East Sussex Peer Review

A proposal from the Steering Group for School Alliances

A Definition

Peer review is the evaluation of creative work or performance by other people in the same field in order to maintain or enhance the quality of work or performance in that field.

Peer review is used extensively in a variety of professional fields for example in medicine, law, scientific research and academia.

*To raise standards in school through peer review and challenge.

*To improve performance across East Sussex through greater partnership working.

*To develop new talent and the leadership skills of existing senior leaders.

*To support all East Sussex schools to be good or outstanding.

*To identify and share best practice.

*Led by NLE/LLE

*Team of four to include:

Lead NLE/LLE/other headteacher

Relevant senior leader/SLE from another school

Host school member

AN other (could be another SLT member of host school, LA

Advisor or other relevant expert)

*Host school to provide SEF, Raise Online, last Ofsted report, Improvement plan etc.

*School to identify focus (subject/aspect/Ofsted area e.g. achievement, teaching, closing the gap, behaviour, L&M)

*Agree protocols

*Lesson observations

*Learning walk

*Work scrutiny

*Meetings (SLT, governor, middle level leaders, parents)

*Student voice – formal and informal

*Staff voice

*A report will be written in an Ofsted style with judgements and recommendations and copied to the Chair of Governors. Not Ofsted grades.

*Two models – one initiated by host school, the other commissioned by the Local Authority.

*In the case of the LA commissioning the review, the final report would be given to the LA as well as the school.

*Pilots will be undertaken during Term 1 2013 – 2014.

*We have approached Ofsted for advice and they have agreed to give training to a small group of NLE/LLE/SLEs and Headteachers who will be leading reviews.

*HMI will be joining pilots for two days. Day 1: training, using live evidence of pilot school. Day 2: supporting the live review in the host school.

*Costs to include NLE/LLE/SLE fees plus any relevant supply and travel costs of other team members.

*A team of 4, depending on make-up, would cost around £1,500.

*A small school would have 3 in a team.

*Independent review of the school which supports your own self evaluation.*The make up of the team ensures there is someone who always understands the school’s context.*If the school has identified the need for a peer review, it demonstrates strategic thinking and a willingness to adapt, change and move forward as well as listen. *Increasingly less support from the local authority. *Another Headteacher may also have faced similar issues or challenges to you which makes any recommendations to you more meaningful. *Professional dialogue can take place without being threatening.

*SLES have allocated a sum of money to pay for pilot reviews, training and support in the short term.

*Launch the programme

*Develop materials and protocols

*Organise training

*Conduct and review pilots.

*Cascade training to other NLE/LLEs and headteachers interested in leading future reviews.