Parents set to study reports on school quality

PARENTS will soon be able to compare schools and assess everything from the quality of teaching to the standard of extra-curricular activities available.

This follows the announcement by Education Minister Mary Hanafin yesterday to allow parents access reports of all school inspections from next January.

The school inspection reports will allow parents find out about a school's:

* Strengths in particular subject areas.

* Class sizes.

* Sporting activities.

* Implementation of policies in areas such as bullying, and health and safety.

* Enrolment policies.

* Quality of teaching and learning.

* Extra-curricular activities.

The minister wants to provide as much information as possible about the country's 3,300 primary and 650 second-level schools, but without allowing the publication of league tables comparing exam results.

The inspection process includes consultation with school boards, parents, staff and, at second level, with the school's students.

The controversial plan has been the subject of discussions between teacher unions and Ms Hanafin's department since the summer. But she told the Dáil she intends publication of school reports to begin from January for all inspections carried out from the start of next year.

"I am determined to provide more information, for parents in particular, about our schools, in a way that ensures a fair and comprehensive picture of all the different activities in a school," Ms Hanafin said.

"In contrast to school league tables, I believe school inspection reports from Whole School Evaluations (WSE) and other inspections, when read in their entirety, can provide balanced and well-informed information on schools.

National Parents Council (Post-Primary) spokeswoman Eleanor Petrie said: "These reports will help parents pick a school and should also bring up the quality of schools because people will know they are available."

Fine Gael education spokeswoman Olwyn Enright suggested there should be greater scope for students to give their opinion and suggested more information such as details of a school's ethos and exam results should be available.

"We don't want league tables but it's important that parents have access to all information," she said.

Teacher unions and school managers have strongly opposed publication of results as this could lead to unfair comparisons of schools.

In discussions with the Department of Education, they have been given the option of allowing publication of each school's response alongside its own report. Concerns have also been expressed that individual teachers might be identified from reports.

Only reports carried out from next January will be made available publicly.