Confidence statements
HMIE will continue the use of confidence statements to summarise evaluations in the external review of colleges. These will be forward looking and prognostic, based on the trends and track record of the college. Confidence statements will be worded to provide stakeholders with reassurances, or otherwise, about the quality of a college’s provision and its capacity to continue improving. The wording seeks to provide a high level of continuity with the current confidence statements, including caveats, whilst addressing the three key principles:
HMIE is confident/has limited confidence/is not confident that:
and
... is confident ... indicates that the college, which includes staff and learners, has the strong track record, strategy and resources to maintain and enhance the quality of its provision and outcomes for learners. It implies that the college has the capacity and commitment to identify its strengths and areas for development and has effective arrangements in place to build on its strengths and address its areas for development, especially when the areas for development relate to weaknesses that have the potential to undermine the quality of learner experience and outcomes.
... has limited confidence ... indicates that the college has important weaknesses in one or more of: its learning and teaching processes; its outcomes for learners; learner engagement in enhancing their own learning and the life and work of the college; and its leadership and quality culture. These weaknesses, if unaddressed, will lead to deterioration in the quality of the learner experience. The college’s track record of identifying and addressing weaknesses timeously and effectively, and of enhancing quality, may not be consistently strong but the college’s current capacity and commitment to improve is evident.
... is not confident ... indicates that there are important or major weaknesses in the college’s capacity or commitment either at institutional or programme level, or both, to secure, maintain and enhance the quality of its provision and outcomes for learners. There is a high probability that, without significant and comprehensive action with external monitoring and support, the college will fail to improve current low-quality provision and outcomes to an acceptable level. HMIE does not have evidence that the college has the capacity and commitment to identify and implement effective and comprehensive action. Evaluations that lead to a statement of no confidence will be evident in the text of the report of external review.