Evaluation of Action Planning for Improvement in DEIS Schools

The Department’s plan for educational inclusion, DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) Plan 2017, aims to ensure that the educational needs of children and young people from disadvantaged communities are met. Schools participating in DEIS receive additional supports and resources, including additional staffing. These schools are expected to support the Department’s DEIS plan through a systematic planning and monitoring process at school and cluster/community level.  

The Inspectorate evaluates and reports on individual DEIS schools’ action planning for improvement. During these inspections, we evaluate how the school devises, implements and monitors its action plan and how this impacts on learner outcomes. We meet with the school principal, the in-school leadership team, and with groups of parents, pupils and teachers; and we observe teaching and learning in classrooms. Parents and pupils also complete questionnaires. Oral feedback is provided at the end of these evaluations and the school receives a written report, which is published on this section of the website.