Administrator's Corner
We introduced our Keep Soaring
metaphor based on moving from a
linear highly structured and inflexible
task-based approach (train) to a more
balanced internal/external perspective
of the school (balloon) and ultimately
to a rounded three-dimensional
dynamic approach to self-evaluation
(helicopter).
To summarise, we are making a clear
distinction between having a self-
evaluation strategy which typically
drives a task-based micro/train
approach – having a strategic view
of self-evaluation which encourages a
data-driven macro/balloon approach
– to having a clearly defined strategy
for self-evaluation where means-end
self-evaluation is firmly embedded
into the school’s improvement
planning. However, to be able to
produce a strategy for self-evaluation,
principals must consciously get into
their helicopter, remove themselves
from the operational detail and start
challenging the purpose of self-
evaluation in their own school.
important documents you will put
together. It should be the blueprint for
measuring and evaluating the school’s
development and should allow the
school’s leaders to articulate and
communicate this in a simple way to
all stakeholders. Continuing our Keep
Soaring theme, it is useful to think
of your strategy as a flight plan that
brings together and aligns the 3Ps of
self-evaluation. This flight plan should
define why you are engaging in self-
evaluation – purpose - what you are
doing to achieve this – process - and
who needs to be involved - people.
Remember that you are not trying to
produce a detailed operational plan
– this should sit elsewhere in your
school’s planning systems. You should
be aiming to organise your thoughts
and create a flight plan for each of the
key leadership decisions you need
to evaluate to ensure that the school
is doing the right things for the right
reasons at the right time, rather than
simply for the sake of engaging in self-
evaluation.
Each strategy (flight plan) should align
and integrate the purpose, process
and people to ensure that, each
specific school leadership decision is
being evaluated in terms of its impact,
measured by the improvement on
student outcomes. It should also
ensure that subsequent actions are
school-led, arising from evidence-
based decisions, relevant to the
context of your school. We suggest
that you use (and adapt where
necessary) this template to produce
a single page flight plan that outlines
the strategy and drives self-evaluation
for each of the leadership decisions
that are relevant to your school.
Flying a helicopter is an exhilarating
experience ... so grab your wings and
keep soaring.
What does a strategy for self-
evaluation look like?
Your school’s strategy for self-
evaluation is probably one of the most
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May - Jun 2019
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