Schools Must Speak for Themselves: Arguments for School Self-evaluation

In a political and economic climate in which school performance is made public, it is dangerous for schools to allow others to speak on their behalf. Performance tables and inspectors’ reports can only tell a partial story. Sometimes they get it wrong. It is futile for teachers to complain that they are misrepresented. Self-critical and self-confident schools are information rich. They know how to tell their story for themselves and they welcome the external account as another source of evidence, another view on policy and practice. This book illustrates how schools can tell their own story. It draws on work with the National Union of Teachers to demonstrate a practical approach to identifying what makes a good school and the part that pupils, parents and teachers can play in school improvement.