Hi
Well after a grueling week we had the subject inspection on Thursday and Friday. Firstly the result was fantastic- we got Outstanding across all 4 areas (Achievement, Leadership and management, Curriculum and Teaching & Learning)!!! So obviously we are very very very pleased!
In terms of advice/ tips:
Handbook- I know people said don't worry about that but my Head was insistent I updated it and probably a jolly good job I did as he went through every page and quizzed me on bits in my meeting with him- so make sure this is up to date. It was a job I had been meaning to do for the last year but unsurprisingly it kept being pushed back as more important things needed to be done- but I would advise that you think about it sooner rather than later because if i had then the stress levels would have been considerably less this week as all my work on Tuesday and Wednesday was on this.
Make sure your SEF is as detailed with information as possible. He didn't spend too long talking about data in our meeting (less than I thought he might) as it was all there in black and white with very detailed analysis. Individual teacher ownership was a big focus and he seemed impressed that they did so much of their own analysis of each year group (we have to analyse yr 7-13 in our SEF) and then i collated it.
Our Head bought in a supply teacher for the whole week for me to use as I saw fit. This meant I could cover myself for the umpteen meetings I had and give me time to do a lot of little jobs ready for the inspector. I also gave each member of my dept 2-3 periods during the week of cover so they could get photocopying/ planning/ tidying done. I think they found this really useful. I would really ask for this if you ever get the phone call- and the key thing was that I was allowed to do the supply teacher's timetable so it really benefited us. I was also asked which supply teacher I wanted so I chose a lady who was well known in our school and was fab- couldn't have made it through the week without her.
We also asked for the school to stay open a bit later every night so we could get all the jobs done we needed to.
A couple of things he specifically asked about were obviously pupil progress- he liked the tracking sheets/ grids in the front of their books and folders and that every pupil knew their target and how to progress. (As well as the monitoring we do of them).
He was also keen on pupil voice and what we did to utilize this- so i made sure there were plenty of examples and analysis of this (fieldwork, other visits, new sow/ units etc).
Fieldwork- i drew up a plan of what fieldwork we do and how it has changed over the last 4 years since I've been HOD at the school- for outstanding there needs to be a regularity, range of places visited and progression in the work and follow up done from yr 7-13.
Work sampling- he looked at my notes on this and did compare this to the work samples he looked at so make sure you keep photocopies of the feedback you give staff.
Geography in the News- he asked all the groups of pupils he met about what was going on in the news that was Geography related- I had told them he might ask- so they had thank fully done their HW (as well as talking about what they've been studying in class). In the one Travel and Tourism lesson he went to the member of staff being observed did a plenary on the issues in Tunisia which he specifically commented on to me as being impressed by.
Go through the subject specific criteria for a Geog inspection and highlight the sections where you think you are (annotate this with where to find the evidence)- I then copied this for him and gave it to him.
This probably shouldn't be last but little gestures of support for your dept- my head of fac and I wrote cards for each of the dept on Monday thanking them in advance for their support and offering our help, I also bought them all a little box of chocs (in case they needed a sugar boost during the week!) and I made sure they knew they could ring me at any time for help or advice. I have also got them a little something and a thank you card to give them all tomorrow.
I have also bought little chocs for other people who supported us e.g. cleaners, care takers, office staff and some for the staff room as so many people offered help and found things for me at the drop of a hat or volunteered to do our break duties or take any 'challenging' pupils if we needed it (which we didn't), some offered to come in early or stay late with us to do copying/ tidying or cutting up card sorts etc- many of these people we didn't call on but the sheer fact that people offered made a big difference. A member of my fac in the History dept bought in croissants and coffee on Friday morning for us! and little bars of choc kept appearing in our pigeon holes from various members of staff! It all just consolidated for me what a fabulously supportive staff there is at my school- new staff who come to my school comment on it all the time, but it is at really stressful time like that, that it really shows.
There are probably a few other things which I can't think of as i have purposefully switched my brain off school- mode this weekend so I will add them if I think of them.
Hope this has been of help!
Eva x
