Headteacher Update Podcast: Louise Smith talks about self-evaluation
Louise recently featured on a Headteacher Update podcast, with two other primary school leaders, where they discussed their tenets of best practice for effective self-evaluation.
This episode considers simple yet effective ways of conducting high-impact self-evaluation in primary schools, in order to support high standards and drive school improvement whilst also meeting Ofsted expectations. They spoke about the self-evaluation cycle, what it should look like, and how it fits into the wider process of school improvement.
Louise is a practicing Ofsted inspector and in this podcast focuses on Ofsted's view on self-evaluation and how their expectations are met. She also discusses how the Ofsted inspection handbook and framework can be used as a way of RAG-rating progress and impact.
The podcast is hosted by Helen Frostick, a National Leader of Education and semi-retired primary school headteacher. She is also a long-standing member of the Headteacher Update editorial board.
As well as Louise, the other guests are:
- Paul K Ainsworth - Paul has held director of school improvement roles in four multi-academy trusts, and currently works with Infinity Academies Trust in Lincolnshire. He has supported leaders of small, rural secondary schools to large 11 to 18 urban ones, working intensively with those in Ofsted categories. He is author of No Silver Bullets: Day-in, day-out school improvement and a TEDx speaker.
- Bethan Harding - Bethan is a headteacher of an outstanding primary school in Wales and a principal in an all-through school in England. Bethan has been a peer inspector, a leader on the National Strategic Board and member of the Education Minister's Panel in Wales. She has established school improvement hubs and written and delivered a number of training programmes internationally. In 2017, she was awarded with an MBE for services to education. Bethan has launched Harding Education, which provides leadership coaching and training and a Maths curriculum and learning platform called 'Winning with Numbers'.
Listen to or download the episode below:
Thank you to Headteacher Update for inviting Louise. You can listen to more episodes by clicking here.