Course Details
School self-evaluation for primary subject leaders: classroom monitoring
School self-evaluation is a massive subject, covering issues such as leadership and management, school culture and climate, links with the community and value for money. But arguably the most fundamental aspect of self-evaluation is the monitoring of teaching and learning in the classroom.
This course aims to provide subject leaders in primary schools with the knowledge and understanding they require to carry out effective classroom monitoring in their areas of responsibility. For the purposes of this course, the term 'classroom monitoring' covers watching and examining teaching and learning in action, and analysing pupil performance.
The course will assist in the professional development of all who hold subject or curriculum area leadership in a primary school or who are responsible for a key stage or similar (perhaps a year group), or who aspire to such a role.
As you work through the course, you will:
- analyse the classroom monitoring carried out currently in your area, and consider how it contributes directly and indirectly to your pupils’ learning
- reflect on the effectiveness of your current policies and procedures for classroom monitoring
- develop your knowledge and understanding of how you can lead and manage classroom monitoring more effectively
There's a similar course on classroom monitoring for school leaders, and a separate course for subject leaders in secondary schools. There’s also a more general course for governors/Board members. For these courses to have the most effect in your school, all the courses should be taken at the same time by the appropriate group, as much of the work, activities, reflection and study overlap. Staff members at your school would then have considerable common understanding on how to move the school forward.
However, if that’s not feasible, this course will stand alone and help subject leaders undertake their responsibilities in classroom monitoring procedures with more confidence and understanding.
Author Biography
Meet the course author:
Douglas MacIldowie has taught in five secondary schools, for seven years as deputy head and from 1983 to 1997 as headteacher. He currently tutors NPQH candidates at the London Leadership Centre. Other activities include consultancy with international schools in Europe, inspection, developing educational materials and providing staff training programmes. He was a secondary school governor for twenty-five years, and is currently governor of a Church of England primary school.