Follow Through
Follow-through inspections:
Follow-through to inspections of primary, secondary & special schools:
Follow-through is an integral part of the HMIE inspection process. It enables children and young people, parents and other stakeholders to be informed of the progress the school has made in meeting any areas for improvement identified in the initial inspection and in promoting wider achievement among pupils.
At the end of the published report arising from the core inspection, we will indicate in broad terms the nature of follow-through activity likely to be undertaken. This conclusion will be based on a number of factors, but will chiefly reflect how well the school has performed and how ready it is to continue to develop and improve. We will undertake follow-through inspections in schools in which there are significant or major weaknesses in key aspects of the school’s work, particularly in relation to learners’ experiences, meeting learning needs, or improving outcomes for learners. For other schools, we expect education authorities to continue to maintain high standards and work to implement further improvements in aspects which are satisfactory or better. In those schools, parents will be informed about progress as part of the education authority’s arrangements for reporting to parents on the quality of education.
In those schools in which HMIE need to undertake follow-through inspections, a first follow-through inspection visit will take place normally within one year of publication of the original inspection report. If weak aspects have been improved to a level which is satisfactory or better, then we may decide to undertake no further inspection activity in connection with the original inspection. In most cases though, a second follow-through inspection visit will take place within one year of publication of the first follow-through inspection report. If weaknesses identified in the original inspection report have been addressed and provision in these aspects is at a satisfactory or better level then we will normally undertake no further inspection activity in connection with the original inspection. After both the first and second follow-through inspection visits we produce a follow-through inspection report for parents and share our record of visit (ROV) with the school and education authority. The ROV is a technical and professional report on our findings.
Overall, the picture emerging from the follow-through process is a positive one. Most schools in which we undertake follow-through inspection visits successfully address the required areas for improvement and improve the provision they make for their pupils.
Follow-through to joint inspections of child protection in local authority areas:
Similar arrangements as above are in place to follow-through on the outcomes of joint inspections of child protection in local authority areas. Follow-through inspections take place within one year of the publication of the initial inspection report. Where significant weaknesses have been identified, a second follow-through inspection will take place within two years of the initial report.
Follow-through to college reviews:
The follow-through review phase in college reviews will assist the college in preparing an agenda for action to improve the quality of the learner experience. It will:
• be designed to be proportionate to the strengths and points for development identified during the phase one review
• investigate and write up selected examples of sector-leading and innovative practice associated with some of the key strengths identified during the phase one review, and other examples provided by the college
• investigate the causes and extent of any significant weaknesses identified in the learning and teaching process, and learner progress and outcomes during the phase one review
• investigate the impact and causes of any significant weaknesses identified in the leadership and quality management elements.