Vocab CopyDedicated hardback copy

Alphabetised in tutor class to increase cross curricular links

Book in the Bag Absent teachers of first or second years will have the option of either leaving work or leaving instruction to read book in the bag

Drop Everything And Read

Agreed Whole School Numeracy Initiatives

Common Test Marking PolicyTeachers write only the marks awarded on the test

Students add up the total marks for the test

Students make a fraction and multiply by 100 to find their percentage

Date and TimeDate always written on board – change the

formatTime to be displayed in 12 hr and 24 hr

format

Subject SpecificOutline in department folder specific subject interventions / cross curricular links – timelines, graphs and charts etc

Agreed Whole School Literacy Initiatives

Subject Key Words Each department will

identify 50 key words that all first years should know by the end of the year

25 by Christmas 2012 and 25 by May 2013

First years will be given a short assessment on these words during the exams

Subject Department SSE Goals 2012-2013

Subject Department Improvement Planusing themes from SSE Guidelines - September

Teacher’s Practice/Methodologies Learner Experiences Learner Outcomes/Attainment levels in

literacy and numeracyto highlight good practiceidentify challengessuggest how we might improve

SSE Timeframe 2012-13Evaluation Activity TimelineIdentifying Focus of evaluationChoosing methodologiesAdapting sample tools to suit our school context

Mar 2012

Collecting the informationStudents,Teachers,Parents(Board of Management – Dec)

May-Dec 2012

Collating, analysing and interpreting the information gathered by MAC

Sept-Dec 2012

Summary Report of findings to staff

Identification of Priorities by staff upon shared discussion(results to MAC)

Dec 2012

Choosing Priorities for ImprovementStaff groups of 4.Each group:one area for improvement from each section on the summary of data collected

Step 2 Drawing Conclusions Choosing Priorities

Choosing Priorities

Steps 3 & 4 Drawing Conclusions & Writing The Report

A summary of the self-evaluation report

listing the strengths of the school and

the priorities that the school has set for development will be needed for communication to the wider school community.

It will enable the school leadership and management to report to parents on the operation of the school as required under Section 20 of the Education Act, 1998.

(Page 15, Guidelines for Post Primary Schools)

Writing the School Evaluation Report Choosing priority and actions

Jan – Mar 2013

SALT – agreed actions & targets for subject departments (for Sept 2013)

Mar/Apr 2013

MAC - School Improvement PlanHeads of Department – subject areas

Apr/May 2013

Step 5 Choosing Actions & Targets

Using the evaluation criteria provided by the Guidelines

Choose specific actions and targets to improve priority area identified

Learning to Learn – Independent LearningLearning Skills to Improve: Managing Myself Well Being Communication Critical & Creative

Thinking Working with Others Summarising Presenting Work to

Others etc.

Techniques Strategies(evaluation criteria)

Study Skills Note takingAcroynmsKeywordsSelf testingQuestion practice etc.Student reflection

Study groups Revision, active learning support, reflectiveAcademic monitoring Mentors, Assessment

Student reflectionProject work Research for learning

Summary skillsReporting skills and content learnedPresentation skillsStudent reflection

Use of ICT ICT skillsResearch for learningSummaryNotetakingPresentationStudent reflection

Mind maps Revision, summarySelf Management modules

SPHE module, study plan, study skills,Time management etc.

AFL Questioning skillsHomeworkAssessmentReportingStudent reflection

Summary skills Note checkingDual notesQ & A PairsBrainstormingOpen QuestionsFocused ListeningOne Final Question!2 minute papersStudent reflection

Project work Research for learningSummary skillsReporting skills and content learnedPresentation skillsStudent reflection

42

Current Continual Assessment PolicySubject Department Project style work already in

useHome Economics Practical Coursework for FYAMetalwork Module practical/project work

FYAFrench Oral Work practical part of FYA

soonWoodwork Module practical/project work

FYAArt Practical work assessed FYAMusicHistoryGeography Research Projects for FYA last

yearCSPE Action Report on module for FYA

3Religion Research/Action report Booklet

FYABusiness Planning to useScience Experiment & Mini Coursework

Report English Book Report and Presentation

MAC proposeLearning to LearnEnable students to: ‘’Reflect on their own

learning syles and approaches to learning’’

by Engaging with project

work & action reporting as part of their Continuous Assessment

Using Diary as Reflective Learning Tool, student comments

Reflective Diary

SSE PROPOSAL From September 2013

Actions Student Reflective Diary

Student Comment Box

Project Work/Action reporting

Subject sectionsStudent responsibilityGrade and comment

On student class tests + learning reflection space

FYA3Agreed Instruction Manual subject deptAgreed Assessment Template e.g. CSPE, Sci, Metal etc.

Persons Responsible Subject teachersSubject departments

Timeframe Annual review

Success Criteria/Targets(Measurable Outcomes)

5% increase in average attainment levels between FYA3 and SYA 3

SALT & MAC agree

Apr/May 2013

presentImprovement Targets to subject departments

for Sept 2013

47

MAC - Summary of Whole School Actions1. May 2013 - School Improvement Plan Approved-

BOM, Head of Department meet – MAC present plan 2. Sept 2013 –departments plan for ‘independent

learning’ initiative and project work assessment 3. Dec 2013 – Staff Day - focus on Independent

Learning Strategies, Project Work, Reporting4. Mar 2014 - FYA 35. Mar 2015 - SYA 3 comparison, results improvement

monitored, challenges addressed ongoing basis via SALT

6. MAC review annually, and end of 3 year cycle7. Restart Action Research Cycle of Evaluation year 3,

2016

48

MAC Choose themes and tools for(Learner Experiences & Teaching Approaches)

Gather Information(Students, Parents,

Teachers, BOM)

Collate & Analyse Data

Write Report based upon

evidence using quality

statementsReport to

Board of

Management

Write Improveme

nt Plan actions,

targets,,

responsibilities,

criteria,

timeline

MAC present3 year Improvement Plan to BOM and staff

ImplementMonitor & Review (Annually by MAC)

Identify Strengths & Areas for

Improvement

Identify

Improvement

Priority for T & L

MAC &

SALTAgre

e Actions & Targets with Subject

Departments

Analyse Attainment Data

Present Attainment Analysis to whole staff

Subject Departments

use analysis to further

Improvement Planning

Stage 1Gather Evidence

(Mar 2012)

Stage 2Analyse Evidence(May - Dec 2012)

Stage 3Draw Conclusions

(Jan 2013)

Stage 4SSE Report

(Feb2013)

49

SALT gather Information N & L research

First Year Standardised

TestsCollate &

Analyse DataSALT Report

based upon

evidence & feedback

from subject

departments

SALT Presentation of Agreed Actions

& Targets

to staff & B.O.M

SALT write

Improvement Plan

actions,

targets,,

responsibiliti

es, criteria

, timelin

e

MAC present3 year I

mprovement Plan to Board of Management

ImplementMonit

orRevie

w (Annually by

MAC)

Subject Coordinators

given Presentation

Identifying Strengths &

Areas for Improvement

SALT identify

Improvement Actions

& Targets for

N & L

MAC & SALT agree

Actions &

Targets with

Subject Departm

ents

SALT liase with

Subject

Department

s re:

resources & challenges

Stage 1(Dec 2011)

Stage 2(Jan - May 2012)

Stage 3(May 2012)

Stage 4(June 2012)

Stage 5(Sept 2012)

Stage 6 (Apr 2013)

Stage 6(May2013 onwards)

Thank You for your Attention Any Questions?

AGuinan@meathvec.ie DMaye@meathvec.ie

For Discussion....... Preparation of tests Quality of words and definitions Student Response Special Centre Students Supports to assist students to learn keywords SMART – definition of our target

Maths 31% achieved 60% or less69% achieved above 60%

Blank 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

20 0

6 7

15

28

45

34

23

19

2

Maths Keywords