Quality of teaching in Labasheeda praised

THE quality of teaching and standards achieved by pupils at Labasheeda National School have been praised in a report following a Whole School Evaluation, which was carried out by the Department of Education and Skills on June 13 last.
The school is a co-educational primary school, which operates under the patronage of the Bishop of Killaloe. At the time of the evaluation, 29 pupils were enrolled and there were no pupils in third class. The report described attendance rates in the school as “very good”. The school has two mainstream class teachers. A learning support teacher, who is shared with other local schools, provides support to pupils.
This whole-school evaluation focused on the quality of teaching and learning in Gaeilge, English, mathematics and physical education. The board of management of the school was given an opportunity to comment in writing on the findings and recommendations of the report.
The evaluation report received this week found a number of strengths at the school. It reported the work of the board of management is good, the majority of lessons observed during the evaluation were of good or very good quality and pupils’ overall ability to discuss their learning and answer questions is very good.
It also found that very good-quality support is provided for pupils with special educational needs, the teachers are committed to creating a positive school climate and are committed to the holistic development of pupils. The report also found the school building is in good condition, well maintained and very well presented.
The report also made a number of recommendations. It stated that opportunities to further develop parental involvement in school life should be explored and encouraged and the school should devise a school action plan, which outlines specific, measurable targets for improvement and details how targets will be addressed, monitored and evaluated cyclically. It also recommended that the school strengthen its links between assessment and learning.
The report stated teachers should use the advice offered by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) in working towards this goal and steps should be taken to ensure the enforcement of clear school and class rules.
“Overall, the quality of teaching and learning ranges from good to very good. The multi-class settings are managed in a manner, which facilitates differentiated teaching. Overall, good standards are achieved by pupils. The majority of pupils who completed questionnaires indicate they enjoy their lessons and learning,” the report read.
“Communication with parents is facilitated through newsletters and meetings. Responses received through parent questionnaires indicate the vast majority of parents are very positive about the work of the school. As a significant number of parents indicate they are unaware of the work of the board of management, it is recommended that more regular updates on this work be provided,” the whole school evaluation added.
In-school management was described as good quality. “The principal and deputy principal work well together. The principal discharges his duties capably and the day-to-day management of the school is effective.
“The deputy principal undertakes a range of duties, including some valuable work in setting up a school website. At this juncture, the work of the in-school management team needs to incorporate a stronger focus on curriculum-related matters,” the report indicated.
“The overall management of pupils is good. Most pupils are confident, courteous and expressive. To ensure better engagement in lessons, there is a need, in some instances, for better enforcement of school and class rules and for pupils’ listening skills to be further developed. Responses received through pupil questionnaires indicate that overall, pupils are very positive about their learning, as well as their relationships with their peers and teachers,” the Department of Education and Skills report stated.
It was noted that Irish is taught “effectively”, while the quality of teaching and learning in English is “good”.
“The quality of teaching in mathematics ranges from good to very good and, overall, pupils’ achievement is good. In the junior classes, good work is carried out in exploring early mathematical activities, incorporating the use of concrete materials and number rhymes,” the report indicated.
“Physical education is well taught and the school promotes active lifestyles. Lessons are generally well organised and incorporate a good balance between physical activity and skills development. While a well-balanced programme is delivered, there is scope for additional work to be undertaken in gymnastics.
“Further development of the school’s yard space is recommended to encourage pupils to play more games during recreation times,” the report stated.
In a statement included in the report, the board of management of the school accepted the report “as an accurate reflection of the high standards attained in our school. We are particularly grateful to the inspector for her courtesy shown during the examination,” the statement read.
“The board of management has commenced dealing with the main recommendations in the report and is confident that they will all have been addressed by the end of the current school year,” the statement added.