School Evaluation

On behalf of the partner Local Authorities ESIS has an adviser specially linked to each school in the four County Boroughs. Known as the school Link Adviser, and experienced in school self-evaluation and development planning, they are there to assist the school in its self-evaluation activities and act as a ‘critical friend’.

ESIS is part of the Estyn Inspection system with many trained and experienced inspectors in its advisory teams. In each school the Link Adviser will review targets and data with headteachers and leaders of learning. They will advise and help plan and co-ordinate school improvement activities and help deploy others in the Local Authority teams where appropriate. The Link Adviser is an important element of the partner Authorities’ statutory duty to support and challenge schools. Working with schools in their self-evaluation activities helps discharge its duty.

ESIS has many publications that can be used by schools to exemplify good practice. A clear framework to support self–evaluation (CRIS2) has been developed. Very wide usage is made of CRIS2 materials. These materials are extensive, flexible and may be used as a whole school approach to self-evaluation or as a tool kit to support specific areas of school self-evaluation. These systems will be reviewed as the School Effectiveness Framework Profile and the new Estyn Common Inspection Framework are developed and the proposed all-Wales new unified approaches to school self-evaluation are announced and developed.