OUR SCHOOL SELF-EVALUATION REPORT AND SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN June 2018

St. Michael’s & St. Patrick’s N.S.

Cootehall,

Boyle.

F52TV26

Roll Number 19720P

07196672764

www.cootehallns.com

cootehallns@eircom.net

 

OUR SCHOOL SELF-EVALUATION REPORT AND SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN

June 2018

 

Introduction

School Context

• This is a mixed rural primary school.
• In the school year 2017-2018 there were 119 pupils on roll on September 30^th and 122 pupils enrolled at the end of the school year.
• There are 5 class teachers, 1 full time and 1 shared SET teacher based in the school.
• The school administers standardised tests in Mathematics and English from 1^st to 6^th classes

 

The focus of this evaluation

We undertook self evaluation of teaching and learning in Literacy – Writing- Spelling during the period of September 2017 to June 2018. We evaluated the teaching and learning across the whole school as part of the process

This is the report of the finding of the evaluation

 

Outcomes of our last improvement plan:

N/A as this is the first plan since re-engagement with SSE process recommenced.

 

In the last year, we have looked at teaching and learning in our school to find out what we are doing well.

This is some of what we discovered:

1. Our students report feeling happy and safe at school.
2. Standardised scores in Maths are above average National norms (Average SS is 107 from 2015-2018).
3. Although Standardised Test scores in English reading comprehension (Average SS is 110 from 2015-2018) and vocabulary (Average SS is 112 from 2015-2018). were above average on National norms (Total Average SS is 111 from 2015-2018), standardised test scores in Spelling did not reach the same level(Average SS is 106 from 2015-2018).
4. Students have a positive attitude towards English.

 

 

This is what we did to find out what we were doing well, and what we could do better:

1. We surveyed our students in relation to attitudes towards English.
2. Teachers spent time in staff meetings reviewing present practice and sharing ideas.
3. Standardised test scores in English were analysed.
4. Teachers reviewed English language schemes available.
5. Staff engaged the PDST for support and advice and engaged in in-service for the new language curriculum.

 

This is what we are now going to work on:

A consistent school wide approach and methodology for the teaching and learning of Spelling.

We aim:

1. to increase the average pupils standard score in the Drumcondra Spelling Standardised test in June 2018 by 2 points in June 2019
2. to improve pupils attitude to spelling so that they see it as a positive learning activity and know what skills are important by 2% as evidenced by annual survey.
3. to enable pupils to use learned spelling strategies throughout their writing in the various genres and demonstrate this on occasions  to be tracked by class teacher.

This is what you can do to help:

1. Revise appropriate spelling patterns with your child as part of their homework.
2. Encourage children to review their written work when done.
3. Please report any difficulties your child is experiencing with their work in this area to their class teacher.
4. Please feel free to discuss any queries you may have regarding your child with their class teacher.

 

Here is some information about how we are carrying out our work and about what the Department of Education and Skills requires us to do.

School time and holidays

• The Department requires all primary schools to have 183 school days each year.
  • This year we had 177  school days, from 31/08/2017 to 29/06/2018.
• The Department sets out a standardised school year and school holidays.
  • This year we took all our school holidays within the permitted time.
• The Department sets out arrangements for parent/teacher meetings and staff meetings.
  • This year we had 2 evenings afterschool for parent/teacher meetings and 8 staff meetings held outside school time, all in line with the Department’s regulations.

 

Looking after the children in our school

The Department requires schools to follow the Child Protection Procedures it has set down.

• Our board of management has agreed in writing to do this. YES / NO
• All teachers know about the Procedures and we have told all parents about them and how we follow them.                                          YES / NO
• Our Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is Cian Duffy and our Deputy DLP is Deirdre Brennan.

 

Enrolment and attendance

The Department requires schools to have and publish an admissions policy, to record and report attendance accurately, and to encourage high attendance and participation.

• We have an admissions policy and it is published. YES / NO
• We reviewed (and updated) our admissions policy in Dec 2017.
• We keep accurate attendance records and report them as required.                                                                                       YES / NO
• We encourage high attendance in the following ways:
• Attendance is monitored daily,
• School reviews Attendance strategy annually,
• Attendance certificates are given for full attendance at end of term and end of school year.

 

This is how you can help:

• ensure your child is punctual to school.
• continue to stress the importance and value of going to school.
• If your child is absent please fill in absence note from school homework journal.
• Please let the school know if there are any issues regarding your child and school.

 

Positive behaviour for a happy school

The Department requires schools to have a code of behaviour and asks us to consult parents and children about it.

• We do this.                              YES / NO
• Our code of behaviour describes and supports positive behaviour.                                                                              YES / NO
• We have a very clear and high-profile anti-bullying policy in our school.                                                                    YES / NO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN Literacy – Writing- Spelling September 2018 to June 2019
IMPROVEMENT PLAN CO-ORDINATOR:
TARGETS	1.     to increase the average pupils standard score in the Drumcondra Spelling Standardised test in June 2018 by 2 points in June 2019 2.    to improve pupils attitude to spelling so that they see it as a positive learning activity and know what skills are important by 2% as evidenced by annual survey. 3.    to enable  pupils to use learned spelling strategies throughout their writing in the various genres and demonstrate this on occasions  to be tracked by class teacher.
ACTIONS		Who?
1.        2.        3.           4.         5.        6.        7.        8.        9.        10.

 

MONITORING: 1.       2.       3.       4.       5.		Whole Staff / Co-ordinator Principal Relevant Teachers Class Teachers Children and Parents
EVAL UATION APPROACH: ·           ·           ·           ·          ·	EVALUATION TOOLS:  ·          Standardised Spelling tests ·           ·
NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS THROUGHOUT IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS: ·           ·           ·              ·             ·
TARGET			ACHIEVED:
to increase the average pupils standard score in the Drumcondra Spelling Standardised test in June 2018 by 2 points in June 2019			Yes		No
to improve pupils attitude to spelling so that they see it as a positive learning activity and know what skills are important by 2% as evidenced by annual survey.			Yes		No
to enable  pupils to use learned spelling strategies throughout their writing in the various genres and demonstrate this on occasions  to be tracked by class teacher			Yes		No