2014 School Improvement Plan – Literacy

SUMMARY OF MAIN STRENGTHS:

  •  At Junior Certificate, there is a higher level of uptake in higher level in most subject areas when compared to the national averages.
  •  46% of pupils surveyed read for enjoyment.
  •  91% of teachers regularly use pair or group work during their classes.
  •  All parents feel that their children are safe within the school and 93% believe that the school treats their children fairly andwith respect.
  •  All students surveyed believe the school to encourage respectfulness and does not tolerate bullying at any level.
  •  100% of students agree that teachers expect high standards of work.
  •  Many of our classrooms have a print rich environment.
  •  Good provision for English on the timetable.

SUMMARY OF MAIN AREAS PRIORITISED FOR IMPROVEMENT

  •  Increase the level of students who read for enjoyment.
  •  Teachers to focus on development of Literacy as well as Knowledge and skills.
  •  Teachers to share and assess learning outcomes during and at the end of lessons.
  •  Increase the level of constructive feedback on homework and classwork.
  •  The development of group-work strategies across all subject areas.
  •  Teachers are to increase the amount of student oral presentations to class groups.
  •  Increase the level of cross curricular linking between subjects.
Target No. 1 – Reading for Pleasure
Improvement Targets Required Actions Person(s) Responsible Timeframe for Actions Success Criteria/Measureable Outcomes Review Date
To increase the number of first

year students who read for pleasure from 46% to 53% in Year 1, 57% in Year 2 and 60% in Year 3.

 1. All first year students to have one

reading period included on their timetable each week.

2. Students will be surveyed on their interests and a book list drawn up with relevant books purchased.

3. All first year students will be introduced to the local library and have regular visits thereafter. 4. The successful introduction of the “Literacy Tree” on a trial basis to the current first years will be rolled out to all Junior classes.

 1. Management to include it on the timetable and classroom teacher to monitor progress.

2. Completed during induction day and collated by the Principal along with the English department.

3. The English & SEN Departments.

4. The reading period class teacher will monitor the progress of students and present the relevant labels.

 1. Introduce in September 2014

2. Initial Survey completed in September 2014 and purchase as soon as possible thereafter.

3. Late September with regular trips thereafter.

4. September 2014 and continue throughout the school year.

 Increase the number of students reading for pleasure

which will be established with relevant surveys in May of each academic year.

Growth of the “Literacy Tree” can be viewed by all as it will be displayed in a common area.

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5. Book in the bag for all junior year groups

which will be used in the event of a teacher absence.

 5. All teachers involved in

substitution.

 5. September 2014 and continue throughout the academic year
6. Regular book reviews carried out orally by each student. 6. The reading period class teacher. 6. Regular monthly presentations. Students will have carried out
at least 2 book reviews each over the course of the year
Target No. 2 – Development of Group Work Strategies
Improvement Targets Required Actions Person(s) Responsible Timeframe for Actions Success Criteria/Measureable Outcomes Review Date
To increase the average teacher rating of their

own development of group-work stratagies from

3.0/5.0 to 3.5/5.0 by May 2015, to 3.8/5.0 by May

2016 & 4.0/5.0 by May 2017

 1. Provision of CPD of staff in pair/group

work.

2. All teachers will use a range of pair/group work stratagies which have been devised and demonstrated

at whole staff level.
3. As part of the new Junior cycle framework, all subject departments will identify the key skills of “working with others” & “communicating” and include relevant strategies within their subject Dept. plans.

 1. Principal to arrange CPD during croke park

hours.

2. All staff to engage in the activities. The Principal is responsible for

providing the relevant training.
3. All Junior cycle teachers.

 1. August/September 2014 with follow up survey in May 2015.

2. Implementation in September 2014.

3. Subject Department planning in August/September 2014

 Increase in student enjoyment of pair/group work, measured through student survey in May of each academic year.

Staff will also be re-surveyed to establish what changes have been made to teachers rating of their own group work strategies.

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Target No. 3 – Development of Communication and Assessment of Learner Outcomes during lessons.  
Improvement Targets Required Actions Person(s) Responsible Timeframe for Actions Success Criteria/Measureable Outcomes Review Date
To increase the number of teachers sharing

their learning outcomes at the beginning of

lessons to 100% by May 2015 and

maintain this for each year of the evaluation.

&
To increase the level of focus on the development of Literacy during lessons by increasing the percentage of teachers who feel students have an expansive vocabulary in their subject to 20% in year 1, 30% in year 2 and 35% in year 3.

 1. All classrooms to have an area on their whiteboard for

Learner Outcomes, Keywords &
homework.
2. All teachers to share & discuss the learner outcomes at the start of each lesson unless used for prediction methods. 3. Learner Outcomes to be assessed at the end of each lesson as part of the summary for that lesson.

4. All students in First Year to carry a Keyword Journal where Keywords from each subject or subject dept. are recorded and explained.

5. Literacy award to be included for all junior classes during end of half term awards.

 1. Principal to source stickers during the summer to apply to each board by the base teacher in

August.
2. Each subject teacher.

3. Each subject teacher.

4. Principal will include the Keyword Journal on the book list for incoming first years.

5. All staff included in the decision making process.

 1. Summer & August 2014.

2. On return in August 2014.

3. On return in August 2014.

4. Students will purchase these in September 2014.

5. At the end of every half term beginning October 2014.

 

 Staff and students will be surveyed again in May 2015 with specific areas relating to Learning Outcomes and assessment. Keyword Journals will be monitored on a regular basis by the reading period teacher.

 

 

 

 

This will be reviewed at regular staff meetings with adjustments to the selection criteria discussed and altered as the teaching staff deem necessary.

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