Recognition of Schools as DCU Research Partners

03/08/2016

At a ceremony in Dublin City University (DCU), the DCU Centre for Evaluation, Quality and Inspection presented 2016 Research Partner Awards to 11 post-primary schools. Each of these schools participated in a yearlong research project that was coordinated by the DCU Centre for Evaluation, Quality and Inspection and which focused on school self-evaluation. The schools involved in the research project included:

Ballymakenny College
Bush Post-Primary School
Dunshaughlin Community College
Firhouse Community College
Luttrellstown Community College
New Cross College
Skerries Community College
St. Aidan's CBS
St. Joseph's CBS
St. Joseph's Secondary School
St. Oliver's Community College

The research project involved the testing of a model of support for school self-evaluation in 11 post-primary school over the 15/16 school year. The model of support involved the provision of a training programme entitled “Let’s Help You to Lead SSE in Your School” as well as a number of other supports. A participant from each school was trained to facilitate the school self-evaluation process in their own school and in this way building the capacity of both the individuals involved and the schools. Each participant also received a course completion certificate in recognition of the expertise that each developed during the programme.

All schools since 2012, are required to engage in school self-evaluation on an annual basis. However, research shows that many schools both in Ireland and internationally find it challenging to find the time to plan and to engage in the process effectively. DCU provided guidelines to schools to address the practicalities of the process and make it much more doable. Participants received training in the organisation and facilitation of the process, tools for gathering and analysing data, the development of self-evaluation reports and school improvement plans. During the project all participating schools applied the learning and all produced high quality self-evaluation reports and school improvement plans.

This project builds on a raft of research projects carried out by the DCU Centre for Evaluation, Quality and Inspection, the leading Irish research centre in this area, which focus on inspection, accountability, evaluation and improvement in schools. The Centre has developed strong working relationships with schools over the years and representatives from the Centre recognised the willingness and innovation of the schools involved in the research project. The commitment to excellence and improvement by each of the schools was commended at the recent ceremony in DCU. The project Co-Ordinator Dr. Shivaun O’Brien stated that “it is wonderful to see schools going above and beyond to form links with a university and to become active research partners. These schools are ambitious for their learners and committed to improvement and excellence”.

The research team from DCU was led by Dr. Shivaun O’Brien and her colleagues Professor Joe O’Hara, Professor Gerry McNamara and Dr. Martin Brown. It is expected that the findings of the research project will be published in a number of highly rated academic journals over the coming year.