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1. The Head of
Department must keep meticulous minutes to all meetings including departmental
and working parties etc. These should be kept in an indexed folder or filed
away carefully. Ensure that references to previous minutes include action(s) taken following the previous meetings.
2. It may be advisable to have certain
topics constantly on the agenda, for instance, Health and Safety.
3.Have regular, additional, informal,
departmental meetings where the only item on the agenda is an aspect of
the OFSTED inspection. Start these meetings at the beginning of the year
of a possible inspection date. This will give you plenty of time to
organise vital paper work and prepare staff. Take one aspect of the
inspection at a time, e.g. schemes of work. Ask for all staff to
contribute to the writing of schemes. This is good professional
development and it also spreads the workload. Set dates for the completion
of each aspect of the inspection material. |
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4. Schemes of work
most be prepared in detail. Also, it is a good idea for the schemes to be
a team effort. It may be advisable for the department to apply for the
W.A.T.T. Quality mark. This is free and is a useful process to go through.
It also allows the department to apply the quality mark to schemes or
project work showing that the schemes/work have been carefully considered
and vetted. Each member of staff should be issued with an overall
calendar/plan that contains important dates such as the change over of
classes
and a simple outline of schemes of work. (See
the schemes of work on this site) |
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5. The Head of
Department should regularly carry out performance management of staff
within the department. Keep rigidly to the performance management
guidelines in your school. Do not fall behind and keep detailed records of
lesson observations and staff interviews. Although this takes time you
should find that lesson cover is available. If it is not available
approach your teaching union or professional association immediately.
Remember, Heads of Department should also be observed and go through the
performance management procedure. |
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6. Look carefully
at the Departmental Policy Document on the W.A.T.T. site (click
here). Compare it to
your existing document and update it regularly. Do not forget the policy
document from one OFSTED to the next. Writing or updating a policy
document in the days approaching an OFSTED is very time consuming and
increases the pressure on the head of department. Ensure that all staff
receive updates to the policy document regularly and that they read it
and understand it. A very good idea is to involve all staff in its
construction. Apply for a W.A.T.T. Quality mark, completing the
application form. This will show that you are applying a standard to your
work. Read advice given in the sample policy document and take appropriate
steps. |
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7. Make sure that
all staff have opportunities to view the lessons of others in the
department. Keep records of evaluations written by staff. This has the
added advantage that staff get use to being observed, making it easier
during an OFSTED inspection. |
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8. Regularly check
staff record books and sign them at least each month. Ensure that the
record books include class lists with appropriate coding for SEN pupils
and Gifted and Talented pupils etc..... Ensure that staff keep a simple
record of each lesson and regularly set/record homework. |
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9. Ask senior
management to carry out an informal/helpful review of all paperwork. They
may be able to indicate any weak areas that need improvement or suggest
additions. Although contentious, it may be a good idea for senior
management to observe some lessons using the OFSTED criteria. |
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10. Make sure the
all staff understand what is expected of them during an inspection. Most staff
will only be concerned with lesson observations. It may be helpful if all
staff keep to a similar lesson format. For example, start by line up all
classes outside the workshops/classrooms. When pupils enter the classroom the teacher gives a recap on the previous lesson
and then introduces the lesson content. It may be that all lessons have a practical
aspect and finish with a conclusion in the form of questioning by the
teacher. As much or as little detail can be added to the basic lesson
outline. |
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11. Ensure that
risk assessments have been carried out for all the schemes of work. This
may be time consuming but once it has been done, each assessment can be
updated when necessary. Meticulous OFTSED inspectors may ask for these.
Also, make sure that all staff have received health and safety training
(DATA course recommended). More importantly ensure that during every
lesson health and safety is given a top priority and that teachers are
seen by all pupils carrying out checks of equipment, ensuring goggles are
used etc..... If health and safety organisation is poor during a lesson
this will be stressed by the OFSTED inspector in his / her report. Ensure
that all workshops have the appropriate safety posters displayed. |
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12. Make sure that
all staff leave workshops tidy at the end of each lesson. There is nothing
worse that rushing to a lesson and entering the room to find that the
previous teacher has left the room in a dangerous mess, then the OFSTED
Inspector walks in. Staff must get in the habit of leaving rooms tidy and
safe. This has to be drummed into staff constantly. Heads of department
should inspect classrooms/workshops regularly and point out safety and
tidiness to staff. |
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13. Be prepared for
unforeseen circumstances such as staff absence. Have a number of prepared
information sheets or worksheets ready including video/audio resources.
There is nothing worse than having to cover a member of staff during an
OFSTED week, but it could happen so be prepared. Remember, a specialist
member of staff may not be available so prepared cover work should be easy
to follow for both staff and pupils. |
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14. Write detailed
lesson plans. See the detailed section of this website for advice and
sample lesson plans. (click here for sample
lesson plans) |
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15. All
documentation will be sent to the appropriate inspection team (normally
collected by a senior manager). Give your self plenty of time to complete
all the necessary paperwork. |
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16. Heads of
Department should sample staff
marking throughout the year, especially leading up to an OFSTED. Ensure all staff
write comments on pupil work as well as a grade according to the
departmental policy. Comments should include points suggesting
improvements and those that applaud other aspects. Keep all pupil folders,
as a selection of work will be inspected by the Subject Inspector - for marking and comments. Usually
samples are required from each year and from a range of abilities. |