S.N Cill Mhuire
Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare
13942D
School Self-Evaluation Report
Evaluation period: 1/9/2012 – 27/6/2013
Report issue date: 18/6/2013
- Introduction
- The focus of the evaluation
A school self-evaluation of teaching and learning in S.N. Cill Mhuire was undertaken during the period 1/9/2012 to 27/6/2013. The evaluation focused on teaching and learning in Maths. The focus is on problem solving in the area of numeracy. This report and its actions run from September 2013 to 2016.
This is a report on the findings of the evaluation.
- School context
- This is a vertical co-educational primary school
- There are currently 136 pupils
- There are 7 teachers including a teaching principal and learning support teacher. There are also two shared resource teachers.
- The school administers Micra T and Sigma T standardized tests from 1st to 6th class in the 3rd term
- The school administers Drumcondra Reading and Maths standardized tests from 2nd to 6th class in the 1st term
- The school is involved in the Discover Primary Maths and Science initiative
- Maths related Professional Development: Mata sa Rang and Problem Solving Workshops PDST
- The findings
- Teachers’ lessons cater for different learning styles and incorporate a variety of teaching methodologies. A broad range of assessment tools are used and these assessments inform the teaching and learning. (staff review/ SCOT analysis)
- Standardized test results in Maths shows that on average most pupils are performing at or slightly above the national average. Other key findings include pupil’s strength in the skill of understanding concepts and facts in numeracy as well as strong attainment in the strands of algebra and data. As with other data collected, the skill of solving word problems is highlighted as an area for improvement. (Sigma T May/June 2013)
- Having reviewed the Sigma T results for year ending 2012, it was noted that pupil’s performance in the Problem Solving area was consistently the lowest in all class groupings. ( Sigma T overview June 2012 1st to 6th )
- Responses from the parental questionnaire show that 69% of parents believe their child likes maths. 72% of parents indicated that they know their child’s strengths in maths. 75% of parents also indicated that their child can independently complete their maths homework. However, 50% of parents indicated that they would like more information on their child’s progress on maths.
- Responses from the pupil’s questionnaire showed that 65% of pupils believed that they are good at maths and 58% found maths problems easy. However, this was a smaller number than those who liked reading and who believed they were good at reading.
- Other strong findings from pupil questionnaire show pupils enjoyment of ICT and numeracy and a strong understanding of the importance of numeracy ( pupil questionnaire)
- A potential area for improvement highlighted in our pupil questionnaire included teacher feedback to pupils and parents
- Progress made on previously identified improvement targets
See targets set on numeracy from 2013-2016 for Kilmurry NS in school improvement plan
- Summary of school self-evaluation findings
4.1 Our school has strengths in the following areas:
- A variety of modes of assessment (of and for learning) are used consistently in all classes to monitor pupil progress in numeracy. ( see staff review/ SCOT)
- A strong emphasis is placed on oral and mental maths ( see staff review/ SCOT)
- Mainstream classes provide a differentiated programme including in class and withdrawal support to cater for children with identified learning needs. ( see staff review/ SCOT)
- A variety of teaching methods and approaches are implemented throughout the school in the teaching of numeracy ( see staff review/ SCOT)
- There are agreed strategies for teaching addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. A booklet outlining the language used for the teaching of maths was sent to all parents as an action in our school self evaluation of numeracy.
- Further strengths outlined include a strong involvement in professional development from all staff members in the area of numeracy.( ref section 1.2 of this report)
- Innovative ways of capturing teaching and learning in numeracy through ICT have been collated by staff and shared with the parent body through school website kilmurry.scoilnet.ie
- WSE as of September 2012 indicated strengths in teaching and learning across maths.
4.2 The following areas are prioritised for improvement:
- Problem Solving: (teaching approach) staff and pupils are involved in implementing a common approach to problem solving at all class levels. Each child is provided with the Kilmurry NS problem solving strategy bookmark.
- Problem solving: (learning experiences) the Brian Shack problem solving resource has been purchased and is in use from 3rd to 6th to extend, challenge and support pupil learning across a variety of areas of learning in maths.
- Problem solving: problem solving lesson to incorporate mental maths, oral maths and mathematical language as per teacher planning in the area of maths with a focus on word problems.
- Problem solving: distribute maths handouts to parents, make ICT for problem solving available on school website as well as adding videos on teaching and learning in parents tab.
4.3 The following legislative and regulatory requirements need to be addressed:
- None
Issue | Relevant legislation, rule or circular | Is the school fully meeting the requirements of the relevant legislation, rule or circular?
|
If no, indicate aspects to be developed | ||||
Time in school- Length of school year – minimum of 183 days
– Length of school day 4 hours 40 minutes (infants); 5 hour 40 minutes (1st-6th classes) |
Circular 11/95 | School year
Yes No
School day
Yes No |
|||||
Arrangements for parent/ teacher and staff meetings | Circular 14/04 | Yes No | |||||
Implementation of Croke Park agreement regarding additional time requirement | Circular 0008/2011 | Yes No | |||||
Standardisation of school year | Circular 0034/2011 | Yes No | |||||
Valid enrolment of pupils | Section 9(1), 15(2) and 23 Education Act 1998Sections 20 and 21, Education (Welfare) Act 2000
Rules 55, 64, 108 and 123, Rules for National Schools Circular P24/02 Staffing arrangements for the 2013/14 school year Circular 13/2013 |
Yes No | |||||
Pupils repeating a school year | Rule 64 Rules for National Schools, Circular 11/01Circular 32/03 | Yes No | |||||
Annual returns to the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) | Education and Welfare Act 2000 | ||||||
Development of school plan | Section 21, Education Act 1998 | Yes No | |||||
Engagement with SSE process | Circular 39/2012 | ||||||
Appointments to posts of responsibility | Circular 16/73, Circular 07/03, Circular 053/2011 | Yes No | |||||
Time for literacy and numeracy – assessing and reporting literacy and numeracy achievement | Circular 0056/11, Circular 0066/2011, Circular 0018/2012 | Yes No | |||||
Exemption from Irish | Circular 12/96 | Yes No | |||||
Implementation of child protection procedures | Circular 0065/2011
Please record the following in relation to child protection
|
Yes No | |||||
▪ Number of cases where a report involving a child in the school was submitted by the DLP to the HSE
▪ Number of cases where a report involving a child in the school was submitted by the DLP to the HSE and the school board of management informed
▪ Number of cases where the DLP sought advice from the HSE and as a result of this advice, no report was made
▪ Number of cases where the DLP sought advice from the HSE and as a result of this advice, no report was made and the school board of management informed |
_____
_____
_____
_____
|
||||||
Implementation of complaints procedure as appropriate | Complaints Procedures, Section 28 Education ActPrimary Boards of Management Information Manual November 2007
Please record the following in relation to complaints
|
Yes No | |||||
▪ Number of formal parental complaints received
▪ Number of formal complaints processed
▪ Number of formal complaints not fully processed by the end of this school year
|
_____
_____
_____
|
||||||
Refusal to enrol | Section 29 Education Act 1998
Please record information in relation to appeals taken in accordance with Section 29 against the school during this school year |
||||||
Number of section 29 cases taken against the school
Number of cases processed at informal stage
Number of cases heard
Number of appeals upheld
Number of appeals dismissed |
|||||||
Suspension of students | Section 29 Education Act 1998
Please record the following information in relation to appeals taken in accordance with Section 29 against the school during this school year
|
||||||
Number of section 29 cases taken against the school
Number of cases processed at informal stage
Number of cases heard
Number of appeals upheld
Number of appeals dismissed
|
|||||||
Expulsion of students | Section 29 Education Act 1998
Please record the following information in relation to appeals taken in accordance with Section 29 against the school during this school year |
||||||
Number of section 29 cases taken against the school
Number of cases processed at informal stage
Number of cases heard
Number of appeals upheld
Number of appeals dismissed
|