Cuireadh tús leis an bproiséas féinmheastóireacht scoile (FMS) i rith na scoilbhliana 2012-2013. Tosaíodh ar fhianaise a bhailiú ar litearthacht na Gaeilge trí ghrúpa beag múinteoirí (ábhair éagsúla) ag déanamh cigireachta ar obair na ndaltaí, ag féachaint ar thorthaí scrúdú stáit agus ceistneoir curtha ar dhalta na céad bliana ag an am agus ar na múinteoirí. Aithníodh gnéithe feabhais agus thriail an grúpa seo múinteoirí stráitéisí éagsúla dírithe ar na gnéithe feabhais sin. Ag tús na scoilbhliana 2013-2014 cuireadh tuairisc agus plean feabhsúcháin os comhair na foirne uilig. Sa phlean feabhsúcháin aithníodh na príomhréimsí seo a leanas ina raibh gá le feabhas:
• Obair scríofa leagtha amach go néata mar is cuí
• Úsáid eocharfhocail agus freagraí forbartha ina gcuid cainte agus scríbhneoireachta.
• Scileanna leitheoireachta a fheabhsú, ionas go mbeidh daltaí in ann eolas ó théacsanna éagsúla a thuiscint agus mar sin go mbeidh feabhas ar an méid acu ag léamh trí Ghaeilge don taitneamh
Ag an am céanna shocraigh orainn an deis a thaipeadh chun eolas a bhailiú faoi rannpháirtíocht an dalta agus as sin aontaíodh gur scoil Mheasúnún chun Foghlama é GCCD agus díríodh ar 5 phrionsabal McF a chur i bhfeidhm thar tréimhse 2 bhliain 2013-2014 agus 2014-2015
2013- 2014 Trí chéim de McF
• Rún Foghlama
• Critéir Rathúlachta
• Aiseolas
2014-2015 Dhá chéim bhreise de McF
• Ceistiú
• Piar agus Féinmheasúnú
Ag tógáil ar dhea-chleachtas Litearthacht na Gaeilge agus McF thosaigh grúpa focús amháin ag obair ar litearthacht an Bhéarla agus grúpa focús eile ar uimhearacht.
Ón taighde agus fianaise a tháinig chun cinn do litearthacht an Bhéarla tá siad freisin ag díriú ar:
• Obair scríofa leagtha amach go néata mar is cuí agus go cruinn
• Úsáid eocharfhocail ina gcuid cainte agus scríbhneoireachta.
• Scileanna leitheoireachta a fhorbairt ionas go mbeidh daltaí in ann eolas ó théacsanna éagsúla a thuiscint.
Sa phlean feabhsúcháin don uimhearthacht aithníodh na príomhréimsí seo a leanas ina raibh gá le feabhas:
• Teanga agus Tearmaíocht Gaeilge; eocharfhocail. Tá a lán focail agus tearmaí deacra sa Mhata.
• An uimhearthacht a chur i gcuimhne níos mó timpeall na scoile. An uimhearthacht a scaipeadh.
• Breis cabhair do dhaltaí a bhfuil deacrachtaí acu le Mata agus leis an dteanga Gaeilge.
• Tastáil agus monatóireacht; comparáid idir bliana inár scoil féin, agus idir ár scoil agus scoileanna eile sa tír (an caighdeán náisiúnta).
• Bealach comónta chun topaicí áirithe a mhúineadh; codáin, céatadáin agus graifeanna mar shampla.
As an bproiséas seo de Fhéinmheastóireacht Scoile tá tionscnaimh eile ar bun chun cur le taithí an dalta:
2015-2016
• Córas Cinn Bliana
• TL21 – grúpa focús ag díriú ar an teanga labhartha
• An Bratach Órga – coiste ag obair ar mheabharshláinte dearfach
Ag leanúint treoirlínte Féinmheastóireacht Scoile 2016-2020 tá fócas ainmhithe ag an bhfoireann agus tá fianaise bailithe ag an bhfo-choiste agus iad anois ag déanamh anailíse agus breithiúnais ar chleachtas comhchoiteann / comhoibríoch na múinteoirí
The school self-evaluation process started during the school year 2012-2013. Evidence was gathered and analysed regarding literacy in Irish by a focus group of teachers examining copies, looking at state exam results, surveying the first year students at the time and giving all teachers a questionnaire to complete. From this, areas of improvement were agreed upon and the focus group set about trying different strategies to enhance this process. At the beginning of the school year 2013-2014 all staff were informed of the findings, the report and the improvement plan and strategies. The following were the main areas of improvement:
• Neat layout of written work as appropriate
• The use of keywords and developed answers in both oral and written work
• Improvement of reading skills, so that students will be able to gather and understand information from a variety of texts and also that there will be an increase in the reading of Irish for pleasure
At the same time it was decided to availe of the opportunity to gather information regarding student participation and learning. From this it was decided that GCCD is an Assessment for Learning (AfL) school and that the 5 principles of AfL would be implemented during a two year 2013-2014 and 2014-2015
2013- 2014 Three principles
• Learning Intention
• Success Criteria
• Feedback
2014-2015 Two principles
• Questioning
• Peer and Self evaluation
Building on the good practice of Irish literacy and AfL a focus group started work on English literacy and another group on numeracy.
Following the research and evidence gathering English literacy are focusing on:
• Layout of written work so as to be neat and accurate
• Use of key vocabulary in oral and written work.
• Develop reading skills, so that students gain knowledge from a variety of texts and comprehensions
The following were highlighted in the improvement plan for numeracy:
• Irish language and terminology; key words. A lot of difficult words and terms in Maths
• Reminders of numeracy around the school, spread the numeracy
• Extra help for students with difficulties in Maths and with the Irish language
• Examining and monitoring: comparisons from year to year in school and against national statistics.
• Common ways of teaching certain topics; fractions, percentages and graphs for example
From this process of School Self Evaluation other projects are now also in place to enhance the students’ experience:
2015-2016
• System of Year Heads
• TL21 – a group focusing of the spoken language
• The Amber Flag – a committee working on positive mental health
Following the Scool Self-Evaluation Guidelines for 2016-2020 the staff have identified a focus, the subcommittee have gathered evidence and are currently analysing and making judments on teachers'collective/collaborative practice.