EXTRACT FROM DES INSPECTION TEMPLATE FOR USE IN WORKSHOPS

Name of DES inspector______-

3.HOW WELL DO LEARNERS ACHIEVE?
QI 6 Learners’ Understanding & attainment
DATA
•Attainment in PLE and internal examinations in relation to school context
•% attainment in literacy & numeracy in P7 (CPT 1)
•Extent of improvement in attainment over time (eg over last 3 years), taking into account increases in school enrolment
•Gender differences
OBSERVATION
•Progress of learners at all stages in their class work and assessments (from class observation & teachers’ records)
•Progress of those with special needs, learning difficulties, challenging family circumstances and the most able.
•Take account of BRMS 5, Achievement and involvement of learners in co-curricular activities
PROVIDE EVIDENCE BASED ON THE FEATURES ABOVE WHICH SUPPORT THE QI JUDGEMENT YOU GIVE AT THE END OF THIS REPORT
5. HOW WELL DO PUPILS LEARN?
QI 3 Quality of the teaching and learning process
  • Purpose of lessons obvious to pupils, lesson well developed and concluded appropriately
  • Range of teaching methods & resources used (use of teaching aids, local environment, other pupils & school building)
  • Teaching approaches (giving examples, explanations, checking pupils’ understanding)
  • Practical application of learning (opportunities for pupils to think for themselves, engage in real-life activities and take responsibility for aspects of their learning)
  • Quality of interaction between teachers & learners (involvement of all pupils, listening to pupils, use of praise)
  • Effective questioning (participation of all pupils, open/closed, interaction, asking pupils to explain or expand on answers)
  • Pace of learning & use of time (timely start, efficient use of time, amount of learning achieved by all pupils)
  • Learners’ behaviour and quality of relationships (how interested on task, bored, attentive, whether they understand)
  • The extent to which pupils’ individual learning needs are met (differentiation of tasks, grouping of pupils)

PROVIDE EVIDENCE BASED ON THE FEATURES ABOVE WHICH SUPPORT THE QI JUDGEMENT YOU GIVE AT THE END OF THIS REPORT.
QI 4 Assessment and record keeping
Extent to which a range of assessment methods are used to evaluate effectively too evaluate the outcomes of teaching and learning
•Range of knowledge, skills and attitudes evaluated
•How well matched to criteria in national curriculum guidelines
•Clarity of feedback to learners on their progress
•Integration of assessment into the learning process
•Communication of assessment results to parents
•Record keeping of assessment

10.EXAMPLE/S OF GOOD PRACTICE

Is there any practice which is exemplary and for which the school could be used as a role model for other schools? Describe the specific strengths.

10. OBSERVATIONS/ISSUES (including strengths and areas for improvement)

11. SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS / RESPONSIBLE PERSON / TIMEFRAME

12. ANY OTHER RELEVANT ISSUES

Inspectors use the following scale when they evaluate the quality of education which schools provide.

Evaluation / Meaning / Explanation
Very good / Major strengths / Overall strengths, with few weaknesses, if any. Learners’ experiences and achievements are of a very high quality.
Good / Strengths outweigh weaknesses / Some important strengths. However, learners’ experiences and achievements could be better in some respects.
Fair / Significant areas for improvement / Some strengths, but also important weaknesses. These weaknesses have a negative effect on learners’ experiences and achievements.
Poor / Major weaknesses / Very serious weaknesses. Improving learners’ experiences and achievements is an urgent priority.

Evaluations:

Quality indicator / Evaluation
QI3 Quality of the Teaching and Learning Process
QI 4 Assessment and record-keeping
QI 6 Learners’ Understanding and Attainment

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