Castledockrell N.S.

Our Self-Evaluation Report and Improvement Plan October 2018

1. Introduction
This document records the outcomes of our last improvement plan, the findings of this self-evaluation, and our
current improvement plan, including targets and the actions we will implement to meet the targets.

1.1 Outcomes of our last improvement plan from 04/2015 to 07/2015 in the area of Literacy
 An increase in the % of children scoring above the 50th percentile
 An increase in the % of children scoring above the 85th percentile
 An increase in comprehension scores so that they are more in line with vocabulary scores
 An increase in awareness and use of comprehension strategies among pupils/parents and development of
children’s writing ability in all genres

1.2 The focus of this evaluation

We undertook self-evaluation of teaching and learning during the period (05/2018) to (10/2018). We evaluated the
following aspect(s) of teaching and learning:
 Curricular area of Art
 Teaching of and pupil engagement across all six strands of the art curriculum

2. Findings

2.1 This is effective / very effective practice in our school

List the main strengths of the school in teaching and learning.

 All teachers enjoy teaching art and do so at least once a week as allocated/recommended by the NCCA
 Teachers cover all strands of the curriculum throughout the year and have a good level of skill and
knowledge of most strands
 Pupils look forward to and enjoy the weekly art lessons
 Arts education is valued highly within this school

2.2. This is how we know

List the evidence sources. Refer to pupils’ dispositions, attainment, knowledge and skills.
 Pupils expressed a very positive attitude and high engagement level with Art as a subject.
 Art portfolios are maintained for all pupils throughout the school and artwork is displayed
 Pupils have been commended and won many competitions in the wider school community for their art
projects

2.3 This is what we are going to focus on to improve our practice further
Specify the aspects of teaching and learning the school has identified and prioritised for further improvement.
 Focus on one strand, “Fabric and Fibre”, and improve on how it is taught and the content/skills being taught.
 Develop the traditional skill of knitting so as to improve pupil’s engagement and enjoyment of the Fabric and
Fibre strand.
 Involve all members of the school community and open up to the wider community.

3. Our improvement plan

On the next page we have recorded:
 The targets for improvement we have set
 The actions we will implement to achieve these
 Who is responsible for implementing, monitoring and reviewing our improvement plan
 How we will measure progress and check outcomes (criteria for success)
As we implement our improvement plan we will record:
 The progress made, and adjustments made, and when
 Achievement of targets (original and modified), and when
 Our Improvement Plan
Timeframe of this improvement plan is from November 2018 to March 2019

Persons / groups Progress and

Targets Actions Criteria for success Targets achieved
responsible adjustments
-To introduce knitting in -Invite any parents who -Teachers and staff are -Children have improved -Progress will be
all classes in order to expressed an interest responsible for drawing attitudes and engagement measured by comparing
improve pupils and/or ability to join us up and implementing this with the strand “Fabric initial surveys with a
engagement and for the knitting project. improvement plan. and Fibre”. survey at the end of the
enjoyment of the Fabric project.
and Fibre strand. -Invite any members of -E. stone is responsible for -All children have
the wider community who creating buddy system developed a basic level of -Pupils attitude and
-To invite and include have expressed an based on ability and skill. engagement will be
parents/wider community interest and/or ability to assigned a mentor. monitored throughout the
in the knitting project over join us for the knitting -Most children have a knitting project.
an 8-10 week in order to project. good level of skill and
improve and increase -D. Ryan is responsible for have knitted a basic craft. -Children’s skill levels will
parental involvement and -Timetable 8-10 week invited parent/members be measured and
community involvement block in term 2 for the of the wider community -Parents and members of monitored at the
within the school. knitting project. to be Garda vetted and the wider community beginning of the project
become involved in the express some enjoyment and again at the end.
-That most children will be -Audit current school project. of the project and the
able to do basic resources and home/school link is -Parental attitudes and
knitting/knit basic crafts purchase/source -H. Johnston is responsible improved. engagement will be
by the end of the knitting additional resources. for auditing and sources closely monitored
project. suitable patterns/crafts -Teachers feel more throughout the project.
-Identify basic and required resources. knowledgeable and
-That each child will patterns/crafts of varying confident of the strand -Teachers will monitor
complete a plain knit difficulty. -All teachers will closely Fabric and Fibre. and reflect on their own
20x20 square monitor progress and learning and development
-Create a buddy system review this improvement -Teachers and children throughout the project.
-To create a greater for older/younger children plan. engage with the spinning
awareness and to work together and & weaving workshop
appreciation of traditional assign a mentor (adult) to -D. Ryan will research and through the Heritage in
crafts (knitting, weaving, each. book an outside expert in Schools Programme.
spinning) -Organise an outsider the area of fabric & Fibre-
expert to visit the school knitting