16/1/2012. Head of the South Wales centre of teaching Education.
Estyn - An overview. What does Estyn do?
Today we had a guest lecturer of the name Dr Russell Grigg who was the head of the South Wales centre of teaching education. The lecture was very interesting as Dr Grigg explained in great detail the role and expectations of Estyn.
What does Estyn do? Estyn inspects quality and standards in education and training providers in Wales including Nursery, Primary, Secondary, independent and special schools. As a whole they inspect a wide variety of educational settings, those being: pupil referral units, further education, adult community learning, local authority education services for children and young people, teacher education and training, work based learning, career companies and offender learning. Estyn also provides advice to the Welsh Government on quality and standards in education and training in Wales and promotes the spread of good practice in education and training.
There are two types of reports. The first being thermatic reports for the whole of Wales which covers all kinds of learning and the second reports different institutes - schools, prisons etc.
Dr Grigg informed us that the three fold purposes of Estyn are accountability, improvement and development. These purposes can guide and help the inspectors judge the different areas more effectively. As Dr Grigg had inspected schools himself he could give us an honest insight into what happens in the inspections and what the inspector has to comment upon. The inspector must decide for example whether or not certain areas of the school are excellent, good, adequate or unsatisfactory.
The lecture was very informative and Dr. Grigg referred back to the Estyn website which we could all see for ourselves and we saw past reports that had been written in the past. He also portrayed to us that the relationship between the teachers, pupils, parents and governors are highly important when inspecting a school. We were told that Estyn also concentrates on achievement and attainment. Achievement being that of individuals and attainment is the standards against others.
Overall today's lecture has given me a great insight into the Estyn reports and how the inspectors go about inspecting schools today. An Estyn report is very important for a school and can make a difference to us as learners. It enables the school to make improvements and better themselves therefore improving the education of many which enables children to continue learning to their full potential with the positive encouragement of those within the education setting.
References :
http://www.estyn.gov.uk/english/ Retrieved on 23rd of January 2012.
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