How I Would Prepare for a WSE
This is a post in response to a couple of questions which I received on Instagram over the weekend, it seems some have WSE’s looming on the horizon! While I have never experienced a WSE, here is what I would do personally as a class teacher to prepare!
Educate yourself on what a WSE is: https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/education/primary-and-post-primary-education/teachers-and-schools/schools-inspectorate/ Have a think about what they may be looking out for. This may include teaching quality, student engagement, curriculum delivery, assessment practices, and classroom management. Focus on the key areas such as student progress, learning environments, and evidence of differentiation within your teaching. These are all obvious things you do anyway but just be more aware of them!
Prepare your Classroom:
Ensure your classroom is clean, organised, and visually engaging. Ensure your displays are up to date and tie in with whatever theme or topic you are covering. Show student progress where ever you can. Display or have evidence of student work that shows progress over time. It could be in the form of your assessment folder, art work, portfolios, student led assessment, teacher observation notes and so on.
Prepare your lessons and resources:
Ensure your planning is clear and well-structured. Be prepared to articulate the learning objectives and expected outcomes to the inspectors. Don’t get too caught up in the planning process. Once you can stand over your planning, link it to the curriculum and show student progress and engagement then that should be enough! Show that you’re using a variety of teaching methods to engage all learning needs within the classroom. Evidence of differentiation is important. Be ready to show how you assess student learning and provide constructive feedback. Try show a variety of assessment methods where possible.
Reflect on your teaching practice. Think about what’s going well, areas for improvement, and how you’re continuously developing your teaching. Inspectors may ask how you assess your own teaching and professional growth.
Collaborate with your co teacher! Meet with your co teacher to align teaching strategies and ensure consistency across the school. It’s helpful to coordinate on common practices, routines, and expectations. Collaborating can help streamline preparation and ensure everyone is on the same page.
Prepare students: Let students know that there will be an inspection. This can help ease any anxiety and make them feel more comfortable. You can remind them about the routines and behaviours expected during the visit. In some inspections, students may be asked for feedback. Encourage them to express their learning experiences and what they enjoy about the classroom environment.
Familiarise yourself with whole school policies: . Understand the school’s approach to safeguarding, inclusion, and behaviour management to name a few! The policies are usually all available on the school’s website. Be aware of the current goals of the school and how your teaching ties in with them. This could include initiatives like improving literacy, implementing new teaching strategies, or improving student and staff well-being.
Be calm and professional. I know it seems very daunting but you teach every day, day in , day out. You know what you are doing! I personally can stand over my teaching methods and practices so I wouldn’t be too thrown by an inspection. Remember while the inspection can feel high-pressure, they are not there to catch you out! Use it as an opportunity to show your excellent teaching skills. Approach the inspection with confidence and a positive attitude and it’ll go a long way! Even if there are areas for improvement, it’s important to be open to feedback. No-one is perfect and self reflection is important.
Be prepared to explain your teaching: When the inspector speaks with you, be ready to explain your teaching methods, how you engage students, and how you assess their learning. You know your class better than anyone else and there’s reasons for everything we do as teachers within our classrooms. If asked about specific aspects of your teaching, explain the reasoning behind your choices. Whether it’s about teaching methods, differentiation, behaviour management, being able to explain your teaching and classroom management is important.
Perhaps most importantly, is to look after yourself and relax! Do not get too stressed and caught up in the inspection. Just do your job as you always do, and get your rest and relaxation in the evenings. Best of luck to anyone with upcoming inspections!
This link may also be helpful: https://www.educatetogether.ie/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/a_guide_to_whole_school_evaluation_in_primary_schools.pdf