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82 inspection reports published on Department's website

A total of 82 school inspection reports were published today on the Department of Education and Skills' website.

New inspection reports on the web today comprise:

21 whole-school evaluations (WSEs) of primary schools

2 WSEs of post-primary schools

58 subject inspections

1 programme evaluation

Since 6th February 2006, inspection reports on schools and centres for education are published on the Department of Education and Skills' website at regular intervals throughout the school year.

There are now 5,706 inspection reports on the website, representative of 2,253 schools and centres for education.

WSEs are conducted in primary and post-primary schools.

WSE reports comment on the quality of the school's management and planning, teaching and learning, arrangements for student assessment, supports for students, provision for minority groups and home-school links.

Depending on the size of the school, an inspector or a team of inspectors visits the school for a period of time to conduct the evaluation.

Following this evaluation phase, inspectors discuss the findings and recommendations with school management and members of the teaching staff.

The draft WSE report undergoes a process of factual verification. The school is then given an opportunity to respond to the final WSE report.

The last step is the publication of the WSE report with the school's response (if the school has made a response) on the Department's website.

Subject inspections and programme evaluations are conducted in post-primary schools.

Today, the 58 subject-inspection reports published cover Art, Business Subjects (Business, Economics, Accounting), CSPE, Technical Graphics and Design & Communication Graphics, English, French, Geography, Guidance, History, Home Economics, Irish, Materials Technology (Wood) and Construction Studies (MTWCS), Mathematics, Metalwork and Engineering, Music, Physical Education, Science & Biology & Agricultural Science, Special Educational Needs and SPHE.

The programme evaluation report published today concerns the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP).

All inspection reports, including those published today (31st May, 2012) are accessible via the link below:

http://www.education.ie/insreports/des_school_inspection_reports_may_30_2012.htm