What does the tool do?
The tool has been developed with numerous schools over a two year period. It has been designed to facilitate meaningful school leader self –evaluation. It has been used successfully to develop over 160 school leaders.
In simple terms the improvement tool brings clarity to ‘what good looks like’ and assists school leaders and those that aspire to lead schools, in meaningful, thorough, structured self-evaluation.
This leads to the identification of strengths and developmental need.
Developmental need can then be addressed through relevant professional learning and the provision of opportunities to build experience in identified areas.
The latest version of this tool is web based. This brings a number of benefits, most notably the provision of a leader’s dashboard.
The dashboard brings together the self-evaluation of all the leaders and aspiring leaders with in the school/ MAT/Cluster and facilitates analysis.
The analysis can tease out both individual and school/MAT/cluster strengths and developmental need. This in turn can lead to the sharing of good practice and the identification of professional learning experiences that address real need
The version for Wales links the Welsh Government Expectation of Formal Leadership Practice and the Estyn Inspection framework. The version of the tool is being updated to take into account the changes being introduced in 2024. The tool will be released for sale just as soon as the draft framework is finalised.
Whilst the version for England/International Schools links together the Headteacher Standards (2020), Ofsted Framework (2023) and Handbook (2024) and the professional qualifications framework for senior leadership, headship and executive leadership. (2024)
This version of the tool is currently being trialled with a MAT in England and will be released for sale later this term.
The link with inspection frameworks makes it easy for leaders to see how reflecting on their own performance and ‘growing their own’ leaders can impact positively on school improvement and inspection outcomes.
The electronic version enables the construction of a diagrammatic summary of performance. It is then up to school leaders how they use the outcomes. You may use it as a catalyst for school improvement or to use it in discussion with those responsible for performance management and personal development.
Leaders can choose to work their way through it standard by standard or they may prefer to merge it with existing school self-evaluation processes, reflecting against the relevant standard at the most appropriate time.
As the tool is linked to inspection requirements, the tool can also be used as a catalyst for school improvement and preparation for inspection.
There are other uses. It has been used help candidates prepare for headteacher interviews and to empower/motivate senior leadership teams to assist the headteacher more effectively in driving school improvement.
As the tool gives such a comprehensive overview of what good schools look like, it can be used to help Governors understand what they should be looking for when evaluating the schools they lead.
If a group of school leaders choose to share the outcomes with each other, whether that be across a MAT or a school improvement group, the tool effectively highlights areas of strength and developmental need in the group, so facilitating the sharing of excellence and the identification of training need.
What are the main features of the tool?
- Facilitates thorough self-evaluation
- Summary of performance built up in a diagram, facilitating the identification of strengths/developmental need of individual leaders and leaders across the school/MAT/cluster
- Helps school leaders see the link between their own development/performance and that of the school
- Links professional standards with inspection requirements
- Clear, concise and easy to use
What does it cost? What do schools get for their money?
Single Licence: £165 Wales Additional copies £100
£165 purchases the booklet and the ability to download the electronic tool from my website.
The download allows the tool to be installed once to one PC. Additional copies are available at a discounted rate of £100 per additional copy.
Is the tool available now?
The new web based version of the tool will be available late in the Summer Term 2024.
The version for schools in Wales is being updated to fit with Estyn’s new inspection arrangements.
The version for schools in England and international schools is currently being updated, extended and trialled within a multi academy trust in England.