Many schools plan, deliver and manage their five statutory staff training days effectively
Over the past five years, literacy has received the most attention during INSET and a majority of schools have also included numeracy in their INSET plans. As yet, only a minority of schools have plans to focus on reducing the impact of poverty on attainment in 2012-2013.
Ann Keane, Chief Inspector, says,
“The quality of teaching is one of the greatest influences on pupils’ standards and INSET can help schools to bring about improvements in teaching by sharing good practice. Schools have a key role to play in helping pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve more and to tackle the gap between pupils’ performance so it is disappointing that this has not been a high priority for INSET activities.
“Managers need to do more to evaluate the impact of INSET – to find out whether INSET improves staff knowledge and skills or pupil outcomes and provides value for money.”
During INSET, schools are closed to pupils while staff are involved in a wide range of training activities. More and more schools are choosing to use the expertise of their own staff to deliver INSET instead of using external training companies. Many schools also work with other schools on joint INSET which helps to share good practice and the costs of training. In the best schools, learning support staff are also involved in planning and leading INSET.
The best INSET engages staff actively in seminars, workshops and discussing demonstration lessons. For example, Y Pant Comprehensive School in Rhondda Cynon Taf has a strong culture as a learning community. Senior managers plan INSET days based on school priorities and suggestions from staff. This has resulted in a dynamic, highly professional and valuable programme, covering topics such as raising the achievement of boys, teaching philosophy and how best to use learning support assistants.
The full report includes nine ‘best practice’ case studies from primary, secondary and special schools. It also makes recommendations for schools, local authorities and the Welsh Government to make sure that INSET is linked closely to priorities for school improvement, that the impact of INSET is evaluated and that learning support staff should be involved as well as teachers.
Notes to Editors:
About the report
- Estyn’s report ‘Statutory INSET in schools’ was commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government and is available in full here.
- The evidence base of the report includes visits to 15 schools and scrutiny of data and inspection outcomes and the results of a questionnaire completed by 76 schools and nine local authorities.
Best practice case studies (Annex 1 of the report)
- Y Pant Comprehensive School, Rhondda Cynon Taf
- Bryngwyn Secondary School, Camarthenshire
- Llangyndir Community Primary School, Powys
- Ysgol Abercaseg, Gwynedd
- St Mark’s Primary School, Pembrokeshire
- Ynysddu Primary School, Caerphilly
- Ty Gwyn School, Cardiff
- Flint High School, Flintshire
About Estyn
Estyn is the Education and Training Inspectorate for Wales. Our aim is to achieve excellence for all in learning in Wales. We do this by providing an independent, high-quality inspection and advice service.
Our vision is to be recognised through the expertise of our staff as an authoritative voice on learning in Wales.
We are independent from, but funded by the Welsh Assembly Government (under Section 104 of the Government of Wales Act 1998).
For further information please visit our website www.estyn.gov.uk