Publication
School Self-Evaluation - Post-primary 2016-2022
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School self-evaluation is a collaborative, inclusive, and reflective process of internal school review. An evidence-based approach, it involves gathering information from a range of sources, and then making judgements. All of this with a view to bring about improvements in students’ learning.
The Step Up project (2018 – 2021) was a unique collaboration funded by the Department of Education School Excellence Fund, involving Junior Cycle for Teachers, the Inspectorate and 9 post-primary project schools. The goals identified for the Step Up project were to achieve higher quality learner experiences and outcomes through more effective implementation of aspects of the Framework for Junior Cycle (2015). Click here to access the website, where a variety of audio-visual materials, an inspectorate composite report, and the nine school case studies are gathered (in multimodal format) to share the learning achieved from Step Up.
Circular 0033/2021 - Arrangements for Inspectorate Engagement with Post-Primary Schools and Centres for Education 2021/2022 School Year clarifies the arrangements for SSE for the 2021/22 school year and provides information about the Inspectorate’s planned advisory, evaluation and research work in schools for the 2021/22 school year.
SSE newsletter 15 looks at how SSE can support schools at the current time in areas such as student and teacher wellbeing. It also clarifies the links between SSE and DEIS.
In 2012, all post-primary schools in Ireland were asked to commence a process of School Self-Evaluation (SSE). In the first phase schools focused on teaching and learning and the SSE process helped them to identify aspects of provision that were strengths, as well as areas that required development. The SSE process provides a way for schools to systematically plan for, implement and monitor changes and improvements in aspects of practice that they have identified as priorities.
Between 2012 and 2016, the inspectorate engaged in ongoing dialogue with the education partners and sought feedback from schools on how the process was working and how it could be further developed. In 2016 a new SSE circular and resource materials were published to support schools in the second phase of SSE from 2016 to 2020. This page contains documents and resources to support schools as they engage in the second phase of SSE. It will continue to be updated over the coming weeks and months. Select the thumbnail below to find out more about the process.
SSE resources to support schools, include video, guidelines and circulars are available here
These videos have been developed to support schools to use the SSE Process to prepare for and implement the Framework for Junior Cycle (2015).
In this video, Senior Inspector, Kate O’Carroll, explores the alignment of the SSE process with the Framework for Junior Cycle. She explores their common focuses and how the SSE processes and the framework complement each other’
In this video, Kate O’Carroll, Senior Inspector, explains how schools might use the SSE process to begin to investigate and implement the necessary changes to embed the Junior Cycle Framework (2015).
School Self-Evaluation Newsletters contain useful articles and tips relating to many aspects of SSE.