Self-evaluation a 'crucial aspect' of school inspections

Self-evaluation will continue to be a crucial aspect of inspection in schools, the Chief Inspector of the Education and Training Inspectorate, Marion Matchett, has said.

Speaking just prior to the publication of the report "Inspection, Self-evaluation and Improvement in Primary and Post-Primary Schools", the Chief Inspector announced that new models of inspection, including self-evaluation, were being piloted in the 2004/2005 academic year.

The report was written in response to a recommendation made by the Northern Ireland Public Accounts Committee (NIPAC) in 2001 which advised that inspections should include assessment of the contribution that self-evaluation is making to raising educational standards.

Miss Matchett said: "The conclusion to the report indicates that incorporating an aspect of self-evaluation within inspection provides a clear focus on improving pupils’ attainments, gives the staff a degree of ownership of the inspection process, indicates how the quality of learning and teaching might be improved for the benefit of pupils and increases the confidence of staff."

Since the NIAPC made their recommendation, the Inspectorate has also published documents and materials such as ‘Together Towards Improvement’ and Interactive Digital Discs. These materials add to a wide range of guidance documents published by the Inspectorate to improve transparency in the inspection process, reduce the stress on staff, and to support schools in their efforts towards self-evaluation leading to improvement.

A copy of the full report and the self-evaluation documents are available on the Department of Education web-site, www.deni.gov.uk or from Inspection services branch at www.deni.gov.uk/inspection_services.

(MB/SP)