What is school self-evaluation (SSE)?
School self-evaluation is a collaborative, inclusive, reflective process of internal school review. During school self-evaluation the principal, deputy principal and teachers, under the direction of the board of management and the patron and in consultation with parents and students, engage in reflective enquiry on the work of the school. It is an evidence-based approach which involves gathering information from a range of sources and making judgements with a view to bringing about improvements in students’ learning. Self-evaluation requires a school to address the following key questions with regard to an aspect or aspects of its work:
- How well are we doing?
- How do we know?
- How can we find out more?
- What are our strengths?
- What are our areas for improvement?
- How can we improve?
School self-evaluation and inspection
School self-evaluation and external evaluation are complementary processes, both focused on improvement. The school self-evaluation process gives schools a means of identifying and addressing priorities, and of ensuring a whole-school focus on improving specific aspects of teaching and learning. External evaluations, in particular whole-school evaluations, take note of schools’ identified priorities and assess their teaching and learning practices. Given this common focus on improvement, the Inspectorate in the course of its evaluations will take account of schools’ engagement with self-evaluation and the outcomes of that engagement.
School self-evaluation principles
School self-evaluation process
Important school self-evaluation reference documents