Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1445: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the average length of time it takes for each primary and post-primary school to have a whole school evaluation; the average time-lag between one whole school evaluation and another whole school evaluation in terms of the primary and post-primary sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48047/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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In primary and post-primary schools, the in-school evaluation stage of WSE generally does not exceed five school days. Pre-evaluation meetings with the chief executive officer of the vocational education committee (if it is a VEC school), the trustees (if a meeting is requested with the evaluation team), the board of management, principal and deputy principal/s, representatives of the parents' association and the teaching staff generally take place during the week before the in-school evaluation phase. These meetings are normally convened on the same day. During the post-evaluation phase, meetings are held with the principal and deputy principal/s, the teaching staff, and the board of management. Again, these meetings are normally scheduled for the same day. In the course of a WSE, inspectors interact with students in classrooms and learning areas and at post-primary level a meeting is held with student council representatives. The post-evaluation phase takes a number of weeks, culminating in the issuing of the WSE report to the school principal and the board of management. Details of the WSE process are set out in 'A Guide to Whole-School Evaluation' (Primary and Post-primary versions) published by my department in 2006. The publications are available on my department's website.

In the last four years (2005 — 2008), 880 primary schools and 229 post-primary schools have been evaluated under the WSE model. While none of these schools has received a second WSE to date, I should point out that there is no specific time span set between a particular school receiving one WSE and the next. Decisions regarding the schools where WSEs are to be conducted are made by the inspectorate on an ongoing basis. While WSE is only in operation since 2004, it is possible that some schools could receive a second WSE before other schools receive their first should that be deemed desirable or necessary. As I am sure the Deputy is aware, one of the functions of the inspectorate under the Education Act is to visit schools and centres for education on the initiative of the inspectorate and WSE is only one of a range of formats employed by the inspectorate in its annual inspection programme. The balance between the various models of evaluation used within the inspection programme will vary over time depending on the needs of the system and changing quality assurance priorities. I can assure the Deputy that the inspectorate has frequent engagement with a great many schools each year through inspection visits. For example, in 2008 the inspectorate conducted a total of more than 3,500 inspections in schools and centres for education including the inspection of more than 2,600 newly qualified teachers in primary schools and 710 subject/programme inspections in post-primary schools in addition to 305 whole-school evaluations. I am satisfied that the scope of this inspection activity, in terms of coverage of schools, ensures a high level of external quality assurance of schools at both first and second levels.

Full details of the inspection reports that have been published are available on my department's website www.education.gov.ie