Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of whole school evaluations completed at primary level to date in 2006; the projected number to be completed over the course of 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13330/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In the first three months of this year, the inspectorate of my Department has issued 62 whole school evaluation, WSE, reports on primary schools. The majority of these reports follow WSE inspections conducted towards the end of 2005.

In 2006 the inspectorate has planned to conduct a total of 273 whole school evaluations in primary and post-primary schools; 216 of these WSEs will be in primary schools.

As the Deputy will be aware, I have recently put in place arrangements for the publication of school inspection reports that arise from the general inspection programme for schools. The new provision in relation to public access to certain types of inspection reports, including WSE reports, applies to inspections commenced after 6 February 2006.

At primary level, 39 whole school evaluations from the 2006 programme of inspections were commenced before 6 February and will, therefore, be issued to the individual schools only. The new regulations will apply to 177 WSEs at primary level in 2006, and reports on all of these schools will be published on the Department's website. It is anticipated that up to 32 primary WSE reports will be published before the end of June this year.

The regulations on publication will apply to 48 post-primary WSEs in 2006 and six of these WSE reports are planned for publication before the end of June.

WSE contributes to school improvement through identifying, evaluating, affirming and supporting good practice in schools. Soon after the in-school evaluation activity of a WSE has been concluded the inspection team meets with the staff of the school and with the full board of management to present the findings and recommendations of the WSE. Approximately five weeks after the last day of inspection a written report is made available to the principal and chairperson of the school for factual verification. The finalised WSE report is issued to the school three weeks later and the school is invited to prepare a response to the report through the board of management.

The provision for a school response to the WSE report is new and I believe it provides an excellent opportunity for schools to reflect on their strengths and to identify the practical steps they will take in addressing any areas for improvement. I hope that schools will avail of this opportunity to have a school perspective included as an appendix to the published WSE report.

I am confident that the initiatives I have taken in consultation with the education partners on the publication of inspection reports will be beneficial to teachers and schools, welcomed by parents and the wider public and a valuable support in the quality assurance of our education system.