an inspector calls
By Sara Bubb There
are many horror stories about OFSTED visits but most people find inspection positive
and even beneficial because they get objective feedback on their teaching and
recognition that they're doing a good job. Here are some tips that will help you
to prepare well so that you do yourself justice. The inspection handbook
Read the current inspection handbook – your school will have a copy.
This will tell you what inspectors are looking for. It is really useful to study
the criteria upon which they will judge your teaching and thinking about how they
relate to your teaching context. Note that both your teaching and the children's
learning will be used to judge your lesson's effectiveness. Inspectors
consider the extent to which teachers: - show good subject knowledge
and understanding in the way they present and discuss their subject
- are
technically competent in teaching phonics and other basic skills
- plan
effectively, setting clear objectives that pupils understand
- challenge
and inspire pupils, expecting the most of them, so as to deepen their knowledge
and understanding
- use methods which enable all pupils to learn effectively
- manage pupils well and insist on high standards of behaviour
- use time, support staff and other resources, especially information and
- communications technology, effectively
- assess pupils' work
thoroughly and use assessments to help and encourage
- pupils to overcome
difficulties
- use homework effectively to reinforce and/or extend
what is learned in school
and the extent to which pupils:
- acquire new knowledge or skills, develop ideas and increase their
understanding
- apply intellectual, physical or creative effort in
their work
- are productive and work at a good pace
- show
interest in their work, are able to sustain concentration and think and learn
for themselves;
- understand what they are doing, how well they have
done and how they can improve
Before the inspection
Don't let yourself get whipped up into a frenzy of anxiety. You need to plan
your time so that what is necessary gets done, and that you are in good condition
for OFSTED week. - Write lesson plans for inspection week with even
greater care than usual. Ask curriculum coordinators to look at what you're planning
to do – I've seen people misinterpret the NLS framework and plan activities
that do not enable the learning objectives to be met.
- When planning,
be very focussed on your learning objectives so that all the teaching and activities
enable the pupils to meet them. Think through the timing of every stage of the
lesson to pre-empt problems. Prepare resources beforehand – don't risk temperamental
photocopiers in OFSTED week!
- Inspectors will want to see the work
of a low, average and high attainer in each class so that they can judge standards.
Inspectors may pay particular attention to these three children, hearing them
read and discussing their work for instance, so choose those who are confident
and good attenders. Put in trays all the work the three children have done since
the beginning of the school year, ensuring that all marking does you credit.
- Display is important in primary schools, as a way to celebrate children's
achievements and contribute to the learning environment. However, there are no
OFSTED criteria for display so use them to give inspectors information about the
standards that pupils are achieving and quality of the curriculum. If there are
subjects or areas of the curriculum that aren't going to be seen, displays will
be a particularly valuable form of evidence.
- You will meet the lead
inspector before the inspection. Use this as a time to ask detailed questions
about how your inspection will be carried out.
An inspector
in the room
During inspection week, try to get as much rest as possible
and leave school at a reasonable time. This should be possible if you have prepared
well. Only a small proportion of your lessons will be inspected – something
that can be very disappointing after all your effort. However, unless your school
is having a short inspection, you will have at least one literacy and one numeracy
lesson observed. Inspectors normally stay for the whole lesson.
Make sure there is somewhere for the inspector to sit. They will watch what children
are doing during the lesson so make sure those nearest the chair do you credit!
- Put the trays of the three focus children in an obvious place.
Have a folder on the chair which contains: - 1.
the week's lesson plans and evaluations
- 2. grouping and seating arrangements
- 3. a class list showing which children have special needs and English
as an additional language
- 4. individual education plans
This
should enable the inspector to gain information without disturbing you.
- Concentrate
on your teaching (bearing in mind the OFSTED criteria above) - try to forget that
an inspector is in the room.
Feedback on your teaching
- Ask for feedback as soon after the lesson as possible.
- Before
the feedback, reflect on the lesson yourself. Look at what low, average and high
attainers learned.
- See the inspector's feedback as an opportunity
for valuable professional dialogue, and as information rather than criticism.
- Listen well. Don't just hear what you want or expect to hear. Make
notes of salient points. Ask for clarification of anything you're unsure of.
- Explain reasons for doing things that may not have been clear to the
observer - stick up for yourself.
The inspector will talk about strengths
and weaknesses of the lesson. Listen to the words used to decode the OFSTED grading
system:
- Excellent
- Very good
- Good
- Satisfactory/sound
- Unsatisfactory
- Poor
- Very poor
Remember that most lessons are deemed
satisfactory – a grade 4 means that you are effective and that your children
are learning. - If you feel that an inspector has not been fair in
their judgement raise your concerns with the headteacher immediately. They will
then be discussed with the lead inspector.
- Afterwards, reflect on
the feedback. Feel good about the positive comments!
Sara
Bubb is an OFSTED inspector who runs preparation for inspection courses.
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