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Gnáthamharc

School Evaluation.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 November 2005

Tuesday, 8 November 2005

Ceisteanna (36)

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

131 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Education and Science the position with regard to the release of information regarding the way in which schools operate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32694/05]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I have decided to provide more information, for parents in particular, about our schools in a way that ensures a fair and comprehensive picture of all the different activities in a school.

As I have said on many occasions, I am strongly opposed to the publication of crude league tables based solely on examination or test results. Such tables provide an unbalanced and grossly limited indication of a school's performance.

In contrast to school league tables, I believe that school inspection reports from whole school evaluations, WSE, and other inspections can provide balanced and well informed information on schools. The whole school evaluation process involves not only a full examination of all the varied activities of a school — from teaching standards to the availability of extra-curricular activities, the ethos of the school and the implementation of policies in areas such as bullying and health and safety — but consultation with parents, staff members and students.

These inspection reports can therefore provide valuable information on the educational and social opportunities provided by a school. The comments that they contain are also fully sensitive to the context in which the school operates in a way which is not possible with league tables.

Given the breadth of the contents of whole school evaluation reports, I believe that the publication of these and other school inspection reports could go a significant way to addressing the real needs of parents, students, teachers and others for better information on schools. The type of information provided in WSE reports will help parents who need accurate and balanced information. WSE reports also contain valuable information that will be of interest to schools who may wish to learn from the experience of others.

I am determined to progress this matter in a sensible and responsible way and to ensure that the views of all the education partners are considered before the publication process is finalised. During the summer I put in place a mechanism whereby this can take place. The inspectorate of my Department has held 20 meetings with interested parties in late September and has issued draft guidelines for the publication of inspection reports to the education partners about three weeks ago. Responses to the draft guidelines are expected in mid-November and a final draft of the proposals will be submitted to me in December.

I intend that the publication of school inspection reports will commence from January 2006 for all inspections carried out from the start of the calendar year 2006.

I am confident that the considered and responsible approach that we are taking to the publication of inspection reports will lead to much greater availability of information on schools without inadvertently pitting schools serving entirely different communities against each other in crude comparisons of academic performance alone. I believe that this process will also encourage schools to provide extra information of value to parents.

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