WE CREATE A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL TOGETHER National Agency for School Evaluation Jurgita Maslauskaite, Lithuania jurgita.maslauskaite@nmva.smm.lt 2012 09 13, Porto

NATIONAL AGENCY FOR SCHOOL EVALUATION The main task is to head self evaluation of the quality of school’s activities and to organize and coordinate external evaluation of the quality of schools’ activities all over the country.

HARMONY BETWEEN SELF-EVALUATION AND EXTERNAL EVALUATION Unified system of indicators. Self-evaluation recognizes and refers to the school’s external evaluation. The aim of both evaluation systems is to evaluate and improve the quality of a school.

Framework of general school evaluation methodology (2009) 2. Teaching and learning 4. Support for students 1. School culture 3. Achievements 5. School management 22 themes 67 indicators

EXTERNAL EVALUATORS Non-staff people teachers headmasters and deputy headmasters specialist of local/ municipal and regional educational departments 233 external evaluators

SCHOOL EXTERNAL EVALUATION AS A KEY TO FIND SUCCESS Steps: External evaluation Identifying positive practice Publishing and disseminating Learning from successful practice

SHARING A SUCCESSFUL PRACTICE The book “Methodology of self- evaluation at school” (Vilnius, 2008) was written together with teachers The book contains recommendations from 33 Lithuanian schools how to do self-evaluation

Identifying a positive practice, publishing and disseminating it 20 Lithuanian schools share successful experience The teachers write about their success formulas There are 2 DVD disks with fragments of effective lessons and 2 lists with tasks for teachers (Vilnius, 2008)

LEARNING FROM SUCCESSFUL PRACTICE Folders of filmed lessons Lithuanian language. (The main focus is on the assessment of students) Religion and art. (The main focus is on the interdisciplinary links) Faith. (The main focus is how the teacher fulfils the plan of the lesson) ICT. (The main focus is on students activities individualization) English language. (The main focus is on the collaboration while learning). Every folder has DVD disk with filmed lesson, plan of lesson, list with tasks for teacher. (Vilnius, 2009) Biology and Chemistry History Art Mathematics Physical 2012: 11. Geography 12. Technology 13. Primary education

WE CREATE SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL TOGETHER FILM ‘FIND SUCCESS’ (Vilnius, 2010) The film contains successful practice at 8 schools The key question is how management of school influences teaching, learning and students achievements We also involved parents and asked their opinion about school management

Learning from each other and together to improve teaching and learning Folders of filmed lessons are given for each school Meetings with the local municipalities and principals. Discussions and debates about the film. We work further with the documentary (filmed lessons) during seminars and qualification improvement events. Schools and teachers also use this material for their own teaching and learning development Schools as partners

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Additional information

NATIONAL AGENCY FOR SCHOOL EVALUATION Director Deputy Director Self-Evaluation of School (Internal Audit) (3 people) Training and Accreditation of External Evaluators (2+3 people) External evaluation of School (External Audit) (3 people) Policy analysis (6 people) Data analysis (1,5 person) Accountant Assistant ICT specialist Cleaner Selection and Training of School Heads (3 people)

GOALS OF THE INSTITUTION To do quality evaluation of activities of schools of general education. To provide schools and school founders with methodological assistance and recommendations for improving quality of schools’ activities. To perform education monitoring: analysis, evaluation, prognosis. To work out recommendation for education managers. To organize and implement activities involved in school heads selection and qualification development. To coordinate Eurydice information network.

TASKS OF THE INSTITUTION To head self-evaluation of the quality of schools’ activities and to organize and coordinate external evaluation of the quality of schools’ activities all over the country. To select External evaluators, to organize their training and testing. To provide data for monitoring of education. To analyse state of education. To produce education state surveys.

THE AIM OF EXTERNAL EVALUATION To establish a climate aimed at school improvement and not at accusation.

THE CATEGORIES OF EXTERNAL EVALUATORS An evaluator (minimum category) A mentor of candidates for external evaluation (medium category) A team leader of external evaluators (the highest category) Each category is given for a three-year period.

AGREEMENTS 70 days before evaluation; Survey of pupils and their parents opinion about their schools; First visit; 3-5 days; 3-9 evaluators; not less than 75 % of working time in school evaluators observe teaching and learning +3 -2; +10 -5; Final Report

SCHOOL EXTERNAL EVALUATION AS A KEY TO FIND SUCCESS After external evaluation: schools ask feedback we work together not only with schools but also with municipalities the data of evaluated school is analysed strategic plans are written

PUBLISHING Agency publishes articles, information publications, other editions which highlight our activities, good experience of evaluated schools (for eg.: the survey of pupils and their parents opinion about: the school atmosphere, relations, emotional and physical stability; what lesson does the pupil see; social dialogue in the education) Annual report – based on data of the quality of evaluated schools performance with the particular subject (for eg. support for students; school management).

EVALUATION LANDMARKS It is neither the quality control nor search for the guilty. Individuals are not criticised. Personnel is not punished. People are not humiliated.

THE CRITERION FOR EXTERNAL EVALUATION SUCCESS Has it helped the school to improve the services provided to the children?

The quality is not possible to make without self evaluation and changes in management culture