Post-WSE: Planning the Follow-Through Pat Gilmore Principal - Dunmore Community School DCU: August 22 nd 2007

Making the most of WSE  Rejoice.. Alleluia…they’re gone!!  Great team performance – celebration  Oral Report to Principal and Deputy Principal First reaction – disappointment Misconception – Recommendations as negatives

 Oral presentation to staff –disappointment at manner of presentation  Oral presentation to BOM – opportunity to challenge findings/recommendations  Final report – circulated to BOM, Staff, Trustees, Teachers, Parent’s Council and Student’s Council  Summary of WSE report to all parents  BOM decide to publish WSE report on School Website  Tuam Herald and Galway Bay FM  Valuable PR exercise

Planning the follow-through  Report identified 19 positive findings in WSE context  Report identified 17 positive findings in the teaching and learning context  Report identified 7 recommendations for further development  Specific recommendations attached to each subject area

Post WSE -Teacher’s Questionnaire A. What did you find to be the most positive aspects of the WSE report? B. What aspects were you unhappy with? C. What aspects should be prioritised for implementation?

Responses: A. Pleased with positive findings – in particular, caring warm and friendly school (partners) Extra-curricular activities Teaching and Learning Support for students Good results Special Education Needs B. ICT recommendations in the absence of resources Special Ed Needs - IEP’s - deployment of teacher resources (GRD) C. Taster programme for First Year students Class Tutor system ICT in the classroom Communication between BOM/partners – all communication systems Formal evaluation systems

Taster Programme  Implemented  Applied to 3 option blocks (3 subs per block)  Students spend 3 weeks in each subject  A 9 week experiment

Formal Evaluation-Students  98% - enjoyed the experience  66% - made no impact on their final choice of subjects  92% - happy with their ultimate choice of subjects  100% - felt this system should be continued Reasons: great fun! Positive experience

Formal Evaluation- Teachers  Fun for students  No Commitment  3 weeks too short  Students are choosing teachers – not subjects  Time-table complications

Formal Evaluation-Parents  Taster programme made little difference  Majority remained with their first choice  Upheaval in the middle of term Overall Outcome following evaluation – 1. Continue taster programme next year 2. Draft guidelines for teachers in relation to standard experience, marking and correcting of homework etc.

Class Tutor System  Put in place in Jan. 07  Commenced with 1 st years and 2 nd years  6 teachers volunteered  A days training provided in such areas as – role of class tutor, skills needed, developing relationships with student/class, topics to explore each month, guidelines, links with staff etc  Meet with class once per week  Meet as tutor group once per month

BOM/Communications  Reports to be issued to partners after each meeting  Newsletters to parents  Weekly newsletter to staff  Student newsletter to students  Student bulletin boards  New website

ICT in the Classroom  Referred to ICT committee  5 year plan – optimistic-projection for each room 4 projection trolleys One per corridor 6 rooms have projection facilities Encourage each subject dept – develop website directory

Formal Evaluation Procedures  Most valuable recommendation –at the heart of good planning  Formal evaluation of the sanctions in the code of behaviour - limited

Responses Do you use the disciplinary points system? Yes 90% No 10% How effective is that system? Very effective 0% Effective 69% Ineffective 21% No response 10%

Responses: Contd. …. Is detention is effective? Yes 48% No 31% No Response 21% Is the ‘on report’ system effective? Yes 96% No 4% (Why? - students must take responsibility for their own behaviour) - A work in progress

Teaching and Learning  Subject reports referred to subject departments  Those not inspected advised to read the reports  Subject teachers should note positive findings  Subject departments should prioritize recommendations for implementation (template provided)

The following recommendations were progressed  Monitoring homework –dating/initials etc  Print rich classrooms  Exhibiting student’s work – long term goal –exhibition centre  Promoting gender access to subjects – work in progress  ICT in classrooms – mobile projection units  New resource/study room provided with internet access on 10 computers

School Planning  Planning committee to oversee/monitor planning  Set up task groups – specific terms of reference  Develop policies as needs arise –mobile phone policy  Evaluate/refine policies –TY task group – TY as a ‘first option’ in senior cycle-report to BOM in January ’08  SEN – Committee – priority – policy/staff training – ICEP and IEP’s

Final Observations  WSE – a significant change engine  Changing the culture of schools  Teachers are positive  The inspectorate are reasonable and follow a standard template  Should help the school develop a culture of self-evaluation  School needs to embrace the vision and goals of WSE  Successful organisations credit success with good planning/good leadership