ERIC ED359605: Quality Assurance in Education: Plans, Targets and Performance Indicators. Current Issues.

19 Pages·1993·0.53 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 359 605
EA 025 019
AUTHOR
Stronach, Ian, Ed.
TITLE
Quality Assurance in Education_: Plans, Targets and
Performance Indicators. Current Issues.
INSTITUTION
Scottish Office Educatior Dept., Edinburgh. HM
Inspectors of Schools.
REPORT NO
ISBN-0-7430-0747-4
PUB DATE
93
NOTE
19p.; For a related document, see EA 025 018.
AVAILABLE FROM
HM Inspectors of Schools, Audit Unit, New St. Andrews
House, Room 4/36, Edinburgh, Scotland EH1 3TG, United
Kingdom.
PUB TYPE Viewpoints (Opinion/Position Papers, Essays, etc.)
(120)
EDRS PRICE
MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
DESCRIPTORS
*Educational Assessment; *Educational Quality;
Effective Schools Research; Elementary Secondary
Education; *Evaluation Criteria; Evaluation Methods;
*Performance; *School Effectiveness; Self Evaluation
(Groups)
IDENTIFIERS
*Scotland
ABSTRACT
Issues in ensuring educational quality are examined
in this document. Section 1 provides information for developing plans
and targets. The following areas are highlighted:
school-effectiveness research findings; developments in Scotland to
improved educational quality; internal and external evaluation of
schools; evaluation criteria; the role of the school development
plan; and strategies for school self-evaluation. The second section
examines performance indicators, with a focus on the role,
characteristics, and types of performance indicators; agencies and
organizations involved in developing performance indicators; the
indicators produced by Her Majesty's Inspectors; the critical
performance indicators; and using performance indicators to best
effect. (Contains 16 references.) (LMI)
************************************:c**********************************
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
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THE SCOTTISH OFFICE
Quality Assurance
in Education:
Plans, Targets
and
Performance
Indicators
Current Issues
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Once a Edo Caff0hal RosetocP and Impeommhfh
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION
CENTER (ERIC)
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PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS
Audit
MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
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HM Inspectors of Schools
TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)
BEST COPY AVAILABLE
ISBN Number 0 7480 0747 4
CO Crown Copyright 1993
HM Inspectors of Schools. Audit Unit
commercial purposes. or in
This paper may be produced in whole or in part. except for
and date thereof arc
connection with a prospectus or advertisement, provided that the source
stated.
INTRODUCTION
offered by Headteachers and others in the
The idea for this document arose out of comments
suggested to us that we
number of Audit Unit meetings. It was
course of discussions at a
discussion
issues covered in the keynote talks and
should pull together, in one document, the
groups.
planning,
will be of use in school development
This we have done. We hope that the document
for meetings and seminars on quality assurance.
in-service training and as a reference source
Assurance in
complement to the report on "Quality
We feel that the paper provides a useful
Education: Current Debates".*
HM Inspectors of Schools, Audit Unit
May 1993
0
0
University of Stirling, 1993
* Edited by Ian Stronach and published by
.1
CONTENTS
Page
Section 1: Plans and Targets
Do Schools Make A Difference?
1
1.0
2
Why The Concern With Issues Of Quality In Education?
2.0
2
Education?
What Are We Doing To Improve Further The Quality Of
3.0
4
How Do We Evaluate The Quality Of Education?
4.0
4
Internal Or External Evaluation Of Schools?
5.0
5
Evaluation?
What Should Be The Reference Point For Internal
6.0
5
What Is The Role Of The School Development Plan?
7.0
7
How Does A School Evaluate (Audit) Its Performance?
8.0
Section 2: Performance Indicators
8
What Should Performance Indicators Do?
9.0
8
What Forms Do Performance Indicators Take?
10.0
9
What Characteristics Should Performance Indicators Have?
11.0
9
Who Is Developing Performance Indicators?
12.0
10
What Sort Of Indicators Have Been Produced By HMI?
13.0
11
What Are The Critical Performance Indicators?
14.0
11
Using Performance Indicators To Best Effect
15.0
Section 3
13
Further Reading
16.0
I
I
SECTION 1
DO SCHOOLS MAKE A DIFFERENCE ?
1.0
The overwhelming message of HMI and research findings is that schools do indeed
1.1
make a significant difference to the attainment of their pupils.
This apparently common-sense conclusion had been questioned in the mid-1970s.
1.2
Research at that time argued that because parental background and other social factors
most important in determining attainment, the contribution of schools could
were
be regarded as relatively small and unimportant.
It is now recognised that individual schools differ widely in terms of the progress made
1.3
by children with similar backgrounds. Thus, according to Mortimore:
y than
account some schools are more r
outcomes.
This is an encouraging message for all involved in education. It stresses that schools
1.4
disadvantage and
can have a significant effect even where there is considerable
deprivation, for as pointed out by Reynolds:
is
that l
soda stns
1007
0
n
o
r 1
uerice.
fey can have aubstantiai
ve/opment if they can become
upon young
The possible magnitude of school effects was illustrated in a Scottish study by Willms
1.5
and Cuttance. After controlling for family background characteristics and pupil ability
prior to entering secondary school, they found:
cols
e
s
QS
Researchers have identified a number of different sets of features linked to school
1.6
effectiveness and these sets have much in common with each other. Hopkins identifies
literature is in agreement:
two issues in particular on which the school effectiveness
BEST COPY AVAILABLE
Two of the most
1.7
important features in the
culture of an effective
school are the
presence of high expectations
and supportive
relationships, as summed
up by
Hargreaves:
2.0
WHY THE CONCERN
WITH ISSUES OF
QUALITY IN EDUCATION
?
2.1
There is universal recognition
of the right of all pupils
in our schools to receive
a high
quality education.
2.2
The quality and
effectiveness of the education
system critically affects the
economic
well-being of the nation.
2.3
There needs to he continual
improvement in the standards
of provision and attainment
because pupils have
to be equipped to contribute
to, and participate fully in,
an
increasingly complex and
changing society.
2.4
Our future in the wider
Europe and the World
community depends
on us being able to
develop and use effectively
the human
resources available to us.
2.5
Very large sums
are expended on education. It is
necessary to ensure that there is
a
good return for this and
that schools provide value
for money.
3.0
WHAT ARE WE DOING
TO FURTHER IMPROVE
THE QUALITY OF
EDUCATION ?
3.1
National developments in
recent years have focused
on building a framework within
which high quality
education can be provided.
They have pointed towards
a quality
culture:
to promote improvement
as the central thrust of schools'
planning;
to improve institutional approaches
to achieving what has been
described as
systemic quality, that is,
quality that pervades the
institution, as distinct from
but embracing, and
more powerful than, individual quality.
Within the overall
strategy, there have been
a number of related developments
on, for
example:
the curriculum
3.2
The 5-14
programme is a major curricular
initiative clarifying learning
outcomes.
providing a structure for
continuity, coherence and
progression, and promoting
a range
of approaches to
learning. The associated
programme of national testing focuses
attention on levels of
attainment.
3.3
The Standard Grade
programme has resulted in increased
numbers of pupils gaining
qualifications. It has also
promoted a wider
range of approaches to teaching
and
- 2
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AVAILABLE
learning including, for example, the planned development of practical and problem
solving skills.
The 16-18 Action Plan greatly extended the range of appropriate courses in the upper
3.4
stages of the secondary school.
Follewing the Howie Report consultation period, further developments relating to the
3.5
consideration.
upper stages of secondary education are currently under
the quality of teaching
relevant
Planned activity and in-service training facilitates effective staff development
3.6
to local or national priorities.
Certain training courses receive national support and resourcing.
3.7
The present introduction of a national scheme of staff development and appraisal
3.8
skills and
provides the basis for ensuring that the teaching force can improve their
acquire necessary new ones, while balancing the claims of individual career
development with the needs of the school.
that a
Revised guidelines for teacher training courses set out the range of competences
3.9
of his or her career.
new teacher is expected to possess at the beginning
There is a growing focus on the support given to probationer teachers.
3.10
teachers on
A series of HMI reports is in process of publication giving advice to
3.11
other
effective teaching and learning in a range of secondary school subjects and on
special educational needs. Earlier HMI
aspects such as provision for children with
primary schools gave more general
reports on effective secondary schools and effective
advice on teaching and learning strategies.
resources
Developments in educational technology increasingly enhance the educational process.
3.12
methods
Learning is facilitated through the effective and efficient use of new media,
the national
and materials. The Technical and Vocational Education Initiative and
resourcing of developments such as Standard Grade are key promoters of this.
parental involvement
of positive contacts
The introduction of School Boards has fostered the development
3.13
around in the education
between schools and parents and heightened awareness of all
offered.
training of headteachers
The significant increase in management training for headteachers promotes
3.14
and capacity to
improvements in their leadership qualities, professional competence
develop effective working relationships.
-3
bring about changes in what
All of the developments described above are intended to
3.15
developments have been promoted
happens in classrooms to the benefit of pupils. The
education authorities, often focused
through complementary initiatives in a number of
particular schools. Several education authorities have begun
on valuable pilot work in
S
which provide a context for development work
to set out their aims in frameworks
provision.
across all aspects of educational
S
S
EDUCATION ?
HOW DO WE EVALUATE THE QUALITY OF
4.0
quality education is actually being
There must be means of judging whether a
4.1
quality is to examine the
delivered; quality must be assured. One way of judging
outcomes of the educational process in the school.
the attitudes which young
Academic attainment provides one outcome measure but
4.2
balanced and rounded citizens are
people acquire and the way in which they develop as
no less important.
the processes and conditions
Judgements on quality should also be made in terms of
4.3
what is taught and the learning
within the school: whether what the content of
environment created by the school promote desirable outcomes.
occurring over a period of years
In education, outcomes are the product of processes
4.4
Judgements about overall quality
but information is required on an ongoing basis.
and outcomes.
should be based on a balanced consideration of both processes
SCHOOLS ?
INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL EVALUATION OF
5.0
know how well schools are
There has always been recognition that it is important to
5.1
effectiveness of schools produced
performing, and a wide-ranging literature on the
established a consensus about common features of
over the last 20 or so years has
effective schools.
begun to shift from setting out such
In recent years, the focus of this literature has
5.2
develop and bring about
characteristics towards looking at how a school can
in achieving its educational
improvement in ways that enable it to be more effective
goals.
by the emphasis within The
This concern for school improvement has been highlighted
5.3
education.
Parents' Charter in Scotland on standards and quality in
the characteristics of effective
While research evidence indicates broad agreement on
5.4
should take to establish these
schools it may be less clear what action a school
is for a school to gain a clear
characteristics. The first step on the road to improvement
understanding of its current stage of development.
internally by the staff of the
Evaluation of education in a school might be undertaken
5.5
from a position of strength in
school. Those who engage in self-evaluation start
and detailed knowledge of the inner
that they are informed insiders with a close
stakeholders they should readily
workings of their organisation. As personal
of being consulted, having one.;
accept and act upon their findings. The process
seriously valued and that they
opinions considered, feeling that one's contributions are
and
ali powerful builders of morale, confidence
may result in change for the better are
commitment.
- 4 -
As Turner and Clift point out:
5.6
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by a school can be
Alternatively or additionally, evaluation of the education provided
5.7
and support can
undertaken by the responsible authority. External prompting, guidance
quality of the education
be important in assisting a school to make judgements on the
might simply
provided. Indeed in the absence of such factors a school's own evaluation
consideration. of difficult
reinforce its existing impression of its situation or avoid the
areas.
inspection of schools'
The Parents' Charter restates the case for independent
5.8
performance. A system of independent national inspection addresses national concerns
and reporting on the
for standards and quality in education through HMI evaluation
strengths and weaknesses of provision.
is a more focused
Following a revision of HMI inspection procedures, an inspection
5.9
authority have to produce a paper
agent of change than in the past. Schools and the
and there is a
setting out how they plan to address the recommendations in the report
further inspection about one year later to assess and confirm progress.
POINT FOR INTERNAL
WHAT SHOULD BE THE REFERENCE
6.0
EVALUATION ?
they must be aware
The starting point is a recognition on the part of all concerned that
6.1
of the quality of what they do and the need for improvement.
And building on that, schools need a structure, the parts of which are:
6.2
clear set of aims, targets and standards to be achieved;
other of which
mechanisms for delivering them, some of which may exist,
may require development; and
against expectation/aspiration and
ways of assessing performance
communicating the result.
PLAN ?
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT
7.0
information about a
A school development plan is a way of organising relevant
7.1
The consultation paper
school's current position and its intentions for the future.
good reference point.
"School Development Plans in Scotland" issued by SOED is a
The plan provides the means of:
and the
articulating and publicising the school's aims and aspirations,
specific targets to be addressed in the s'iort and long term;
be achieved;
expressing priorities for development and when these will
offering evaluation (audit) of performance against the first two.
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