Improvementfocused inspection New inspection models designed for a selfimproving school system

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Improvement-focused inspectionNew inspection
models designed for a self-improving school
system

• Bill Maxwell
• Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales

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4 key ingredients of an effective national
quality improvement system

• high quality performance data - national
  benchmarking data on key inputs outcomes
• broader framework of national quality indicators
  - with support for use in self-evaluation
• a professional workforce of reflective
  practitioners
• robust external evaluation and review
• EC-funded
  Effective School Self-Evaluation project, SICI
  2003

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School improvement structure
Welsh Assembly Government Sets national ChYP
planning structure (CYPPs) 7 themes Establishes
national set of performance indicators and data
sets Sets national level targets through A
learning nation Monitors LA performance on
indicators annually
Local Authorities (x 22) Lead devpt and
publication of CYPPs for their area with local
targets Work in partnerships and consortia to
secure delivery Monitor quality and performance
of their schools/services and negotiate their
improvement plans with them Report annually to
WAG and to public on progress on CYP/KPIs

Schools (x c.1,800) Publish annually updated
school self-evaluation (using national indicator
set from new CIF) and school improvement plan
Report on both of the above to LA and
governors Undertake further targeted improvement
work in key areas Using developmental tools
selected from the national toolkit
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Estyns core purpose
Providing public accountability delivering
robust, independent and public evaluations at
provider and system level
Informing national policy drawing on our
unique nationwide, first-hand knowledge and
experience of practice
To improve the quality of outcomes for learners
in Wales through
Promoting improved practice amongst
providers through identifying weaknesses,
spreading best practice and promoting enhanced
capacity for self-improvement amongst providers
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The common inspection (or self-evaluation)
framework
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Inspection overall judgements
excellent
adequate
unsatisfactory
good
prospects for improvement
excellent
good
adequate
unsatisfactory
current performance
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Inspection designed to promote improvement

• streamlined, proportionate approach
• more follow-up with weaker providers
• lighter engagement with effective providers
• stronger focus on using self-evaluation evidence
• more direct professional dialogue with HMI in
  individual school inspections

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Inspection designed to promote improvement

• more current, active practitioner expertise in
  inspection teams
• capacity building - peer inspectors gaining
  skills in evaluation and apply them back in their
  own schools and authorities
• more pro-active dissemination of the best
  practice that Estyn encounters, using resources
  from cyclical inspection activity

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Next steps

• piloting of new inspections from this Autumn
• finalisation of models in early 2010
• training in Summer term 2010
• publication of guidance for schools on new
  inspections and how to self-evaluate using the
  new Common Inspection Framework
• work with SEF team to provide in-depth toolkit
  building up a set of jointly-badged developmental
  audit tools on key aspects of leadership and
  management
• first new inspections start September 2010

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support and challenge

• How to ensure the ideal balance of support and
  challenge to drive improvement, involving all the
  key stakeholders at national, local, and
  individual provider level?