Forms of Monitoring .................................................................................................................................................................. 3
4.
Roles and Responsibilities .......................................................................................................................................................... 4
5.
4.1.
Leadership Team ............................................................................................................................................................... 4
The Governing Body .......................................................................................................................................................... 4
Evaluating and reviewing this policy .......................................................................................................................................... 4
Appendix I - Selection of Activities each term .................................................................................................................................... 5 Appendix II - Ungraded Lesson Observation Form ............................................................................................................................. 6 Appendix III - Castlebar Learning walk ................................................................................................................................................ 7 Appendix IV – Environmental Checklist .............................................................................................................................................. 8 Appendix V - Book Scrutiny ................................................................................................................................................................. 9
1. Introduction At Castlebar School we are committed to raising standards, establishing high expectations, and promoting effective teaching and learning in order that every child reaches their full potential. Fundamental to achieving this aim is having effective procedures for self-evaluation that involve all stakeholders.
Monitoring is the means by which we gather information. We do this systematically across a range of activities within our school. We believe that effective monitoring:
Promotes excellent learning and teaching throughout the school Ensures excellent planning and delivery of the curriculum Identifies the strengths and needs for professional development Offers an opportunity to celebrate progress and success Provides information to support self-evaluation Ensures consistency throughout the school Ensures that every child is making good progress and is appropriately challenged and supported to reach their full potential
Evaluation is the judgment on the effectiveness of actions taken, based on their impact on the quality of children’s learning. Continued monitoring and evaluation gives a clear picture of how the School is meeting the needs of pupils in all curriculum areas and the strategies needed to support pupils at different levels. The use of the MDT Provision Map ensures all pupils receive the appropriate support to develop in the three key areas identified in the School Improvement Plan- communication, socialization and independence. The quality assurance of Teaching & Learning, Planning and Pupils’ work/assessments enables Head Teacher, Leadership Team, Middle Leaders and teachers to consider teaching and intervention strategies and further identify training needs.
2. Framework At Castlebar School quality assurance is part of a planned process and involves a range of different people over the course of a school year. We follow a planned cycle of school self-evaluation ensuring all aspects of the school’s performance are systematically and regularly reviewed. Monitoring and evaluation is in place and is highlighted on the yearly planner for all staff.
3. Forms of Monitoring External
Internal / Other
Ofsted LA Link Officer Challenge Partnership Review School to school review Lesson observation Observation of interventions Scrutiny of children’s work Monitoring planning Talking to children staff and parents Monitoring pupil performance data including pupil groups Monitoring the use of funding and grants Appraisal for all staff Questionnaires Monitoring use of resources Environmental Checklist NQT Induction and observations
4. Roles and Responsibilities 4.1. Leadership Team The Head Teacher /Deputy have the overall responsibility for quality assuring the work of the school and reporting to the Governing Body. It is the responsibility of the Leadership Team to: Ensure that all staff and Governors understand that the purpose of quality assurance to enable Castlebar School to develop and improve Identify areas that need to be quality assured Delegate quality assurance activities to the appropriate personnel with clarity of expectations and outcomes to be achieved Carry out quality assurance activities which cannot be delegated and are the responsibility of the Leadership Team (e.g. Appraisal , budget monitoring) Ensure that the data generated for quality assurance is collated, analysed and is used to review progress, recognise achievement and inform future planning Report to the appropriate audience, including the Governing Body, on what the data is showing and how the information can be used to the best advantage Ensure that pupil performance data is collected, analysed and used to inform target setting
4.2. Assistant Headteachers Assistant Head teachers have responsibility for monitoring and evaluating the strategic direction and development for their teams. Certain aspects of their monitoring responsibilities are delegated to the TLR Cluster Leaders. It is the responsibility of the Assistant Heads: Secure and sustain effective teaching and learning, evaluating the consistency of teaching across the team by ensuring team members understand that the purpose of quality assurance is about recognising achievements and areas for development Set targets for improvement through sampling and monitoring of outcomes through observation, work scrutiny and talking to pupils Carry out quality assurance activities which are delegated to them as part of their roles and responsibilities
4.3. Middle Leaders (TLRs) The Middle Leaders will have overall responsibility for monitoring and evaluating the strategic direction and development of their subject areas or areas for development. Certain aspects of the Middle Leaders monitoring responsibilities are delegated to the class teachers. It is the responsibility of the Middle Leaders to: Provide strategic direction and development for their area of learning ensuring team members understand that the purpose of monitoring and evaluation is about recognising achievements and areas for development Set targets for improvement through sampling and monitoring of outcomes through observation, work scrutiny and talking to pupils Carry out quality assurance activities which are delegated to them as part of their roles and responsibilities
4.4. The Governing Body The Governing Body has a responsibility to support and reinforce the purpose of quality assurance by: Agreeing, in consultation with the Head Teacher, areas to be monitored and evaluated Recognising achievements and areas for development Establishing realistic targets for continuous improvement and school development Informing parents about the school’s progress and performance To support Governors in fulfilling this role they will make formal visits to the school to observe initiatives and evaluate their impact. The Leadership Team will report on their quality assurance activities to the Governing body through the committees and whole Governing Body meetings.
5. Evaluating and reviewing this policy The policy will be reviewed every two years to update the information and revise the schedules. Castlebar School RATIFIED BY THE GOVERNING BODY ON:
