Statutory INSET in schools - June 2013
This report is published in response to a request for advice from the Welsh Government in the Minister’s annual remit letter to Estyn for 2012-2013. The report examines the use of the five statutory days allocated for in-service training (INSET – an acronym for IN-SErvice Training) in primary, secondary and special schools. The report includes case studies of best practice.The report is based on evidence from visits to 15 schools, and scrutiny of data and inspection outcomes. Seventy-six schools and nine local authorities returned a questionnaire to Estyn. The report is intended for the Welsh Government, headteachers and staff in schools and local authorities. It may also be of interest to teacher trainers and to church diocesan education authorities.
Recommendations
Schools should:
- focus more on national priorities in INSET activities, such as tackling the impact of poverty on achievement;
- make sure that INSET is linked closely to the priorities identified for school improvement;
- seek ways of involving learning support staff in INSET so that they can contribute fully to school improvement; and
- improve the evaluation of INSET by monitoring its impact on staff performance and pupil outcomes.
Local authorities should:
- support schools in monitoring and evaluating the impact of INSET; and
- collate information about effective INSET and disseminate to all schools.
The Welsh Government should:
- provide guidance to help schools monitor and evaluate the impact of INSET on pupils’ performance.