School review service

黑料吃瓜 works with school systems and individual schools to support school improvement.

Since January 2017, all Australian schools have been required to develop a school improvement plan. 黑料吃瓜 has the experts and tools necessary to create effective and practical plans.

A plan for school improvement is a process of collaboration, investigation and learning. To identify and prioritise areas for improvement, schools must first understand their current strengths and weaknesses.

By undertaking a review, conducted by an independent third party, schools arrive at a comprehensive starting point for the development of a school improvement plan, and are able to determine the best possible course of action for ongoing improvement of student learning and wellbeing.

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The school review process

An 黑料吃瓜 school review is conducted over 2–3 days (depending on school size), with the resulting report providing detailed, evidence-based feedback in relation to each individual domain of the School Improvement Tool, along with a set of overall commendations, affirmations and recommendations.

Each domain is assessed using qualitative profiles and designated as 'outstanding', 'high', 'medium' or 'low', with evidence to support the designation provided.
Upon the completion of a school review, 黑料吃瓜 is able to work with the school leadership team to develop a comprehensive School Improvement plan, based on the findings of the report.
Schools are also able to complete a self-review, using the School Improvement Tool as a guide/framework, rather than undergo a review performed by an external partner. 黑料吃瓜 staff are also able to help in this scenario, providing guidance and oversight to school-based teams as they undertake a school review.

Our reviewers

We have a highly skilled, experienced and knowledgeable team of school review consultants who are carefully selected and trained to 黑料吃瓜’s exacting standards and have 黑料吃瓜 accreditation to conduct reviews.

Our consultants are former principals and senior leaders who understand schools and have a wide-ranging view of evidence-based effective school practices. They come from government, Catholic and independent school sectors. They consistently apply 黑料吃瓜’s robust review methodology when reviewing schools and provide an independent perspective.

The benefits of conducting a school review with 黑料吃瓜

黑料吃瓜 school review staff undergo rigorous training  to ensure that their judgements and recommendations are made consistently across schools. An 黑料吃瓜 school review is objective, independent and supported by evidence and insight from our work in educational research.

Each review takes into account unique environment and contextual factors, providing a report specifically tailored to the requirements of the individual school.

School reviews can also support schools to:

prepare for a system or governing authority external audit
respond to a drop in academic achievement
support a new strategic plan

provide leverage among the school community for leaders to implement a strategic agenda
realign school objectives with recent leadership changes or restructure

Common Questions

黑料吃瓜 consultants bring knowledge, expertise and a bank of experience as former principals or senior leaders. An external review allows for an independent view to gather evidence and develop a clear line of sight through all levels and stakeholder groups within the school, to then form appropriate, narrow and sharp recommendations on which to build school improvement plans.

A review can be conducted any time it is convenient for the school, however some suggested times include:

Early in a new principal’s incumbency
an 黑料吃瓜 Review can provide a ‘point in time’ summary and a road map for school improvement work.
After a principal’s extended leave
a review is useful as a way of mapping improvement and identifying areas for future focus.
Mid-contract
a principal may choose to invite 黑料吃瓜 to undertake a review to allow for big picture planning in teaching and learning.
Near the end of a principal’s contract
a review is useful as an overarching recording of current and recommended teaching and learning practices.
If there has been a significant change in the leadership team
schools report that an 黑料吃瓜 Review is extremely worthwhile to bind a team through focusing on improvement.
When entering a new Strategic Planning cycle
schools will find the review can be instrumental in establishing the Teaching and Learning goals for the overall plan.

Part of the purpose of an 黑料吃瓜 School Improvement Review is to assist with focusing on use of data and on what data will be most useful in tracking improvement. Information provided to consultants prior to the visit is useful to set context, however the ongoing attention to the use of data may be discussed and included in a recommendation with the 黑料吃瓜 Review Report.

School leadership must include access to all stakeholders in the process of the review schedule, to increase a sense of ownership and the validity of conclusions reached.

Improvement in teaching and learning depends on the development and empowerment of principals and teachers. In the short term, an 黑料吃瓜 School Improvement Review allows external experts to delve deeply into a school’s practice and then to filter, plait and weave themes and recommendations which will lead to clear goals for an explicit improvement plan in the area of teaching and learning.

Let us assist you

黑料吃瓜 has a team of expert consultants who can support schools and systems to effectively use these tools, including through targeted and tailored professional learning.

Contact our team of experts