Post-WSE: Planning the Follow-Through

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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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

7. Taster Programme • Implemented 06-07 • Applied to 3 option blocks (3 subs per block) • Students spend 3 weeks in each subject • A 9 week experiment

8. 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

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

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

11. Class Tutor System • Put in place in Jan. 07 • Commenced with 1st years and 2nd 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

12. 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

13. 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

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

15. 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%

16. 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

17. 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)

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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