A Teachers Experience of WSE LCVP Conference Athlone

A Teacher’s Experience of WSE LCVP Conference Athlone, March 7 th 2009 The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

Overview n n n n n Concerns about WSE Planning for WSE timeline Pre-inspection Questionnaire Interview with inspector Post-inspection Evaluation of WSE Feedback The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

Concerns about WSE n Apprehension n Co-ordination of LCVP n Numbers taking programme n Plan for LCVP The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

Planning n Difficulty of writing a content plan – fluid nature of programme n Range of activities involved n “Planning the LCVP” in-service The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

Pre-inspection – January 2008 n n n Monday 28 th January – staff informed of WSE Tuesday 29 th January – staff meeting (2. 35 – 3. 50) Tuesday 19 th February – Lead inspector and reporting inspector met with staff (2. 00 – 3. 00) Thursday 21 st February – staff meeting (2. 35 – 5. 00) Monday 25 th February – WSE began Thursday 28 th February – LCVP teachers meet with inspector The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

Questionnaire n n n Co-ordination profile Planning the LCVP Organisation of the programme Students with additional education needs Curriculum for LCVP n n n Resources Continuous Professional Development Home School Links Impact of LCVP on the school Review and Evaluation The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

1. Co-ordination Profile n n n n Number of class groups co-ordinated? Linked to POR? Co-ordination time? Programme Co-ordinator’s role? In-service attended? Activities engaged in as co-ordinator? Resources available to support the role of co-ordinator? The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

2. Planning of the Programme n n Teaching team? Frequency of changes to teaching team? Who decides these changes? Frequency of LCVP team meetings n n n Agenda? Minutes? Role of Guidance Counsellors? Whole school approach? Student selection? The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

3. Organisation of Programme n Considerations in timetabling? n n n Double lessons ICT access What records are kept by the co-ordinator? Are LCVP students recognised as a discrete group within the school? Links established with local businesses/enterprises? Work experience/work shadowing n n n Who organises it? Preparation in advance? Contact made with employer in advance? During? Visit from school? Difficulties encountered by students? Employer report? The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

4. Students with Additional Educational Needs n n Categories of students? Teaching of students with special needs n n How is it organised? Is LCVP adapted to suit needs of students with special needs? Students with EAL – additional supports? Students who are members of the travelling community – additional supports? The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

5. Curriculum for LCVP Number of students taking modern European language? n Number of students taking modern European language module? n Vocational Subject Groupings? n Frequency of formal examinations in Link Modules? n The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

6. Resources n Funds n n n Annual budget? Needs basis? Other? Who decides how they are allocated? n How is extra teaching allocation deployed? n The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

7. Continuous Professional Development n n n n How does the school facilitate and support CPD? Is the CPD being provided of assistance to successful co-ordination of LCVP? How are new teachers inducted into LCVP? Benefits to teachers of CPD? What additional CPD would you like to see available? Any arrangements for whole staff CPD in LCVP? Improvements/recommendations for organisation and development of CPD for LCVP? The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

8. Home School Links In what ways and to what extent are parents/guardians involved in LCVP? n Parents involved in selection process for LCVP? n How frequently are reports sent to parents? n The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

9. Impact of LCVP on the school n n n Have changes taken place in the school (other than in LCVP) as a result of LCVP being on the curriculum? Principal benefits of LCVP for school? Principal difficulties encountered in coordinating LCVP? Most effective aspects of implementing LCVP? Least effective aspects of implementing LCVP? The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

10. Review and Evaluation Formal arrangements in place for review and evaluation of implementation of LCVP? n Who participates in these evaluations? n Does the school analyse the certificate exam results for LCVP? n Any other arrangements to monitor student performance? n The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

11. Any other comments? n Comparison of results with national average n Examples of good practice The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

Interview with inspector Thursday 28 th February n Timetabled for 40 minutes n Lasted an hour n Very knowledgeable about programme n Affirming experience n Rare opportunity for performance appraisal n The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

Post-inspection Meeting with Principal and Deputy Principals n April 3 rd – Whole Staff Meeting with Lead Inspector n Change! n The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

Evaluation of WSE n What worked well? n What didn’t work well? n What would I do differently next time? The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

What worked well? n n n n Recognition of the amount of work involved in planning a successful programme Programme, not a subject Inspector very knowledgeable about LCVP Meeting with Principal and Deputy prior to meeting with inspector Raised profile of LCVP in school Opportunity to “show off” the work done Time for evaluation The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

What didn’t work well? n n n Stress Pressure Decline in numbers taking programme Perception of LCVP – only for “non academic students” Students meeting with inspectors (non. LCVP) Timing of meeting The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

What would I do differently? n Had it years ago! n Not stress out as much! The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

Feedback n n n n Very affirming experience “Show off!!” Raised the profile of LCVP in the school Supported role of co-ordinator/teachers Importance of attending in-service Management is being inspected – not teaching staff Need to document work being done LCVP – programme, not just a subject The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

One year on… Higher profile within the school n Much more support for the programme n Co-ordinator appointed n Recommendations in WSE n The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

Change… To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse n To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better n To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better n The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net

LCVP National Conference 2009 All Conference presentations can be accessed on www. lcvptpn. net The LCVP is funded by the Department of Education and Science under the National Development Plan www. lcvptpn. net