IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY AND HIGH STANDARDS?

• degree of public investment in education• economic competitiveness• social equity• personal self-esteem• place on the ladder• parental expectations

WHAT MAKES A GOOD SCHOOL?• a small ethos• a broad and relevant curriculum• a culture of achievement, improvement and ambition – high expectations• high quality leadership at all levels• committed and competent teachers and teaching• effective support and challenge from governors• rigorous self-evaluation• planned staff development focused on improvement• effective use of data• involvement of pupils in life of the school• good support systems and interventions with the school• high level of parent and community support

HAVE WE GOOD SCHOOLS?

• Chief Inspector’s Report 2004-6

• GCSE/GCE ‘A’ levels benchmarked with GB

• Literacy and Numeracy

• Gender differences/differences related to economic circumstances

• No or few qualifications

• Differences between schools

POLICY RESPONSE?

• School Improvement

• Literacy and Numeracy Strategy

• SEN Review

• Personal Health and Well-being

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

• Quality Indicators including performance

• Self-evaluation/Self improvement

• External challenge

• More effective use of data

• Inspection – formal intervention/reward

LITERACY AND NUMERACY

• Highest priority in the system• Curriculum• Leadership, Organisation and

Planning• Central Place of class teacher• Focus in initial teacher education

SEN REVIEW The review commenced in April 2006 to address a range of

problems associated with the current SEN framework including delays in identification and assessment.

The review is set in a framework of additional needs, where the diverse range of needs of all children are recognised.

Key themes for the review are the need for consistency of provision, early identification of barriers to learning and early intervention, capacity building and upskilling for teachers and collaborative working between education and health.

The review’s draft policy proposals have been approved by the Minister and are now going through the relevant Assembly structures for scrutiny, with public consultation planned for Autumn 2008.

£25m was secured in the recent Budget to prepare for and start implementation of finalised policy proposals in 2010/11.

PERSONAL HEALTH AND WELL BEING• Work began last year on looking at how we might build on

existing pastoral care practices to promote the emotional health and wellbeing of pupils’.

• A series of five inter-related work streams were identified with membership drawn from a range of interests including Education, Health and Voluntary Sector:-– Self Assessment for Schools– Training and Support for Teachers and Others– Good Practice Identification and Dissemination– Mapping Available Resources to Support Schools– Critical Incident Response and Support for Schools

• The work of the groups will be co-ordinated through a Programme Board who will provide strategic direction as required.

• Additional funding has now been provided to look at how the programme might be extended to Primary and Special Schools