Providing Inspection Services for Department of Education, Department of Culture, Arts & Leisure and Department for Employment & Learning.

What are the roles and duties of the members of an inspection team?

During inspections the member(s) of the inspection team, under the leadership of the Reporting Inspector, assess the quality of the education, training or youth work and the outcomes experiences by the learners, through evaluating:

the quality of the relationships throughout the organisation;
the efficiency and effectiveness of the procedures for pastoral care, child protection and the protection of vulnerable adults;
the quality of guidance and support for the learners;
the effectiveness of the leadership and management of the organisation in raising standards and improving the quality of learning;
the quality of the organisation’s processes for review and development leading to improvement;
when appropriate, the links established with other organisations, agencies and the wider community;
the nature, condition and appropriateness of the accommodation and resources;
learning, teaching and training, wherever they take place;

as well as:

assessing whether the aims, programme of activities, content of courses and conduct of sessions are appropriate for the learners, and whether there is a good match between the activities and abilities of the learners;

and by:

talking with the learners about their learning;
taking account of the attitude and motivation of the learners and the quality of their spoken responses;
examining, where appropriate, samples of learners’ work, including written and practical work; and
talking with those involved with the life and work of the school, such as teachers and management groups.