The Preliminary VisitThe Preliminary VisitPurpose, Focus and Guiding ConceptsPurpose, Focus and Guiding Concepts

Margaret AlvarezMargaret AlvarezAssociate Director of CIS Accreditation ServicesAssociate Director of CIS Accreditation Services

June 2010June 2010

The Preliminary /Preparatory VisitThe Preliminary /Preparatory VisitThe beginning of the journeyThe beginning of the journey

Preliminary/Preparatory VisitPreliminary/Preparatory Visit(Unchanged from the 7(Unchanged from the 7THTH Edition) Edition)

This is designed to:This is designed to:

• Clarify the evaluation process and procedures.Clarify the evaluation process and procedures.

• Validate “Prior Information” received from the school.Validate “Prior Information” received from the school.

• Ascertain the school’s readiness to undertake the self-Ascertain the school’s readiness to undertake the self-study, and give advice on priorities.study, and give advice on priorities.

• Agree a timeline for next stages.Agree a timeline for next stages.

Conceptual Shifts/Enhanced Conceptual Shifts/Enhanced EmphasisEmphasis

Support the development of a climate of Support the development of a climate of reflection within the schoolreflection within the school

Support the school in eliminating silos and Support the school in eliminating silos and successfully developing school-wide systemssuccessfully developing school-wide systems

Support the school in developing a mission led Support the school in developing a mission led and vision driven approach to school and vision driven approach to school improvementimprovement

Encourage school-wide ownership for change Encourage school-wide ownership for change through school improvement.through school improvement.

Gauge the school’s commitment to improvement Gauge the school’s commitment to improvement and capacity for change. and capacity for change.

Support schools in developing/gathering critical Support schools in developing/gathering critical documentation for the processdocumentation for the process

The Mechanics of the Preliminary/Preparatory The Mechanics of the Preliminary/Preparatory VisitVisit

Prior Information and Reflection FormPrior Information and Reflection Form (Information you receive from the school prior to the Visit) (Information you receive from the school prior to the Visit)

Component One- Component One- Gathering of Basic InformationGathering of Basic Information

o School Name: School Name: o School Foundation Date:School Foundation Date:o School’s Official Status: School’s Official Status: o Facts on School Governance and Management:Facts on School Governance and Management:o Students - number of nationalities; statistically most important nationalities:Students - number of nationalities; statistically most important nationalities:o Range of Grades or Year-Groups: Range of Grades or Year-Groups: o Academic Staff - numbers; statistically most important nationalities:Support Academic Staff - numbers; statistically most important nationalities:Support

Staff - numbers; statistically most important nationalities: Staff - numbers; statistically most important nationalities: o List of academic programmes:List of academic programmes:o Very brief description of the school’s physical facilities:Very brief description of the school’s physical facilities:o Accreditation history of the school:Accreditation history of the school:o Date of submission of this Prior Information:Date of submission of this Prior Information:

Prior Information and Reflection Form cont’dPrior Information and Reflection Form cont’d

Component Two-Component Two- Reflective Statements Reflective Statements- The Head of School should provide a thoughtful, reflective statement on where - The Head of School should provide a thoughtful, reflective statement on where the school has been, where it is now, and where it should be. This statement the school has been, where it is now, and where it should be. This statement should provide insight into the school’s history of school improvement, should provide insight into the school’s history of school improvement, weaknesses, strengths, and future challenges.weaknesses, strengths, and future challenges.

  

- The Governing Body (or Ownership) should provide a reflective statement on the - The Governing Body (or Ownership) should provide a reflective statement on the challenges facing the school from the Governing Body/Owners’ point of view.challenges facing the school from the Governing Body/Owners’ point of view.

- A small, manageable committee of teachers, administrators, parents, students, - A small, manageable committee of teachers, administrators, parents, students, and others should be assembled to create responses to the following questions:and others should be assembled to create responses to the following questions:

  • What are the main challenges facing: the school? the faculty? the parents? the students? What are the main challenges facing: the school? the faculty? the parents? the students?

• What changes/additions have been made over the last two years and what additional What changes/additions have been made over the last two years and what additional

changes/additions/improvements are planned?changes/additions/improvements are planned?

  

Prior Information and Reflection Form Prior Information and Reflection Form cont’dcont’d

Component Three-Component Three- Document Collection Document Collection

The school’s Guiding Statements (mission, vision, The school’s Guiding Statements (mission, vision, objectives, etc.)objectives, etc.)

The financial template required in the Self-Study (sent with The financial template required in the Self-Study (sent with this form)this form)

Strategic Plan or equivalent (including financial aspects)Strategic Plan or equivalent (including financial aspects) Current budgetCurrent budget By-lawsBy-laws Faculty/parent/and student handbooksFaculty/parent/and student handbooks Curriculum guidesCurriculum guides The Board of Trustees policy handbookThe Board of Trustees policy handbook

Prior Information and Reflection Form Prior Information and Reflection Form Cont’dCont’d

Component Four-Component Four- Reflection on the school’s Reflection on the school’s current standing with respect to the current standing with respect to the standards – standards – similar to the exercise undertaken similar to the exercise undertaken under the 7under the 7thth Edition Edition

Preliminary Visit SchedulePreliminary Visit Schedule

Day OneDay One Tour of the SchoolTour of the School Orientation Meeting (one hour)Orientation Meeting (one hour) Meetings with Section A-G committees, parents, students, the Meetings with Section A-G committees, parents, students, the

Board.Board.

Day TwoDay Two Further Meetings with Section A-G committees., parents, Further Meetings with Section A-G committees., parents,

students, the Boardstudents, the Board

Day ThreeDay Three Conclusion of meetings with Section A-G committees , parents, Conclusion of meetings with Section A-G committees , parents,

students, the Boardstudents, the Board Exit MeetingExit Meeting

Day FourDay Four Self Study WorkshopSelf Study Workshop

The Orientation MeetingThe Orientation Meeting

PurposePurpose

To help the Visitors to further their understanding of:To help the Visitors to further their understanding of:

• The school’s Guiding Statements and the values that underpin The school’s Guiding Statements and the values that underpin them.them.

• The ways in which the Guiding Statements impact student The ways in which the Guiding Statements impact student learning and well being.learning and well being.

• The extent to which the Guiding Statements are embedded in The extent to which the Guiding Statements are embedded in the school’s programmes and operations. the school’s programmes and operations. 

This meeting also affords the school an opportunity to demonstrate This meeting also affords the school an opportunity to demonstrate the level of knowledge and acceptance of its Guiding Statements the level of knowledge and acceptance of its Guiding Statements and its ability to critically analyse its effectiveness in putting them and its ability to critically analyse its effectiveness in putting them into action.into action.

The Orientation MeetingThe Orientation Meeting

FormatFormat

• A pre-prepared presentation- not a re-prepared presentation- not a promotional type presentation but a reflective promotional type presentation but a reflective piece which highlights effective as well as less piece which highlights effective as well as less effective practices.effective practices.

• Community testimonies.Community testimonies.• Portfolio presentations.Portfolio presentations.• A combination of any of the above.A combination of any of the above.

  

POINTS TO EMPHASIZEPOINTS TO EMPHASIZE

88thth Edition Concept Diagram Edition Concept DiagramCourtesy: Jonathan Evans, April 2009Courtesy: Jonathan Evans, April 2009

Suggested Self Study Report SequenceSuggested Self Study Report Sequence

Guiding Statements &

Part 1

Discussion of findings

Teaching and LearningCommittees

Section B

Synthesis of findings + creation of umbrellavertical report.

List of implicationsfor sections C - G

Committees C - G

Discussion of findings

Part 3Action Plans

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 4

The Accreditation Process as the Vehicle for The Accreditation Process as the Vehicle for School ImprovementSchool Improvement

Remind schools of the support given for the journey ahead!