Looking at our School—LAOS School Development Planning Initiative

Outline of this Session Overview of Looking at our School 1. Structure 2. Use in SDP process Working with LAOS—example Workshop—exploring use of LAOS

Foreword – Chief Inspector  LAOS was prepared by ESRU of DES Inspectorate  To assist schools in process of internal review and self-evaluation To assist schools in fulfilling quality assurance obligations under Education Act 1998 To provide a clear framework for external evaluation by the Inspectorate  Education partners contributed to its development  School views on the guide are welcome in the interest of improving its usefulness

LAOS Towards school improvement through internal review and self-evaluation School context factors central School selects focus in the light of context factors Consistent with SDP approach….

School Improvement – SDP Process MISSION VISION AIMS REVIEWPrioritiseDESIGN Action Plans / Policies IMPLEMENTMonitor EVALUATE – self Adopt / adapt

Use of LAOS—SDP Stages Review – provides relevant pointers for broad / general review to select priorities specific / focused review of selected priority Design – guides Selection of relevant targets re selected priority development of success criteria for action plans / policy statements Evaluation – acts as prompt for questions to test “real against the ideal”

LAOS - Overview 5 AREAS ASPECTS of each area COMPONENTS of each aspect THEMES of each component for review / self-evaluation

LAOS Structure  5 broad AREAS of operation in a school 1.Quality of School Management 2.Quality of School Planning 3.Quality of Curriculum Provision 4.Quality of Learning and Teaching in subjects 5.Quality of Support for Students  Each Area subdivided into ASPECTS  Further broken down into COMPONENTS  For each Component, a number of THEMES are identified as a basis for evaluation

LAOS Structure THEMES relating to COMPONENTS of each ASPECT within each AREA of operation

LAOS Structure - Area 2 (Including selected theme headings) AreaAspectsComponentsThemes School Planning The School Plan Planning Progress Collaboration Prioritization Process Content of the School Plan Vision Policy Roles Implementation of the School Plan Implementation and Impact of the School Plan Action Plans Communication Targets Monitoring and Evaluation – Leading to Review Systems Consultation Development

SDPI Materials and LAOS SDPI Review Areas 1.Mission, Vision, Aims 2.Context Factors 3.Curriculum (including Learning & Teaching) 4.Care & Management of Pupils 5.Staff Organisation and Development 6.School-Home- Community Links 7.School Management & Administration LAOS Areas 1. School Management 2. School Planning 3. Curriculum Provision 4. Learning & Teaching 5. Support for Students Context factors to be taken into account

SDPI Materials and School Self-Evaluation (SSE) The Blue Book The Planning Cycle The Planning Cycle, pp Review: Purpose, Areas, Instruments, Outcome Design: Action Planning Implementation: Support, Monitoring Evaluation: Purpose, Instruments, Next Steps… Areas for Review Areas for Review, pp Seven areas, including Context Factors

SDPI Materials and SSE The Yellow Folder Approaches to Review Approaches to Review, Unit 3 Preliminary Guidelines Models Worksheets Approaches to Evaluation, Unit 5 Approaches to Evaluation, Unit 5 Preliminary Steps in Self-Evaluation Criteria and Evidence Self-Evaluation Tools

school management 1. school management school planning 2. school planning curriculum provision 3. curriculum provision learning and teaching in subjects 4. learning and teaching in subjects support for students 5. support for students Working with LAOS - Example Areas

Learning and Teaching in Subjects Aspects: A. Planning and preparation B. Teaching and learning C. Assessment and achievement Area 4

Assessment and Achievement Components: i. Assessment modes and outcomes ii. Record-keeping and reporting iii. Student engagement in subject iv. Overall student achievement in subject Area 4, Aspect C

Record-keeping and reporting Themes: (page 27) I. I.Recording & ease of use II. II.Monitoring student progress & sharing records III. III.Students with special educational needs IV. IV.Written reports to parents V. V.Parental response to reports Area 4, Aspect C, Component ii

Record-keeping and reporting: Themes I. Recording & ease of use How does the school record results? (What, when, where?) How accessible is information on results? How user friendly is this information? Other considerations…? Area 4, Aspect C, Component ii How well are we doing re this theme? Evidence??

Record-keeping and reporting: Themes II. Monitoring student progress & sharing records How is student progress monitored? What aspects of student progress are monitored? To what extent are progress reports shared with other professionals? With whom are progress reports shared? Other considerations…? Area 4, Aspect C, Component ii How well are we doing re this theme? Evidence??

Record-keeping and reporting: Themes III. III.Students with special educational needs How effective is liaison between members of the school staff in relation to the progress of students with special needs? How do we liaise with parents of special needs students? How do we liaise with other professionals? Other considerations? Area 4, Aspect C, Component ii How well are we doing re this theme? Evidence??

Record-keeping and reporting: Themes IV. IV.Written reports to parent What written reports do we provide to parents? Are the reports easily understood? Do these reports give a profile of student achievement in the subject? Is this profile of both a quantitative & qualitative nature? Other considerations? Area 4, Aspect C, Component ii How well are we doing re this theme? Evidence??

Record-keeping and reporting: Themes V. V.Parental response to reports Do we encourage parents to respond to school reports? How? How do we respond to parental responses to reports? Other considerations? Area 4, Aspect C, Component ii How well are we doing re this theme? Evidence??

School Development Planning (Using LAOS as a tool) Used selectively in SDP, LAOS may help guide: Focused review, by prompting a detailed survey within any area of school life Evidence based validation of existing practice Selection of targets for action planning in a systematic way, sensitive to the school context Relation of SDP evaluation within a planning cycle to general criteria for evaluation of the chosen area for development

Workshop In PAIRS: Select from the following shortlist of common priorities: 1. Pastoral Care 2. Extra-Curricular Opportunities 3. Disadvantage4. In-School Management Identify Components and Themes in the LAOS guide relevant to your assigned priority. Develop a set of questions that could be used for either a review or evaluation of your school policy / approach in relation to this priority. Consider how you could use the Components and Themes in Action Planning. In FOURS: Share your experiences of exploring the guide FEEDBACK: