Written for heads and teachers, this forward-thinking book examines exactly what the relationship between inspection and self-evaluation means for schools and explores some of the underpinning issues, featuring examples of best practice from successful schools.

It is full of useful advice on topics such as how schools can juggle ongoing self-evaluation with OFSTEDa (TM)s expectations, how to use web sources to best advantage and what can be learnt from experience to lessen the anxiety in the relationship and make it more of a friendly and formative experience for all parties. Drawing on case studies from primary, secondary and special schools, this all-round overview should be of immediate interest to practitioners while also offering students and aspiring heads and teachers a valuable source of detailed information about the processes of inspection and self-assessment.

This book critically examines the concepts of teacher knowledge, the effectiveness of teaching, and the relationships between these and the context in which teachers work and live. Providing an original analysis of empirical evidence from the UK Department for International Development's substantial 20-year language teacher education programme in China, this study demonstrates how both the understanding and effectiveness of teaching and teacher education are shaped by cultural contexts and traditions. The author points out the difficulties caused when teacher educators fail to realise this. Qing Gu also reveals the importance of identifying variations in teacher knowledge within single cultures and areas of common ground across cultures, articulating the key findings for sustaining and improving the long term effectiveness of teacher education programmes within the contemporary context of internationalisation.

Self-evaluation in schools sits at the top of the national agenda in response to an awareness that performance tables and inspector's reports can only tell a partial story. Schools are now encouraged to raise questions about 'How are we doing?' and 'How do we know?'.
Self-Evaluation: What's in it for Schools? demystifies school self-evaluation and encourages schools to be self-critical and self-confident. The book helps schools and teachers develop the necessary confidence to work with evaluation tools. Accessible and packed with case studies, it tackles the issues that are at the forefront of the national agenda in most countries in Europe. Challenging ideas for the future are given through discussion of the concerns and issues of schools in the present day.

What does the new OFSTED framework mean for me as a teacher? How will it change what happens in schools and classrooms? This new text guides you as new or trainee teachers through all you need to know about the 2019 OFSTED inspection. It helps you understand and reflect on the context of the new framework, as a professional. It dispels many of the myths that you might hear in schools and provides much needed clarity and detail. The book: * Explores the context of the publication of the new framework and what this might mean for schools and teachers * Demonstrates how the framework links to what happens in classroom and to school level priorities from SLT * Includes examples of outstanding practice to learn from * Features a mythbusting section to understand the facts about OFSTED * Helps you understand, prepare for and approach OFSTED inspections with confidence.

This open access book discusses challenges in school improvement research and different methodological approaches that have the potential to foster school improvement research. Research on school improvement and accountability analysis places high demands on a study's design and method. The potential of combining the depth of case studies with the breath of quantitative measures and analyses in a mixed-methods design seems very promising. Consequently, the focus of the book lies on innovative methodological approaches. The book chapters address design, measurement, and analysis developments as well as theoretical and conceptual developments. The relevance of the research presented in the chapters for educational accountability is discussed in the book's discussion chapter. More specifically, authors present one specific innovative methodological approach and clarify that approach with a concrete example in the context of school improvement, based on empirical data when possible. In this way, this book helps researchers designing complex useful studies.

Since June 2004, millions of parents and teachers across the United States have been receiving report cards in the mail alerting them that their local schools have "failed." For many Americans, this was the first introduction to President Bush's controversial "No" "Child Left Behind" legislation, which calls for expanded student testing, more stringent accountability requirements, and annual school-focused report cards at the state, district, and school levels. The legislation ties substantial federal funds for disadvantaged students--which many schools have already been receiving for almost four decades--to performance requirements dictated by the new legislation.
But are these report cards accurate? "In America's "Failing" Schools," W. James Popham provides parents and teachers with explanations of "No Child Left Behind" as a whole, walking them through the implications for standardized testing in particular, in language that is uncomplicated and straightforward. Popham offers definitions of the law and its key terms, explanations of what it really means when a school is labeled "failing," and concrete suggestions for what can be done in response.
Because parents with children in failing schools will now have the rare option of transferring their children to other, non-failing schools, they will need to understand why a "failing" school may actually still be a good school. Similarly, the teachers and administrators at both failing and passing schools need to know whether their school's label was truly deserved, and how to bring about the changes required by the new legislation.
Whether parent, teacher, administrator, or involved citizen, anyone concerned with the state ofeducation in the U.S. will want to read "America's "Failing" Schools,"

American schools have always been locally created and controlled. But ever since the Title I program in 1965 appropriated nearly one billion dollars for public schools, federal money and programs have been influencing every school in America. What has been accomplished in this extraordinary assertion of federal influence? What hasn't? Why not? With incisive clarity and wit, David K. Cohen and Susan L. Moffitt argue that enormous gaps existed between policies and programs and the real-world practices that they attempted to change. Learning and teaching are complicated and mysterious. So the means to achieve admirable goals are uncertain, and difficult to develop and sustain, particularly when teachers get little help to cope with the blizzard of new programs, new slogans, new tests, and new rules. Ironically, as the authors observe, the least experienced and least well-trained teachers are often in the most needy schools, so federal support "is compromised by the inequality it is intended to ameliorate." If new policies and programs don't include means to create the capability they require, they cannot succeed. We don't know what we need to enable states, school systems, schools, teachers, and students to use the resources that programs offer. The trouble with standards-based reform is that standards and tests still don't teach you how to teach.

‘Could you tell me how to spell “sex”, please?’

Gervase Phinn thinks he’s heard just about everything in his two years as a school inspector, but a surprising enquiry from an angelic six-year-old reminds him never to take the children for granted.

This year, however, he has a few important things on his mind besides the schools. His impending marriage to Christine Bentley, the prettiest headteacher for miles around, finding themselves somewhere to live in the idyllic Yorkshire Dales, and the chance of a promotion all generate their fair share of excitement, aided and abetted as usual by his colleagues in the office. But it’s in the classroom where Gervase faces his greatest challenge, keeping a straight face as teachers and children alike conspire to have him – and us – laughing out loud.

Gervase Phinn is offered the post of County Inspector of Schools in North Yorkshire because of his good sense and lack of pretension. 'We don't put people on pedestals in Yorkshire', he's told, 'they nobbut want dustin'. As Gervase Phinn reveals in this warm and wonderfully humorous account, his first year was quite an educational experience.

He quickly learns that he must slow his pace and appreciate the beautiful countryside - 'Backwatersthwaite's been theer since time o' Vikings. It'll still be theer when thee finds it'. He meets some larger than life characters, from farmers and lords of the manor, to teaching nuns and eccentric caretakers. And, best of all, he discovers the endearing and disarming qualities of the Dales children, including the small boy who, when told he's not very talkative, answers: 'If I've got owt to say I says it, and if I've got owt to ask I asks it'.

With his keen ear for the absurd and sharp eye for the ludicrous, Gervase Phinn has delighted audiences with tales of his experiences as a school inspector. Now, for the first time, readers, can enjoy him too.

What does the new OFSTED framework mean for me as a teacher? How will it change what happens in schools and classrooms? This new text guides you as new or trainee teachers through all you need to know about the 2019 OFSTED inspection. It helps you understand and reflect on the context of the new framework, as a professional. It dispels many of the myths that you might hear in schools and provides much needed clarity and detail. The book: * Explores the context of the publication of the new framework and what this might mean for schools and teachers * Demonstrates how the framework links to what happens in classroom and to school level priorities from SLT * Includes examples of outstanding practice to learn from * Features a mythbusting section to understand the facts about OFSTED * Helps you understand, prepare for and approach OFSTED inspections with confidence.

'Miss, who's that funny man at the back of the classroom?'

So begins school-inspector Gervase Phinn's second year among the frankly spoken pupils and teachers of North Yorkshire. The sight of Gervase calmly getting out his notebook and pen provokes extreme reactions from children and adults alike. He finds himself unwillingly playing the stooge to Mrs Peterson's class of juniors, confronting a Mr Swan whose hunger for lunchtime exceeds his appetite for English and alarmingly disarmed by a pupil unsure whether he is 'learning' French or German.

But Gervase is far from daunted. He's still in pursuit of his dream girl - headteacher Christine Bentley, he is ready to brave the steely glare of the officious Mrs Savage and even feels up to helping Dr Gore organize the Feoffees - just as soon as someone tells him what they are!

This is a delectable second helping of hilarious tales from the man dubbed 'the James Herriot of schools'. It will have you laughing out loud.

Shortlisted for Best Professional Book by Nursery World Awards 2017! The stakes have never been higher: Ofsted have a new, tougher inspection framework for the early years. If you are judged to be less than good, you risk losing funding for places. A reputation that took years to build can vanish overnight. But instead of hiding behind the "Ofsted monster" to get things done, Early Years expert Julian Grenier argues that it's time to do what's right for children and families, and build long-lasting and effective provision. Completely up to date with Ofsted's new Common Inspection Framework and avoiding a 'tick-box' approach to preparation, Julian focuses on the importance of developing your provision and your team up to and beyond inspection day. It is accompanied by easy-to-use time-saving pro formas and self-reflective documents that can be downloaded online for free. This book is ideal for head teachers, senior leaders, EYFS co-ordinators, nursery managers and Early Years practitioners. "We had our Ofsted Inspection on May 31st and achieved an Outstanding grade which we are very proud of, as you might imagine! I used Successful Early Years Ofsted Inspections to focus my thoughts when preparing for the inspection and I am sure it was a contributory factor in our grade." -Wendy Taylor, Nursery Manager, Acorns Nursery Julian Grenier will be discussing ideas from Successful Early Years Oftsed Inspections in the SAGE Early Years Masterclass, a free professional development experience hosted by Kathy Brodie. To sign up, or for more information, click here.

'I believe that [this book] could be of value to practitioners working with birth-five year olds, heads or managers of nurseries, health professionals or students who wish to gain an overview of this subject....I enjoyed reading this book and it literally gave me much food for thought' - Early Years 'This book is a welcome addition and the contributors should be congratulated on the scope and depth they manage to achieve...this book is an interesting read, dealing with a topical, yet complex issue' - Journal of Early Childhood Research 'Food plays a huge part in our lives, and this book looks holistically at its influence, including our emotional as well as physical wellbeing. It provides useful facts on diet and healthy eating guidelines for children under five, school age children, adults and pregnant mothers...There is advice on promoting positive attitudes towards food in an early years setting, along with practical advice and case studies to help practitioners promote heatlhy eating in their settings' - Early Years Update 'This highly readable, thoroughly researched book explores food and eating in an historical, cultural and psychological context and, as public concern about children's nutrition rises, its publication is timely. Food and Health in Early Childhood is a comprehensive, clearly written text enriched with case studies and pertinent reflective activities to consolidate learning' - Angela Underdown, Associate Professor, Early Childhood Studies, University of Warwick The media interest surrounding children, food and nutrition continues to influence policy and practice in early years settings, and food and eating is of fundamental importance to early childhood practice. Not only does food contribute to health, in terms of nutrition it's also a vital part of a child's emotional and socio-cultural experience that is linked to their growing sense of well-being and identity. This book gives you a comprehensive overview of food and eating in the early years, covering the following: - nutrition - policy development - health inequalities - food, culture and identity - food and emotion - healthy eating guidelines - promoting healthy eating in the early years - multi-disciplinary working in relation to young children's nutrition Each chapter includes case studies, links to useful websites, activities and suggestions for further reading. An interactive approach from the reader is encouraged throughout the book. Aimed at all early years practitioners, it will be of particular interest to those studying for Early Childhood Studies' degrees and those studying for EYPS. Other professionals and students with an interest in this area (teachers, health visitors, dieticians) will also find it useful.

Escape to the country with Gervase Phinn's heartwarming tales of life as a school inspector in Yorkshire 'Gervase Phinn's memoirs have made him a hero in school staff-rooms' Daily Telegraph His colourful cast of characters have become firm favourites: the mostly mad staff at County Hall, as well as the children themselves, who find ways of embarrassing the school inspectors with innocent ease. In The Heart of the Dales, we reconvene with Christine Bentley, head teacher of Winnery Nook School and now Gervase's wife and mother of their son, the well-named Mrs Savage and not forgetting the Queen of Clean - Connie. Gervase Phinn has an extraordinary talent to entertain, and the latest instalment to the Dale Series is heart-warming, wry and will make you laugh out loud.

Escape to the country with Gervase Phinn's heartwarming tales of life as a school inspector in Yorkshire 'Gervase Phinn's memoirs have made him a hero in school staff-rooms' Daily Telegraph ______ What's your name? I asked the child. 'Tequila,' she replied. I'm named after a drink.' 'Tequila Sunrise,' I murmured. 'No,' pouted the child. 'Tequila Braithwaite.' Now in his fourth year as an Inspector for English in the Yorkshire Dales, Gervase Phinn still relishes visiting the schools - whether an inner-city comprehensive fraught with difficulties or a small Dales Primary school where the main danger is one of closure. With endless good humour, he copes with the little surprises that occur round every corner. Some things never change: Mrs Savage roars, Connie rants, and Gervase's colleague in the office play verbal ping-pong. But all this can be put behind him each day when he returns home to his lovely wife, Christine, who is expecting their first baby. Up and Down in the Dales is charming montage of Gervase Phinn's experiences will keep you amused and will win a place in your heart. Gervase Phinn has an extraordinary talent to entertain, and the latest instalment to the Dale Series is heart-warming, wry and will make you laugh out loud.

Do you know how school inspectors will be judging effectiveness? Have you considered how you can demonstrate the effectiveness of your governing body? This new guide takes a practical approach, with key questions, key actions and key information supported by case studies of good practice from a wide variety of schools. It will provide you with support and guidance in undertaking the responsibilities of governance. Each section links to the new Ofsted criteria, provides you with an understanding of 'effectiveness' and a framework of questions and actions which you can use to review your current practice and focus your professional development as a governing body. The case studies are centred on a key question from the relevant section and provide you with a 'live' example of how a school is demonstrating effectiveness.

One of the major goals of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is to raise the achievement of students who currently fail to meet grade-level proficiency standards. Since student achievement is believed by many to depend in large part on effective teaching, the law also contains provisions designed to improve teacher quality. These provisions establish minimum teacher quality requirements and charge states and school districts with developing plans to meet them. This book examines implementation of the NCLB requirements and estimates the extent to which schools achieved the law's goal of placing a highly qualified teacher in every classroom.

This is a practical guide to self-evaluation in schools enabling senior and middle leaders and teachers to immediately begin to develop the processes, tools and techniques of self-evaluation. Do you need to urgently develop a cohesive school evaluation system? Are you a middle leader looking to conduct your own small scale research? Do you need to find a systematic way to evaluate your extended school? Self-evaluation is a part of everyday school life but it can be both daunting and time consuming. This practical, easy to navigate guide introduces the main tools of self-evaluation and looks at how schools and individuals in different contexts and roles have successfully used these tools in a holistic way. Designed to be easily 'dipped into' according to your needs, each chapter has been divided into three sections; the basics, the detail and a conclusion. The basics provides an overview of key tools and approaches, the detail gives guidance on implementation with plenty of case studies and questions at the end of each section encourage reflection on your own context and practice. Written with busy professionals in mind, this book is essential reading for the senior leadership team, middle leaders and teachers interested in developing their own self-evaluations.

Provide for school safety and security with practical, realistic strategies that can make a difference! This timely resource for new, veteran, and aspiring school administrators offers cost-effective techniques to create a safe school environment for students, staff, and the community. The authors use their experience in education and law enforcement to show how administrators can combine the need for secure campuses with the desire to maintain an open and welcoming environment. Educators will find recommendations that can: help prevent or minimize a potential tragedy; facilitate a stronger, more informed response when needed; allow a school to recover and return to normalcy.

How do teachers successfully bridge the chasm between large numbers of very specific educational standards and deep understanding of important ideas? This well-researched text is based on the collaborative work between researchers and school practitioners to help answer this fundamental question. The authors have drawn from the most up-to-date research to help teachers, curriculum developers, and school leaders discover how to implement and promote learner-centred, quality teaching strategies that encourage students' understanding. Organized in five parts, this text systematically uncovers how to: o Advance student learning using leading-edge research on powerful forms of instruction o Foster metacognition in students and encourage them to take control of their own learning o Extend learning from academic thinking to real-world application across all disciplines o Learn how to instil a culture of deep understanding among students while still meeting specific achievement standards found in most district and state curricula This timely and accessible resource reveals how rethinking school curriculum and teaching for deeper knowledge transfer can help students take control of their own learning.

Updated from the bestselling second edition, this resource provides concise, yet comprehensive coverage of school programs evaluation in a highly usable format. Providing examples designed to help the reader develop competence and confidence in program evaluation, it takes the reader through the five tasks of school program evaluation: o Focusing the evaluation o Collecting information o Organizing and analyzing information o Reporting information o Administering the evaluation The author shows how to successfully manage the many logistical, budgetary, and scheduling problems encountered, and provides tips for dealing with school politics, ethical considerations, and interpersonal relations.