Strategic Priority 1
Through inspection and reporting, promote public accountability for the delivery of high quality education to all learners in Scotland.
1.1 We will undertake a programme of inspections/ reviews of:
1.2 We will carry out a programme of reviews of FE colleges to be agreed with SFEFC.
1.3 We will issue:
1.4 We will publish:
1.5 We will have 85% of reports on education authorities ready for publication within 12 working weeks of concluding the inspection.
1.6 Where we undertake follow-through visits, we will complete interim inspections within one year of publishing the initial report and complete the follow-through process in 90% of schools and community learning and development services within two years of the initial inspection report.
1.7 For schools where the education authority undertakes the final follow-through visit, we will monitor and report on each authority's performance against this target.
1.8 We will undertake all education authority interim inspections within one year of the publication of the initial report and all other education authority follow-up inspections within two years.
1.9 We will undertake follow-up to reviews of FE colleges as agreed with SFEFC.
1.10 We will develop and agree a new memorandum of understanding and service level agreement with SFEFC for the next cycle of quality assurance activities, co-operating fully with the Council to secure and promote education of the highest quality within FE provision in Scotland.
1.11 We will deploy specialist associate assessors to monitor the implementation of the recommendations of Hungry for Success: A Whole School Approach to School Meals in Scotland in a sample of primary and special schools as part of the general inspection programme.
1.12 We will produce an interim report on progress in implementing the Teachers' Agreement and its impact on the quality of pupils' education. We will undertake, in association with Audit Scotland, further evaluations to inform a final report for Ministers and the Scottish Executive Education Department.
1.13 We will prepare a report for SFEFC on action taken in the further education sector to promote inclusiveness and improve college provision, services and arrangements for students with additional support needs.
1.14 We will complete the development of a new proportionate inspection model for education authorities, including a revision of the quality indicators, which takes account of the views and needs of main stakeholders.
1.15 We will work with the Care Commission to develop and implement a new inspection model for residential special schools.
1.16 We will work with the Care Commission to develop and pilot a new inspection model for boarding establishments.
1.17 We will work with SFEFC and key stakeholders to develop a new review model for FE colleges.
1.18 We will complete a review of community learning and development inspection and develop a new inspection model and draft guidelines.
Strategic Priority 2
Work with other organisations to build capacity to provide education and services for children of the highest quality for all users.
2.1 We will publish reports in our improving series, including:
2.2 We will disseminate good practice on key sectors and aspects of education through seminars, development of a new website area and other media.
2.3 We will publish aspect reports on:
2.4 We will publish advice on quality indicators for enterprise in education.
2.5 We will publish guides in our self-evaluation series, including:
2.6 By 2006, we will have in place a robust system of child protection inspection through a new multidisciplinary inspection programme, using national standards for child protection.
2.7 We will take forward, with other inspectorates and stakeholders, the development of a coherent system of inspection and quality assurance for services for children. The system will be designed to promote continuous improvement in services.
2.8 In partnership with Investors in People (Scotland), we will develop a pack on achieving investors' status through using How good is our school?.
Strategic Priority 3
Support informed policy development by providing high quality, independent, professional advice drawn from inspection and review evidence and knowledge of the system.
3.1 We will provide high quality advice within agreed timescales to:
Strategic Priority 4
Develop and manage HMIE as a best value organisation.
4.1 We will issue a draft publication scheme for HMIE which sets out how the Agency will meet its responsibilities under the Freedom of Information Act.
4.2 We will develop and launch an HMIE web portal.
4.3 We will carry out surveys on the views of key users on the quality of services provided.
4.4 We will achieve Charter Mark reaccreditation.
4.5 We will implement the action points for 2004-05 in the HMIE Race Equality Scheme.
4.6 We will publish a fully audited set of our annual accounts by the end of September 2004.
4.7 We will undertake an internal best value audit of our organisation and continue to operate using the principles of the European Business Excellence Model, Charter Mark, Investors in People and the Plain English Campaign.