Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 816: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, having regard to the whole school evaluation process, she will outline the procedures being followed by her Department, to pursue issues of serious concern which are identified by her inspectorate in the course of a school evaluation, where such issues relate to the role of the board of management, or where they fall within the remit of her Department itself; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20967/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Under the requirements of the Education Act 1998 each recognised school is required "to establish and maintain systems whereby the efficiency and effectiveness of its operations can be assessed." A range of supports is available to schools to assist them in undertaking self-evaluation and improvement of their work.

External evaluation by the Inspectorate can also help to enhance the quality of the learning experience for students when the school uses the outcomes of whole-school and other evaluations to complement its self-evaluation process. Responsibility for the implementation of recommendations and improvements rests mainly with the board of management and the principal and staff of the school.

The patron of the school also has a responsibility to ensure that effective action is taken. Following the in-school evaluation phase of WSE, the evaluation team discusses the findings and recommendations of the WSE at meetings with the board of management, principal and staff of the school. The inspectors from my Department use these opportunities to draw the attention of staff and school management to issues that require improvement, including any issues of serious concern if such have been identified. The inspectors also provide practical advice on how improvements can be achieved. Prior to the publication of the WSE report on the website of my Department, the board of management of the school has an opportunity to respond to the findings of the evaluation. In the standard School Response form, the board is encouraged to show how it intends to address the issues raised in the report.

Many boards use this opportunity to record how their schools will implement changes. In the vast majority of cases, the post-evaluation meetings and the written report are sufficient to ensure that improvement takes place. A copy of the report is also sent to the patron of the school for his/her attention.

If the whole-school evaluation shows that there is a serious issue of concern in the school, the Department ensures that this matter is brought to the attention of the board of management and the patron of the school for appropriate action. In exceptional cases, the Education Act provides that the patron of the school may dissolve the board of management at the request of the Minister, if the Minister is satisfied that the functions of the board are not being discharged effectively or that the board is neglecting to comply with an order or regulation made under the Act.