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Quality Promotion

About CSQI

The Centre for School Quality and Improvement (CSQI) is a unit within the CIE. It operates independently and impartially whilst remaining accountable to the Board of the Catholic Institute of Education. This arrangement facilitates independent review and reporting of school performance.

The Catholic Church has always placed emphasis on quality education in its schools. The CIE introduced Whole School Renewal to South African Catholic schools in 1995 using a model based on self reflection. In 1999, Mark Potterton wrote Quality for All which was published by CIE ES. Quality for All explored practical ways to improve the quality of education for all learners.
In 2001, school evaluators were trained by Her Majesty’s Inspectors from Scotland with a view to instituting Whole School Evaluation in the Catholic schools. The CSQI has developed systems to carry out whole school evaluations and to provide schools with information on how to improve. Software has also been developed to mange evaluations and the CSQI also has appropriate experience to train school supervisors.

All schools should strive to provide the best possible holistic education for the learners in their schools. A good school continually seeks to improve the quality of the education it offers. This quality must be clearly spelt out to allow the school to measure itself and to respond to the ever changing context in which the school operates. Self evaluation or internal evaluation is for schools themselves reflecting on how and why they do what they do. Schools gather evidence to make judgements about what is happening in classrooms and in other activities. This evidence is then examined and a plan developed to improve those aspects that the school believes need improvement.

This is something that good schools have done informally. The emphasis on quality improvement and the need for schools to be accountable to those they serve has meant that a more formal approach has been adopted. Public schools are required to have a school development plan as part of their Integrated Quality Management System (IQMS) while independent schools must be accredited with UMALUSI the quality assurance body.

A process of self evaluation is therefore necessary. The CSQI has developed a process to assist schools with self-evaluation. The book ‘Fully Alive’ was developed on behalf of CaSPA to promote self evaluation and improve school quality.

Whole School Evaluation

The CSQI promotes improvements in standards, quality and attainment in South African education through first-hand, independent evaluation. The CSQI operates independently and impartially, whilst remaining directly accountable to the CIE for its work.

CSQI's key functions include:

evaluating, reviewing and reporting across South African education;
carrying out commissions from other bodies; and
providing professional advice to CIE and others.

The CSQI evaluates and reports on education in pre-school centres, primary and secondary schools and in other contexts as necessary. We promote public accountability by publishing our evaluations in clear and concise reports. Our activities take place within the principles set out in our mission.

What is Whole School Evaluation for?

CSQI's annual programme of evaluations and reviews provides an independent audit to inform:

parents, learners, principals, School Governing Bodies and other stakeholders about the quality of education provided;
teachers, lecturers, and other educational practitioners about the effectiveness and impact of their work.

How does CSQI develop their evaluations?

CSQI evaluations include first-hand observation of learning and teaching. We reach final evaluations using evidence gathered throughout the evaluation or review, and we use our professional judgement to weigh up strengths and weaknesses. Our indicators of quality help us to make evaluations. These indicators provide a framework for consistent and reliable evaluation. They have been drawn up in consultation with teachers and other practitioners in education.

To help promote quality improvements in education, we have published our indicators of quality in documents that explain to schools how these indicators can be used in their own self-evaluation.

How are others involved in the process of evaluation or review?

The views of parents, pupils, students and other learners, staff and the wider community are important in the process of evaluations or review.

Before school evaluations, CSQI issue a questionnaire to the parents and teachers. We take views of groups of learners in all schools and in some evaluations also issue a questionnaire to pupils. Questionnaires seek views on a wide range of matters relevant to the school and the individual's experience of it.

The CSQI interview key staff members involved in and evaluation or review. We pay particular attention to the development plan prepared by staff, and approaches to improving quality.

Whole School Evaluation and Review teams normally include one or more associates who are practising teachers, principals or educationists from other establishments. Associates are full members of the evaluation or review team. Involving associates increases their expertise in evaluation and so helps to promote quality and improvement in South African schools.

The CSQI recognise the value of sharing expertise with others. We work collaboratively with other agencies where this will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our activities. We also undertake commissions and consultancy work that requires the specific skills of CSQI.

Carrying out an evaluation

Essentially we will assist the school in finding answers to the following question:

Where are we now?
Where do we want to be?
What obstacles do we need to overcome?

In order to find answers to all of these questions we will survey all of the role players in the school using paper and pencil surveys. We will conduct focus group meetings with groups in the school, and carry out a document survey. A large part of the process will also include classroom observations in the different phases in the school.

In short, the CSQI collects evidence to make a judgement on the strengths of the school and provide a set of points for action. Throughout the process the CSQI to maintains a close working relationship with school principals and staff. A full report is produced for the school at the end of the process. The focus of the report is developmental, and a plan is developed which promotes ongoing improvement of the school.

Self evaluation

A process of self evaluation is therefore necessary. The CSQI has developed a process to assist schools with self-evaluation and is currently revising Looking in the Mirror, a guide which was developed in 2005 as part of a pilot project. The revised edition will focus specifically on the quality requirements of Catholic schools.

Ethos evaluation

The key characteristic of a Catholic school is its ethos. In order to assist schools with developing and maintaining their ethos an annual evaluation must take place. To assist with this evaluation CaSPA commissioned the development of an ethos evaluation tool known as Signs of God's Presence. This tool was developed to comply with the legal requirements of the Deed of Agreement between the provincial MEC for Education and the owner of public schools on private property. This must take place annually. Independent schools are also required by their owners to evaluate and protect their ethos.