Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 December 2013
239. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way a whole school evaluation could have been carried out at a school (details supplied) in County Sligo without reference to the pupil or parents of the pupil who has been taught at home for nearly four years because of unresolved difficulties between the school principal or management and the pupil. [54213/13]
View answerSince the Whole School Evaluation (WSE) process is designed to evaluate key aspects of the work of the school and to promote school improvement, the inspection team does not have a role in examining the experiences of particular students. The focus of the WSE is on the quality of teaching and learning and the quality of management and leadership. It identifies and affirms good practice in the school while providing clear recommendations for further development and improvement. The inspection team gathers its evidence from a variety of sources. These include observation of a wide range of lessons and meetings with members of the board of management, parents' representatives, a group of students including representatives of the student council, the principal and various staff members. Documentation submitted by the school is also reviewed.
In addition to meetings with representatives of the parents and students, detailed questionnaires are issued to a significant sample of parents and students in all whole-school evaluations. These enable parents and students communicate their views on certain aspects of the school's provision to the inspection team. This important information is taken into account in preparing the findings and the recommendations which are fed back to the school and published on the Department's website in the inspection report.
