Inspection 2012

1. Inspection 2012 S48 Diocesan Inspection DIOCESAN EDUCATION SERVICE

2. Agenda • The changes in the 2012 Framework • Implications for governors • What we have found so far through the new inspection process DIOCESAN EDUCATION SERVICE

3. 2012 changes: why? • Reports tell us little about what constitutes good or better quality of Catholic life/RE, • Inspections of individual schools increasingly repetitive – good schools 3 years ago are generally good schools now: reports read the same • Self-evaluation now strong in many schools – we need to reflect this in the way we inspect • As self evaluation is now strong, inspection often reduced to telling the school what it already knows; rarely any surprises as there were in 1990s DIOCESAN EDUCATION SERVICE

4. What change? Ofsted: two forms of inspection – • inspection of standards and quality which tell us about individual schools • Surveys of themes or subjects which tell us about standards & quality and about successful and unsuccessful practice across a range of schools s48 inspection 2012 in the diocese will seek to blend the two forms of inspection used by Ofsted DIOCESAN EDUCATION SERVICE

5. Framework 2012 Looks and is significantly similar to 2009 framework – 3 main areas DIOCESAN EDUCATION SERVICE

6. The new inspection process DIOCESAN EDUCATION SERVICE

7. Two parts to inspection • Inspection – effectiveness of the school judged by validation of the school’s self evaluation • Survey – gathering of thematic and subject evidence DIOCESAN EDUCATION SERVICE

8. Judgements • Inspectors will not directly make judgements about the school, about the quality of RE and Catholic life • They will seek to validate the school’s judgements about itself • This will be by • evaluating the SSE (SEF) • Testing aspects of it in school through observations, interviews, work scrutiny DIOCESAN EDUCATION SERVICE

9. Reporting Report will be written with two sections • Quality of the school self evaluation • Judgements about the rest of the required elements in the framework in conformity with the school’s own judgements if the self evaluation is judged to be reliable DIOCESAN EDUCATION SERVICE

10. Reports • The report arising from this kind of inspection is necessarily technical • Intended for schools not parents Therefore: • Inspectors will write a letter for parents in addition • If parents want the full report they can request it from the school DIOCESAN EDUCATION SERVICE

11. Survey Different aspects of RE and Catholic life each half term – e.g. aspects of teaching and learning in RE or good practice in worship At the end of each year evidence gathered from the surveys will be published for schools. This document should provide information about good practice in schools in respect of aspects of religious education and Catholic life. DIOCESAN EDUCATION SERVICE

12. Implications for governors Inspectors will have a very short time available for talking to governors – meeting needs to be focused: • How are governors fulfilling their canonical responsibilities for RE and Catholic life – in current climate, defence of Catholic education? • Governors’ role in school self evaluation: • Knowledge of strengths and needs of Catholic life • Knowledge of quality and outcomes from RE • How do Governors know – responsibility for oversight and approval of SSE • Need for complete openness in self evaluation DIOCESAN EDUCATION SERVICE

13. Findings from first term of inspections • So far 20 primary and 6 secondary schools inspected using new process • All schools but one have provided a self evaluation document (SSE): all read and annotated centrally for the inspectors • All SSEs have been found to make broadly reliable judgements about the school’s work; the very large majority are good or better in relation to Catholic life and RE DIOCESAN EDUCATION SERVICE

14. How practice of self evaluation might improve • Most SSEs produced carefully, but some showing signs of haste – especially where there is a new head who has not been left any documentation • Best practice is collaboration between senior team and RE subject leader in producing SSE with involvement of governors: • A few schools leave all to RE subject leader and HT does not take responsibility for Catholic life • Some governors not familiar with SSE • Schools doing a lot of self evaluation – very encouraging. Purpose of the inspections now is to help with improvement DIOCESAN EDUCATION SERVICE

15. Some areas for improvement • Make clear distinction between Catholic life and RE • Consider how to monitor and evaluate Catholic life formally (audits, focussed meetings, pupil voice, interviews) • Monitor quality of worship not merely that it happens • Distinguish between pupil outcomes and response on the one hand and provision on the other • Consider the criteria for evaluating quality • Clearly identify process of monitoring and evaluation • Identify how monitoring and evaluation contribute to effective improvement planning Use the guidance in the SSE and the inspection framework DIOCESAN EDUCATION SERVICE

16. Evaluating Catholic life • A whole school issue for which HT and Governors are responsible • It involves all staff and all subjects • It is not just about worship and RE • It is about mission, communion, spiritual, moral and vocational development • It is about developing the virtues and Catholic values See the guidance materials on the DES website – more currently being developed DIOCESAN EDUCATION SERVICE

17. DES website – www.bdes.org.uk DIOCESAN EDUCATION SERVICE