Jonathan O'Brien
Question:75. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if all schools have drawn up a five year development plan for their schools and individual teachers. [11345/14]
View answerThursday, 6 March 2014
Questions (75)
Written answers
Schools are required to engage in a process of school self-evaluation (SSE) since the launch of the SSE Guidelines. The requirements are outlined in circulars 0039/2012 (primary schools) and 0040/2012 (post-primary schools) which were published in November 2012. As part of the SSE process, schools are required to evaluate one aspect of teaching and learning and to complete their first SSE report and three-year school improvement plan by the end of the school year 2013/14. The primary purpose of the SSE process is to encourage the cultivation of a culture of self-review and improvement within schools; international experience shows that SSE is most effective at driving improvement in schools when it is internal to the school and an embedded part of school culture. Schools should seek to involve their school communities in the process and they are required to provide a short summary of the report and plan to their school community by the end of the school year 2013/14. As the deadline for producing the first SSE report and school improvement plan has not yet arrived, my Department has not sought information about compliance with the requirements.