As we continue to look ahead to our inspection from HMIe, which may take place before the summer holidays, our final Friday Focus provides details for parents and carers on what Cathedral’s inspection will entail.
MONDAY
The inspection team will arrive at the school around 12.30pm.
The Managing Inspector will meet with the Headteacher and the local authority Improvement Officer. The discussion will focus on the school’s self-evaluation and other supporting documentation submitted in advance of the inspection, and on the school’s approaches to safeguarding. The discussion is also likely to involve planning for inspection activities during the remainder of the visit.
While this meeting is taking place, the remainder of the inspection team will begin inspection activities, including class visits.
During the afternoon, the Chairperson of the Parent Council usually meets with an inspector and/or the inspection team’s lay member.
Where a lay member is part of the team she/he may also meet with children (P4 upwards) and focus groups of parents, from Monday afternoon onwards, until they leave the school, usually by the end of the day on Tuesday.
TUESDAY
The priority for the inspection team is to get into classes to observe learning and teaching.
The lay member will continue to engage with parents through looking at aspects of their partnership activities with the school, and with focus groups of pupils.
Usually, at the end of the day, a session will be organised to allow staff to engage individually in professional dialogue about features of their work that they wish to share with members of the inspection team.
WEDNESDAY – THURSDAY/FRIDAY
Inspection activity – class visits, meetings and focus groups – continue.
At the conclusion of the inspection activity, which could be anytime between Thursday morning and Friday morning, a meeting will be arranged to discuss the findings with the Headteacher. A representative from the education authority may also attend. During the meeting, inspectors (including the Care Inspector where inspections have included a nursery class) will share pre-quality assured gradings of the Quality Indicators for the school with the Headteacher, who is asked to keep these confidential, sharing only with the education authority and the senior team within the school, until the draft letter of inspection findings is received.
The Headteachers will share high level messages and key strengths and aspects for development with staff as soon as possible after the visit is complete.
A more detailed outline of what Cathedral’s inspection will look like can be accessed via the link below:
