Internal Evaluation
Newpark seeks to improve as a school and in line with best practice, engages in School Improvement Planning (SIP) and School Self-Evaluation (SSE). In response to emerging evidence, the focus of this planning and evaluation changes on an annual or biennial basis, but always with the overall aim of improving one or more of learning, teaching, assessment and reporting (TLAR) in the school.
In the past, planning and evaluation has focused on improving areas ranging from the transition year program and literacy and numeracy to effective feedback and learner reflection and goal setting.
In 2021/2022, one of our focuses for school improvement was lesson planning in the context of one-hour classes. While it was evident from consultation and feedback that one-hour lessons had improved teaching, learning, assessment, and reporting (TLAR) across the school, further improvement to the student experience was sought by supporting teachers in adapting their lesson planning to suit one-hour lessons. Staff meeting time in 2021/2022 was dedicated to professional development sessions with both external and internal facilitators. Success in this area has been evident through ongoing feedback from staff and students and the effectiveness of one-hour lessons continues to be monitored in the context of ongoing SSE focuses.
In 2022/2023, in accordance with Circular Letter 0056/2022, the School Self-Evaluation process was used to review the impact of Covid-19 on student experiences, outcomes, wellbeing, motivation, and engagement with learning. Accordingly, the focus for the academic year was a) managing student anxiety within the school community and b) the effective use of technology to improve and support learning and teaching in the school. In relation to the former, the school liaised with Dr Claire Hayes, Clinical Psychologist, who delivered in-person training sessions to students, staff, and parents/guardians. Dr Hayes taught us about understanding and managing our own anxieties, about ‘gentle tough love’ and about ‘the ABC Coping Sentence’ (‘I feel… because (I think)… but I choose…’). Based on evaluation and positive feedback, Dr Hayes’ programme remains available to the school community. In relation to the latter, the initial focus was that teachers would grow their confidence in using IT to increase engagement and collaboration in their classroom, and specifically that teachers would increase their use of One Note Class Notebook in their practice.
In 2023/2024 and for 2024/2025, the focus continues to be on a) managing student anxiety within the school community and b) the effective use of technology to improve and support learning and teaching in the school, with the addition of c) collaboration in teaching, learning, assessment and reporting (TLAR). Improving collaboration in TLAR was an indirect recommendation in the WSE-MLL (2020) report and teachers in the school are seeking to improve their ‘community of practice’, via teach meets, carousels, and peer observation.
External Evaluation
The Department of Education Inspectorate visits Newpark intermittently for a range of advisory, evaluation and research inspections. This engagement seeks to support the school in its continued improvement. Reports from inspections are available on the Department of Education website gov.ie/education. A link to each report can also be found below.
Supporting the Safe Provision of Schooling report, October 2021
DCG & Construction Studies Inspection 2013
Science & Physics Inspection 2011
Metalwork & Engineering Inspection 2009
