Listening to young people during and about school inspection

About:

The Irish Department of Education’s Inspectorate carries out a range of actions to include learners’ views throughout the school inspection process. A key principle of the Inspectorate is that inspectors

seek and give due consideration to the views and opinions of learners, according to their age and maturity.

This commitment borrows directly from Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Formal consultation with children and young people during inspection occurs through surveys and focus group discussions.

Ireland’s approach is based on Lundy’s model of participation. The Inspectorate aims to ensure that involving young people benefits learners, schools and the whole education system. It emphasises learner agency, supporting learners to form their views on issues where necessary. Advisory groups of learners also assist in developing the materials used during inspection.

Outcomes:

The Inspectorate has worked closely with the learner advisory groups. For example, it revised the surveys used in whole-school evaluations following consultation with children and young people. Their feedback shaped the structure and content of the surveys.

The Inspectorate is taking a three-phase approach to increasing the involvement of children before, during and after inspection:

• ‘Before’ inspection: learners advised on what information is relevant to them and the most effective format to share that information with them. As a result, a series of information leaflets and animated videos were created for early years, primary and post-primary children and young people and an e-book for the early years.
• ‘During’ inspection: the inspectors seek to ensure that engagement with learners is rights-respecting and includes informed consent and voluntary participation. Information notes and video resources were developed in consultation with children and young people to inform about focus groups. There was also a webinar for educators about the Inspectorate’s approach to strengthening learner participation.
• ‘After’ inspection: information about the outcomes of an inspection in a school is shared with school leaders, teachers and parents through the Department’s website. In consultation with learners, research is underway to determine how and what might be communicated with learners following an inspection.

Key element(s) of the VIA Framework:

This example reflects all four areas of the VIA Framework: SPACE, VOICE, AUDIENCE and INFLUENCE. Though the Inspectorate is continually seeking to improve its methods and approaches, it already offers learners safe spaces to communicate their voices directly to those in positions of power. It provides adequate support to do so and opportunities to make a difference.

Learn more and access public resources about inspection for children, young people and parents/guardians