When meeting with teachers and other staff within schools, which we do on a very frequent basis, we ask how they currently manage their staff appraisal and professional development evidence.

The answer is usually that this evidence is contained in a variety of systems including a paper-based portfolio, email, and also back office solutions like Google Drive or Office 365.

Very rarely is this evidence readily available at a moment's notice to staff and/or their line managers to inform appraisal conversations and coaching opportunities. 

Senior leaders with responsibility for the continual professional development of staff do not have access to this evidence and therefore cannot make informed decisions about the best way to improve the outcomes for pupils and staff.

This is where a simple, centralised and transparent solution like SchooliP will help.

The Department for Education document on Teacher appraisal and capability - a model policy for schools states that appraisal in schools will be a supportive and developmental process designed to ensure that all teachers have the opportunity to fully develop the skills and access to support they need to carry out their role effectively. The appraisal process will also help to ensure that teachers are able to continue to improve their professional practice and to develop as teachers.

In order to ensure that all staff are provided with the support they need, they should be engaged in a developmental dialogue with their line manager and/or mentors.

The best way to track this dialogue is via an electronic portfolio like SchooliP.

SchooliP supports the tracking of professional dialogue and supporting evidence either by the simple-to-use web-based portfolio or alternatively by using the dedicated mobile app.

Both these platforms provide the ability to blog about your experiences within the classroom and with your pupils and upload supporting evidence in the form of files, photographs or videos.

Monitoring Performance

SchooliP also supports the monitoring of lessons using observations and learning walks. There’s also an opportunity to record a book or work scrutiny. There’s no limit to the monitoring that may be performed and you can capture evidence relating to staff well-being and even tailor your own forms.

Best of all the output from the monitoring is collated instantly and provided to key senior leaders to inform management meetings and direct school improvement activities.

Summary

These are just a few of the key areas in which SchooliP facilitates the process of empowering staff by centralising evidence of professional development and appraisal.

If your evidence is contained on many disparate systems and is not informing your school improvement priorities, why not book a brief online demonstration to explore this further now?