29 June, 2006 - 33 school inspection reports published on Department of Education & Science website

33 school inspection reports were released on the Department's website today alongside the response received from the individual school inspected. These include 18 Whole School Evaluations (WSE) reports on primary schools and 15 Subject Inspection reports conducted in second level schools.

Since 6th February 2006, school inspection reports, such as WSE and Subject Inspections, are due to published on the Department of Education and Science's website at regular intervals during the school year. There are now 154 reports available on the website.

Whole School Evaluation reports comment on the school's management, planning and management of resources, the effectiveness of teaching and learning, its arrangements for student assessment, supports for students, provision for minority groups and home-school links. Depending on the size of the school an inspector or team of inspectors visit the school for a period of time to evaluate management and planning, teaching and learning and supports for pupils.

Following this evaluation phase of WSE, Inspectors discuss the findings and recommendations with school management and members of teaching staff. This is followed by a period for factual verification of the report and a timescale is built into the process for the school to respond to the WSE report. At the end of this process the WSE and School Response are published simultaneously on the Department's website.

Subject Inspection reports evaluate the teaching and learning of specific subjects in second-level schools. A number of subjects can be inspected as part of a WSE or a school can have a 'stand alone' subject inspection. The reports appearing today cover a wide range of subjects including English, Business Subjects, Science and Biology, Music, Maths, Material Technology and Construction Studies, Geography and Communications.

Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin T.D., today said the school inspection reports provide a balanced and fair assessment of the work of schools. 'We have already seen the unprecedented interest in the release of school inspection reports, when 121 were released for the first time last week. By parents and school management having access to the full inspectors report and response by the school they can see for themselves what is happening not only in their own school, but in other schools.  As a result of looking at the details of the reports generally parents and teachers can question if areas highlighted need to be addressed in their own school. 

This is a real effort in ensuring that balanced quality information is available.  Alongside the areas of strength in a school there will also be areas where there could be improvements, and that is for the benefit of the school.'

The Inspection Reports can be accessed in the highlights section of the Department's website www.education.ie

ENDS

List Of Inspection Reports Published On The Website Today

Primary Schools

Post-Primary Schools