Community Services : Education The Inspection of the Education Functions of Local Authorities Briefing Notes March 2004 Ma March
Briefing Notes The Briefing Notes Page The Briefing Notes include: � An introduction to the inspection process. 2 � The organisation of the inspection. 2-3 � The basis for the inspection evaluations. 3 � The structure of the inspection report. 3 � Frequently asked questions about inspections. 4-6 � Appendix A – The Framework of Quality and Standards 7 � The five key areas inspected: 8-10 Key Area 1: Strategic Management Key Area 2: Consultation and Communication Key Area 3: Operational Management Key Area 4: Resources and Financial Management Key Area 5: Measuring, Monitoring and Evaluating Performance 1
Introduction As part of their responsibilities arising from the Standards in Scotland’s Schools Etc Act 2000, HM Inspectors of Education will undertake an inspection of Community Services: Education in Argyll and Bute Council. In this inspection HMI will be working in a team made up of: � An HMI with overall responsibility for the inspection (The Managing Inspector). � The District Inspector who is currently the main link between Community Services: Education in Argyll and Bute Council and HM Inspectorate of Education (Marjory Robertson, HMI). � Up to four HMIE Inspectors. � A representative of Audit Scotland. � An Associate Assessor who is a senior education officer from another council. There will be up to eight members in the inspection team for Argyll and Bute Council The Organisation of the Inspection The inspection process takes place in four phases. During the first phase of the inspection, senior managers in Community Services: Education will provide a completed profile and self-evaluation pro-forma for the inspection team. The inspection team will send a questionnaire to all heads of establishments and school board chairpersons as part of a survey on the education functions of the authority. During the second phase of the inspection, the team will interview elected members with education responsibilities and local authority staff who are centrally employed, attend meetings, examine documents and analyse performance information. Among staff who will be interviewed are members of senior and middle management and leaders of teams or projects. Senior staff from other Council departments which work closely with Community Services: Education will also be interviewed. Members of the inspection team will meet groups of head teachers. They may attend meetings of the Strategic Policy Committee, authority staff, head teachers or school boards where these are relevant to the inspection. During the third phase, members of the team will visit a sample of schools and other establishments and talk to staff, school board chairperson or parents. The purpose of these visits will be to explore the impact of the authority’s support and challenge for improvement in the establishments. All those involved in meetings with members of the inspection team will receive guidance on topics covered in advance of any interview. The inspection team will not be evaluating the work of individual schools, establishments or school boards. 2
The final phase of the inspection will involve the inspection team following up issues raised during phases two and three with centrally-employed staff. This will be followed up by an oral report given to the Chief Executive, Director of Community Services: Education and the production of a public report. Each educational establishment in the local authority will receive a copy of the published report and the report is also posted on the HMIE website. HMI will carry out a follow-up inspection around two years after publication of the report. The Basis for the Inspection Evaluations The performance criteria which are used by the inspection team to help make their evaluations are set out in the self-evaluation guidance – “Quality Management in Education” (QMIE) published by the Scottish Executive in August 2000. This provides details of the Key Areas which will be inspected and the Quality Indicators used by the inspection team to help make their evaluations and to report the outcomes of the inspection. The document is available on www.hmie.gov.uk/publications. The Key Areas, Quality Indicators and Themes in QMIE are shown on pages 8 -10. The Structure of the Inspection Report The final published report will contain the following sections: 1. The aims, nature and scope of the inspection 2. The education service: operational context 3. Strategic management of the service* 4. Consultation and communication* 5. Operational management* 6. Financial and resource management* 7. Performance monitoring and continuous improvement* 8. Strengths of the authority 9. Main points for action * These are the Key Areas within QMIE. Feedback The Chief Executive/Director of Community Services: Education will receive an oral report of the inspection findings shortly after the inspection activities have been completed. This will provide evaluations based on the performance criteria used by the inspection team and follow the structure of the final written report. It will also give an indication of the key strengths and points for action to be identified in the report. 3
Frequently asked questions about Inspections of the Education Function of Local Authorities What are inspections of the education function of local authorities for? Local authorities have a duty to seek to improve the quality of education and raise standards. An inspection will evaluate how well schools in Argyll and Bute are being supported and challenged to improve standards of education and how well the Council’s staff and other resources achieve Best Value in helping schools. Overall, it will evaluate how well education in the area is being managed for the benefit of the community. Inspections evaluate existing performance and identify points for action where improvement is needed. What happens during an inspection? The inspection team will: � Analyse performance information. � Survey views of school boards/parents and head teachers. � Interview local authority elected members, staff and head teachers. � Examine policies, plans and accounts. � Visit schools to consider how the education authority supports them in practice. � Meet with school board chairs and other community representatives. Inspection teams will include an experienced education officer from another authority to provide an additional professional view. The inspection team will also include a member of staff from Audit Scotland, the organisation which checks that public bodies manage their finances well and achieve value for money. How does the inspection team reach its evaluation? HMI use their professional judgements, gained through wide experience of education. Evidence gathered is weighed against quality indicators which show ‘benchmarks of quality’ in the management of education in local authorities. The model used by the inspectors is presented on page 7. How are members of staff working centrally for Community Services: Education involved? The inspection team will interview staff in Community Services: Education who are centrally employed. Those likely to be interviewed include members of senior and middle management and leaders of teams or projects. Senior staff from other services which work closely with Community Services: Education will also be interviewed. Members of the inspection team may attend meetings of relevant committees or groups. 4
Guidance on topics to be covered will be available in advance of any meeting. Discussions will focus on areas such as: � The aims, policies and plans of the authority. � Communications and consultation within the authority and with educational establishments. � How the authority ensures high standards. � How the authority manages its resources. � How the authority monitors the quality of its work. How are members of staff employed in educational establishments involved? A questionnaire will be sent to all heads of establishments as part of a survey on the work of Community Services: Education. Returns will be treated in confidence. Members of the team will visit schools and other establishments and talk to staff. The inspector will spend most time during the visit with the senior management of the establishment. HMI will not be evaluating the work of staff or establishments. Guidance on topics covered will be made available in advance of any meeting with HMI. Discussion will focus on areas such as: � The aims, policies and plans of the authority. � Communication and consultation with the authority. � The support establishments receive to raise standards. How are members of the school boards involved? The views of parents and those of the wider community are important in the inspection process. A questionnaire will be sent to each school board chairperson. Returns will be treated in confidence. The inspection team will analyse the results and use them to follow-up responses to the questionnaire. The team members may also be able to meet individuals or groups. Guidance on topics to be covered will be made available in advance of any interview. Discussion will focus on areas such as: � The aims, policies and plans of the authority. � Communication and consultation with the authority. � The support provided by the education authority for schools and school boards. 5
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