This article is from page 17 of the 2011-12-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 17 JPG
SIGNIFICANT staff turnover has impacted on the teaching of English at St Joseph’s Community College in Kilkee. That is according to an inspection carried out by inspectors from the Department of Education at the school, where enrolment stands at 194.
The inspectors found that teaching was “generally good and learning ranged from adequate to good in the lessons observed” during the inspection in May of this year.
“High expectations are promoted by the placement of students into mixed-ability classes in first and second year and by the organisation of co-curricular activities to develop students’ subject-specific skills and interests,” stated the report.
“Due to a number of factors, significant staff turnover has and continues to be an issue in the English department, impacting on subject department planning and implementation and on the learning of some junior cycle students,” noted the inspectors.
The report found that a good quality of teaching was observed in lessons, which was facilitated by teacher preparation, knowledge of the subject, well-managed lessons and good rapport with students.
It recommended that lessons should incorporate greater emphasis on sharing learning outcomes with students at the outset and on organising more varied active learning opportunities.
“A greater range of resources should be used to enhance learning, including graphic organisers, audio recordings, and props. No ICT was used in classes because of the absence of fixed equipment and of the reported unreliability of satellite coverage for the school. Senior management is working with Co Clare Vocational Education Committee (VEC) to overcome these deficiencies,” stated the inspectors. “Homework was being set and monitored and some good written feedback being given in the sample of copies reviewed. The valuable practice of sharing criteria for the assessment of substantial pieces of writing with senior cycle students should be extended to junior cycle students.”
A number of recommendations were suggested by the inspectors. These include that a base room for English be established and that timetable provision for first and fourth year English should be increased and allocated lessons should be spread over the maximum possible number of days per week.
“Existing termly schemes of work should be reshaped after discussions are held on the key learning outcomes and skills to be developed in each year of study. New assessment practices that link to those agreed learning outcomes should also be established,” added the report.