W: www.ie-today.co.uk


DOING, THE CHARACTER OF YOUR SCHOOL WILL SHINE THROUGH”


ABOVE LEFT: Deputy head Nina Gunson with girls from Sheffield High. ABOVE: Aerial view of Sheffield High School


4


Data management It is important to understand an institution’s


strengths and weaknesses so schools need to consider the self-evaluation form (SEF) as a ‘living’ document that is continually reviewed and updated. This will help ensure that the whole school community is working together to move it forward When the inspectors arrive at a school, they will have


already read the SEF, but this alone may not be enough to showcase all the great things that a school is doing. One of the things the staff at Sheffield High found


useful was to use the inspection grade descriptors as the criteria against which to measure the school’s performance. It is also useful to ensure that a school’s best pieces of evidence are showcased in each category too. This evidence could include folders of pupils’ work, imagery around an event held to boost children’s maths ability, pupils’ achievement data or the results of a survey of parents. Using a SIMS management information system (MIS)


can also enable a school to record a wealth of pupil data quickly and easily. Sheffield High, for example, was able to show the inspection team a lot of data and, more importantly, demonstrate how it’s been used to inform provision in the classroom. The system provides an up-to-date view of every pupil’s effort, atainment and progress data, along with any medical and special educational needs. When a teacher writes their lesson plan, this data is atached, providing valuable context. If a child with SEN responds well to text highlighted in red, for example, this is noted on the lesson plan and will be incorporated into the lesson. It is also worth a school considering how a school-


wide initiation might be rolled out so as to make beter use of any data being gathered. This can be incredibly effective in raising pupils’ atainment


and driving whole school improvement. The implementation of such an initiative at Sheffield High has resulted in a rise in A* grades at A level. Using data to inform decision making not only


ensures that interventions are effective, it also means that inspectors are not left guessing why things are done in a certain way. At Sheffield High, the inspection team was impressed by the way data is used to help identify and meet the individual needs of pupils.


5


Positive achievements The inspectors want to see the fantastic things


that happen at a school every day so the inspection is a valuable opportunity to show them what makes a school a special place for children to learn. As part of the SEF, schools are asked to identify the


top five things they would like inspectors to see during their visit. Many schools complete this part of the form at the start of the year, but others prefer to wait until they get the call. Doing this gives schools the opportunity to take a fresh approach to inspection. At Sheffield High, for example, inspectors were invited to an after-school tea and cake session with middle leaders so they could ask questions and discuss the work that’s been being done to drive change. The inspectors also had the chance to see a lunchtime house activity involving a number of year groups, which showed pupils in a different dynamic away from the classroom. Many school inspectors are also practising members


of senior leadership teams and they know what it is like to be on the other side of an inspection. When staff are positive about their school and everyone is proud to be a part of it, the inspectors will see that – and the inspection becomes an opportunity for a school to demonstrate the level of excellence that staff and pupils are achieving and to allow the whole school’s character to shine through. iE


Valerie Dunsford is headteacher and Nina Gunson is deputy head at Sheffield High School W: www.sheffieldhighschool.org.uk


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