School Development Reviews for REP schools

All full member schools in the Redbridge Education partnership are eligible to have an annual external review visit and written report undertaken by a reputable provider that has been quality assured by the Partnership Board.  The review will be at no additional cost to the school after the annual subscription fee has been paid to the Partnership, and forms part of the entitlement for all full member schools, along with other free or discounted Professional Learning opportunities.

The School Development Review can be either a half day or a full day review of an aspect of the school’ s development priorities. The area of focus will be chosen by the school leadership team in discussion with the external consultant appointed. It forms part of the school’s journey towards further improvement, celebrating the strengths of the school’s work within the identified area of focus and identifying the areas for development, along with offering support and challenge from a suitably qualified professional.

The REP School Development Review compliments the statutory work of the Local Authority in School Improvement and provides the Governing body and the Independent Chair of the Redbridge Education Partnership with written feedback. The Headteacher can choose to share the report with other improvement partners.

Vision

To provide a collaborative review structure that truly develops partnerships with Head Teachers, highlighting strengths and identifies areas for development. The review process will support and challenge schools to improve and develop plans to meet the needs of all pupils. It provides feedback and action points for further improvement.

Aims and purpose

  1. To provide an independent review of the effectiveness of schools and leadership
  2. To challenge headteachers in a supportive environment
  3. To identify and celebrate observed innovation and good practice
  4. To provide coaching and mentoring when appropriate

School Improvement programme 

Documentation

Prior to the meeting the school will provide the reviewer with relevant information. This might include

  • Current School Development Plan
  • School Self-evaluation Form
  • Staffing Structure
  • Current Performance Data and School Trends
  • Ofsted Report
  • Any other relevant documents

This information should inform the focus of the visit and help identify key lines of enquiry

Outline of the day

Introduction to the day and identification of priorities

  • Discussion with HT about school context and priorities
  • Opportunity to share and celebrate strengths
  • What are the greatest risks to performance this year?
  • Confirm key lines of enquiry

Possible key lines of enquiry

Review of standards

  • End of KS results
  • Review of outcomes for specific groups
  • How does the SLT assess current school performance?
  • What has had the most impact in securing improvement in outcomes

Financial stability and staffing

  • Discussion about any emerging issues

Quality of Education

  • Review the quality of teaching, planning, expectations, adaptive teaching, questioning, feedback and challenge
  • How effective is assessment in supporting learning?
  • Is there consistency in judgements about the quality of teaching?
  • How is underperformance addressed
  • How effectively is CPD used to impact on the quality of teaching?
  • How appropriate is the curriculum?

Behaviour

  • Review of behaviour and behaviours for learning
  • Mental Health and wellbeing

Suggested activities

  • Meeting with HT
  • Tour of the school
  • Meeting with SLT
  • Scrutiny of performance data
  • Review of curriculum structure
  • Safeguarding and the curriculum (not including statutory requirements)
  • Review and discussion of SEP and SDP
  • Review of budget and staffing structure
  • Learning walks
  • Work scrutiny
  • Meetings with middle leaders
  • Meetings with students
  • Meetings with governors

These are suggestions for the content and activities but specific areas can be prioritised prior to the meeting in order for the review to meet any specific needs and reflect the context of the school.

It will be the responsibility of the school to organise the programme for the day or two half days. A half day visit lasts three hours. Following the review, the consultant will produce a report which will be shared and agreed with the HT prior to it being submitted to the Chair of the REP. Board. The report will include any agreed actions, areas of good practice and next steps for the school to develop.

If there are issues of concern raised within the report, the Chair will make contact with the Headteacher to agree what support is needed and how it will be sourced to address the issues.