"There is a real need to engage 'hearts and minds', and to create a better understanding of the links betweeen our everyday decisions and their outcomes, from the local to the international level. Sustainable development education and raising awareness in a wide audience is important to make sure we all understand both why and how we should take steps to live and act more sustainably."

Taking it on, Developing UK Sustainable Development Strategy together

 

 

School Self Evaluation

Purpose:
To evaluate where the school is on its ESD journey and to devise strategies for moving forward

Preparation:

Teacher time:
You may need to do some pre-activity on ESD issues for example background reading or Activity 9 What is Quality of Life?

Resources:
OHT or copies of Ofsted's 'A checklist for school self-evaluation' A printable version of this checklist is available here >>

Procedure:
Ask staff members to rate each point on the checklist on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the highest. Then get into groups and agree a common number for each. Share and write up the scores. Discuss what the results tell you about the state of ESD in the school. Ask the staff to get into groups to either a) discuss a point per group or b) to discuss one of the points where the school is weakest.
Ask each group to think about who can help the school to improve in this area. Is it other members of staff? The pupils? Other members of the school community? Other schools in the area? The local authority? Outside agencies? Devise an action plan for each point. Share and discuss with others. Agree what needs to be written into the School Development Plan.

Extension:
Do the same activity with the School Council or other members of the school community e.g. the Governors, parents or non-teaching staff. You may like to focus on selected points, such as those you perceive to be the weakest.

Advantages of this methodology:
• Whole school, inclusive approach
• Agreement on areas of strength and those that need to be improved can give everyone a sense of common purpose
• Enables the school to assess how the staff (and others) feel it is performing in a holistic way
• Status of Ofsted agenda

Disadvantages of this methodology
• Requires time and commitment to carrying through the process
• May induce a sense of lack of achievement if the school scores low on a significant number of areas
• May be more applicable to a school that has begun the ESD journey than one that has not

Links:
Developing Sustainable Development policy together:
www.sustainable-development.gov.uk