A1: School's context /
Key sources of evidence /
Your evidence base (word document for your use)
* IN SCHOOL ONLY / Guidance documents Hyperlink
A1.1 The context in which the school works /
- Awards, accreditations, specialist status
 - Socio-economic contextual data
 - Attainment on entry (statutory assessments; school-based assessments)
 - Profile of pupils, staff and governors (including ethnicity profile)
 - Nature and extent of pupils with special needs
 - Proportion of pupils learning English as an additional language
 - Pupil mobility
 - Significant partnerships, community services, extended provision, special units
 - School improvement/ development plan
 
A2: Outcomes: how well are pupils doing, taking account of any variation? / Key sources of evidence /
Your evidence base (word document for your use)
* IN SCHOOL ONLY / Guidance documents Hyperlink
A2.1 Pupils' attainment /
- National and Hertfordshire test data [Raise Online, Pupil Achievement Tracker, Fischer Family Trust and MIU data, Census]
 - Teacher assessment data and schooltracking information, including progress in achieving targets set in IEPs
 - School’s analysis of the attainment of different groups including that of vulnerable groups
 - Attainment as shown by test results available in school but not validated or benchmarked nationally
 - Lesson observation outcomes
 - Work scrutiny outcomes for each subject
 - The broad range of other pupil achievement including achievement through extra-curricular activities
 - Pupils’ opinions
 - Parents’ and community’s opinions
 - School Development/Improvement Plan
 - SIP Reports
 - Subject leader SEFs
 
A2.2 The quality of pupils' learning and their progress /
- Lesson observation
 - Outcomes of work scrutiny in each subject
 - Pupil opinions
 - SIP, LA and Ofsted survey visit evaluations
 - Teachers and support staff opinions
 - Parental opinions
 - Raiseonline data (CVA and VA measures)
 - FSP scores
 - School’s analysis of the progress made by different groups
 - Governing Body- monitoring/ minutes/training
 - The school improvement plan
 - Curriculum plans
 - The school race equality/diversity scheme
 - Analysis of recorded data and actions relating to incidents of bullying, racism and other oppressive behaviour
 - Exit interviews
 - Trends in results over time
 - Records of evaluation of teaching and learning
 - Performance Management programme
 
A2.3 The quality of learning for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and their progress /
- The same evidence above is used to make judgements about learning and progress of vulnerable groups
 
A2.3a The quality of learning of the school’s other vulnerable groups /
- The same evidence above is used to make judgements about learning and progress with special educational needs and/or disabilities
 
A2.4 Pupils' achievement and the extent to which they enjoy their learning /
- This judgement is made after making the judgements on attainment and learning and progress
 
A2.5 The extent to which pupils feel safe /
- Pupils’ opinions – across all groups
 - Parents’ opinions
 - Staff’s and governors’ opinions
 - Curriculum planning relating to safety issues
 - Incidents of bullying, racism and oppressive behaviour
 - Behaviour policy
 - Safety policy
 
A2.6 Pupils’ behaviour /
- Observations around the school including playtimes and assemblies
 - Lesson observation records
 - Behaviour management policy
 - Exclusion records
 - Parents’ and pupils’ opinions on the standard of behaviour
 - Targets for personal and social development (where appropriate)
 - Records of incidents of bullying, racism and oppressive behaviour
 - The use of rewards and sanctions
 
A2.7 The extent to which pupils adopt healthy lifestyles /
- Participation in ‘The Healthy Schools’ programme/ award
 - Uptake of school meals and selection of healthy food
 - Participation in physical education
 - PSHE curriculum planning
 - Extra-curricular activities – range and attendance register
 - Views of parents and carers, staff and governors
 
A2.8 The extent to which pupils contribute to the school and wider community /
- Participation in community projects
 - School Council and Class Council records
 - Mentoring/counselling records
 - Pupil survey outcomes
 - Participation on local, national or international charitable work
 - Views of parents and adults (including the local community)
 
A2.9 Pupils' attendance /
- Attendance and exclusion data (RAISEonline, LA and school)
 - Attendance data of different groups and vulnerable pupils
 
A2.10 The extent to which pupils develop workplace and other skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being /
- Attendance data
 - ICT policy
 - Opportunities to work in teams
 - Punctuality records
 - Views of parents, carers and pupils
 
A2.11 The extent of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development /
- PSHE curriculum planning
 - SMSC curriculum planning
 
- Artistic, sporting and cultural opportunities in the curriculum
 - Pupil survey
 - Record of cultural visits/visitors
 - Record of sporting activities eg participation in sports competitions
 
A3: How effective is the provision? / Key sources of evidence / Your evidence base (word document for your use)
* IN SCHOOL ONLY / Guidance documents Hyperlink
A3.1 The quality of teaching /
- Curriculum plans
 - Lesson Plans
 - Teacher assessment
 - Pupil opinions
 - Observations of teaching and learning over the past 12 months
 - Work scrutiny
 - Progress against targets on IEPs
 - Parental/Carers opinions
 - Periodic summary reports to governors on the main outcomes and actions from lesson observations and work scrutiny
 - Accessibility plan
 - Teaching and Learning/ SEN/ Inclusion policies
 - Pupil Tracking/ progress
 
A3.2 The use of assessment to support learning /
- Assessment records
 - Pupil tracking records
 - Intervention strategy/records
 - Lesson observation outcomes
 - Lesson plans (differentiation)
 - Work scrutiny (feedback/marking)
 
A3.3 The extent to which the curriculum meets pupils' needs, including, where relevant, through partnerships /
- Curriculum planning (long, medium and short-term)
 - Lesson plans
 - Collaboration with other schools and organisations
 - Pupils’ views
 
A3.4 The effectiveness of care, guidance and support /
- PSHE curriculum planning
 - Safeguarding procedures
 - Pupils’ and parents views (on information, advice and guidance)
 - Transition arrangements for pupils leaving or joining the school
 - Transition arrangements in school eg R-Y1, KS1-KS2
 - Care, guidance and support for vulnerable pupils
 - Attendance policy and targets
 - Evaluation of out of school care managed by the governing body
 
A4: How effective are leadership and management? / Key sources of evidence / Your evidence base (word document for your use)
* IN SCHOOL ONLY / Guidance documents Hyperlink
A4.1 The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement /
- The school improvement plan
 - Procedures for implementing and monitoring the school improvement plan
 - Trends in results over time
 - Targets and target setting
 - Pupil progress indicators (RAISE online)
 - Performance in tests over time (RAISEonline)
 - Tracking procedures of the learning and progress of cohorts, groups and individuals across different subjects
 - Lesson observation procedures and outcomes
 
A4.1 The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement
A4.2 The leadership and management of teaching and learning /- Lesson observations
 - Curriculum plans
 - Records of evaluation of teaching and learning
 - Teachers and support staff opinions
 - Performance Management programme
 - Exit interviews
 
A4.3 The effectiveness of the governing body in challenging and supporting the school so that weaknesses are tackled decisively and statutory responsibilities met /
- Minutes of governing body/ committee meetings
 - Head teacher’s reports to governing body
 - Governors’ monitoring policy/ procedures/ outcomes
 - Records of governor training
 - Governors procedures to ensure compliance with statutory requirements
 - Evaluation of compliance with statutory requirements
 
A4.4 The effectiveness of the school's engagement with parents and carers /
- Views of all parents/carers, including those for whom English is an additional language, as expressed in a variety of formal and informal ways including through parent questionnaires, interviews, feedback on reports, letters of congratulation or complaint, parents meetings.
 - Letters to parents
 - Newsletters
 - Ofsted survey of parents
 - Reporting/ consultation arrangements
 - Complaints procedure
 - Mechanisms for helping parents support their children’s learning
 
A4.5 The effectiveness of partnerships in promoting learning and well-being /
- Partnerships with other schools
 - Participation in a cluster of schools
 - Links with external services and agencies
 - Pupil opinions
 - Parental opinion
 
A4.5a The effectiveness of the school’s extended schools partnership /
- The same evidence above is used to make judgements
 
A4.5b The effectiveness of the school’s work on integrated practice /
- The same evidence above is used to make judgements
 
A4.5c The effectiveness of the school’s partnership with Children’s Centre(s) /
- Links with external services and agencies
 - Pupil opinions
 - Parental opinion
 
A4.5d The effectiveness of the school’s work with its other partners /
- Links with external services and agencies
 - Pupil opinions
 - Parental opinion
 
A4.6 The effectiveness with which the school promotes equal opportunity and tackles discrimination /
- Analysis of recorded data and actions relating to incidents of bullying, racism and other oppressive behaviour
 - Performance data of different groups of pupils including vulnerable pupils
 - Staff training records
 - The school race equality/diversity scheme
 
A4.7 The effectiveness of safeguarding procedures /
- School policies for:
 
Behaviour
Bullying
Health and Safety
Harassment and Discrimination
- Child protection procedures/ responsibilities
 - Outcomes of monitoring and evaluation of policy and practice
 - Procedures for recruitment and vetting of adults working with children
 - Training and support records for adults in safeguarding pupils
 - Communication with relevant agencies
 
A4.8 The effectiveness with which the school promotes community cohesion /
- Views of stakeholders in a variety of formal and informal ways including feeder schools, local communities, extended services, local partnerships, agencies working with the school, as expressed through surveys and interviews
 - Impact of the school’s work in the local community
 - SMSC provision
 
A4.9 The effectiveness with which the school deploys resources to achieve value for money /
- Financial monitoring information
 - Use of the school’s accommodation
 - Care of the school’s environment
 - Views of parents, carers and pupils re suitability and availability of resources
 - Deployment of staff
 - Professional development programme
 - Deployment of funding (especially for SEN)
 
A5: How effective is the Early Years Foundation Stage? / Key sources of evidence / Your evidence base (word document for your use)
* IN SCHOOL ONLY / Guidance documents Hyperlink
A5.1 Outcomes for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage /
- MIU data (Early Years Foundation Stage Profile)
 - Tracking of progress (group and individual)
 - Outcome of lesson observations
 - Lesson planning
 - EY curriculum plans
 - Opportunities for sharing and co-operating and for making choices
 - Health and Safety policy
 
- Uptake of school meals and selection of healthy food
 - Participation in physical education
 
- Views of parents and carers, staff and governors
 - Opportunities for play (indoor and outdoor)
 
A5.2 The quality of provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage /
- Outcome of observations of the quality of teaching
 
- Short, medium and long term curriculum planning
 - Teacher assessments
 - MIU data
 - Safety Policy
 - Comments from children and parents
 - Behaviour policy
 - PSHE policy
 - Audit of resources (including outdoor provision)
 - Procedures for when children are ill
 - Procedures to prevent the spread of infection
 
A5.3 The effectiveness of leadership and management of the Early Years Foundation Stage /
- Individual and group records
 - Policy on safeguarding
 - Staff (and other adults ) list with qualifications
 - Risk assessments
 - Resources audit
 - Records of Inset provided and attended
 - The EY (school) improvement plan
 - Procedures for implementing and monitoring and evaluating the EY (school) improvement plan
 - Lesson observation procedures and outcomes
 - Communications with parents
 - Policy on inclusion
 - Links with other providers and services
 - Trends in results over time
 - Tracking procedures of learning and progress of cohorts, groups and individuals across different subjects
 
A5.4 Overall effectiveness: how well does the setting/school meet the needs of children in the Early Years Foundation Stage? /
- Tracking records/ provision map
 - Short, medium and long term curriculum planning
 
- Policy on safeguarding
 - Safety Policy
 
- Partnerships – eg other schools/ LA
 - Improvements over the last three years
 - The EY (school) improvement plan
 - Procedures for implementing and monitoring and evaluating the EY (school) improvement plan
 
A6 How effective is the sixth form? / Key sources of evidence / Your evidence base (word document for your use)
* IN SCHOOL ONLY / Guidance documents Hyperlink
A6.1 Outcomes for students in the sixth form / A6.1 Outcomes for students in the sixth form
A6.2 The quality of provision in the sixth form / A6.2 The quality of provision in the sixth form
A6.2a Effectiveness of partnerships with Post 16 consortia and Strategic Area Partnership Group inpromoting learning and well-being / A6.2a Effectiveness of partnerships with Post 16 consortia and Strategic Area Partnership Group in promoting learning and well-being
A6.3 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the sixth form / A6.3 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the sixth form
A6.4 The overall effectiveness of the sixth form / A6.4 The overall effectiveness of the sixth form
A7 How effective is boarding provision? / Key sources of evidence / Your evidence base (word document for your use)
* IN SCHOOL ONLY / Guidance documents Hyperlink
A7.1 The effectiveness of the boarding provision, taking into account whether the school meets the National Minimum standards / A7.1 The effectiveness of the boarding provision, taking into account whether the school meets the National Minimum standards
A8 Summative judgements / Key sources of evidence / Your evidence base (word document for your use)
* IN SCHOOL ONLY / Guidance documents Hyperlink
A8.1 Outcomes for individuals and groups of pupils /
- Judgement based on seven prime judgements:
 - How well pupils achieve and enjoy their learning
 - The extent to which pupils feel safe
 - Pupils’ behaviour
 - The extent to which pupils adopt healthy lifestyles
 - How well pupils contribute to the school and wider society
 - How well pupils develop workplace and other skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being
 - Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development
 
A8.2 The school’s capacity for sustained improvement /
- National and Hertfordshire test data [Raise Online, Pupil Achievement Tracker, Fischer Family Trust and MIU data, Census]
 - Teacher assessment data and schooltracking information, including progress in achieving targets set in IEPs
 - School’s analysis of the attainment of different groups including that of vulnerable groups
 - School improvement plan and records of improvement since the last inspection
 - SSE procedures and outcomes
 - PMD procedures and summary of staff professional development objectives
 - Inset records
 - Planned Inset schedule
 
A8.3 Overall effectiveness: how good is the school? /
- Judgement takes account of:
 - Outcomes for individuals and groups of pupils (Section A2)
 - The quality of provision (Section A3)
 - The school’s capacity for sustained improvement (section A8.2)
 
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© Hertfordshire County Council, Standards & School Effectiveness, September 2010
