A continuous process
It is established practice for schools to engage in a continuous process of self evaluation. This process should include the key aspects of the Catholic life of the school. The Schools Service has produced materials that can be used in the context of (1) ongoing self evaluation, (2) advisory visits and (3) section 48 inspection. The purpose is to make these processes complementary, so that advisers and inspectors can provide external moderation of the school’s view of its strengths and weaknesses. The materials consist of:
- a school self evaluation checklist covering 16 areas grouped into ‘the school as a Catholic community’ and ‘religious education’;
- school self evaluation profiles providing benchmark illustrations in each of the 16 areas of the checklist.
Self evaluation as an ongoing process
The self evaluation checklist and profiles can be used as the basis for a number of activities in the school’s self evaluation cycle.
- They provide the governors and headteacher with a framework for reporting on RE and Catholicity.
- They provide the RE coordinator/head of RE with a framework for setting development priorities and reviewing progress.
- They provide ways for advisers and heads to agree the focus for advisory visits and training.
- They provide a way for heads and governors to prepare for section 48 inspections.
Self Evaluation and Section 48 Inspections
- The headteacher completes or updates the checklist and profile (it is recommended that this is done in consultation with staff and governors).
- During the initial visit, the inspector and the headteacher go through the completed self assessment checklist and use the column provided to record areas of ‘agreed focus’ for the inspection.
- At the end of the inspection, the inspector reports back to the headteacher using the summary checklist.
- The checklist is used periodically within the school to review progress and to provide reports of progress to governors.
Section 48 inspections
The diocese provides an external inspection for its maintained schools under Section 48 of the School Inspections Act 1996. The cycle of inspections is currently every three years. Administrative details are given in the appendices.
The governors of VA schools with a religious denomination are obliged in law to call for an inspection of RE and worship. The Bishops of England and Wales have asked that schools approach their dioceses to provide their inspections and that the scope of the inspections should be widened to cover all aspects of the Catholic life of the school. In this way, the inspection fulfils the right of the local bishop in Canon Law to inspect the schools within his area. The DfES makes a flat rate grant to cover the cost of the inspection of RE and worship. The school claims this grant from the DfES after the inspection. Further details are available from the Schools Service. The Diocese makes an additional charge to help cover the cost of inspecting the Catholic life of the school, as well as maintaining a pool of trained inspectors and assuring the quality of inspection reports.
Heads should inform the Schools Service as soon as they have notification of their inspection. An inspection pack will be sent with full details of the inspection process and contractual conditions. In secondary schools, Section 48 inspections are normally held along with Section 5 (Ofsted) inspections. In primary schools, they are normally held in the term following the Section 10 (Ofsted) inspection. This is because Ofsted do not give enough notice for the dioceses to organise the bulk of Section 48 inspections, and because primary schools have generally found it more practicable to hold the inspections at different times.
Independent schools have recently been brought within a national inspection framework, although they are not subject to inspection under Section 48. Independent schools are invited and encouraged to approach the Schools Service about possible assistance with arranging the religious aspects of their inspection. Independent schools may also wish to consider commissioning a review of the school along the lines of a section 48 inspection.
