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Training schools in self-assessment

The self-evaluation course has been developed by a team of Her Majesty's Inspectors at the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted).

It is based on the inspection criteria used by Ofsted inspectors, and is designed to help staff develop skills in evaluating standards, the quality of teaching and the quality of leadership and management in their own schools.

Ofsted says self-evaluation by schools is not a substitute for "rigorous and periodic" independent inspections, but is designed to help bring about continual improvement within schools.

'Awareness at all times'

Chief Inspector of Schools, Chris Woodhead, said: "If schools are to maintain high standards or secure improvements, they need to monitor, evaluate and review their own performance regularly and systematically.

"While external inspection remains, in my view, an essential element in raising standards, an effective school need to have awareness of its strengths and weaknesses at all times, not just every five or six years.

"By launching the training course, therefore, Ofsted is seeking to assist the drive to improve learning, teaching and management in schools."

The course has been developed and piloted by Ofsted in partnership with three local education authorities - Lambeth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and Derbyshire. Senior staff in most of the schools in these LEAs took part.

An introduction and guide to the course is being sent to all schools in England this month by the Department for Education and Employment.

Training providers, including commercial organisations and LEAs, have to bid for a licence to run the course. The first courses are expected to start in the autumn term, after course tutors have been briefed on how to run them.

'Step in the right direction'

An Ofsted spokeswoman said: "Schools should be monitoring their own performance so that there is continual improvement, rather than just waiting for Ofsted every so often."

Taking a training course was not compulsory, but schools would be encouraged to sign up for them, she said.

A spokeswoman for the National Union of Teachers (NUT) said that self-evaluation was more useful to schools than the "snapshot" picture provided by an Ofsted inspection.

"The NUT has been calling for self-evaluation. This does not go far enough, but it is a step in the right direction, and is helpful to the profession."

Self-evaluation should be the "frontline" method of assessing schools, supported by inspections, rather than the other way round, she said.

'Light touch' inspections

It was more positive, as it meant schools could see how they were improving and achieving success.

It could also help schools avoid serious weaknesses, by allowing staff to identify potential problems earlier.

The launch of the training courses follow plans for "light touch" inspections announced by Ofsted last year.

Under the initiative, successful schools will no longer have to face the full rigours of an inspection, as not every teach or curriculum subject will be assessed.

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