Purple Tod Consulting

WCED Circular 41/2017 dated 14 October 2017 – Whole School Evaluation (WSE) & School Self Evaluation (SSE) & School Improvement Planning (SIP) – an abridged version.

Annual management processes such as School Self-Evaluations (SSEs), School Improvement Plans (SIPs), budgeting and reporting are required in all public schools in the country to contribute towards an enabling and functional school environment (Goal 21 - Action Plan to 2019: Towards Schooling 2030).

“This circular instructs schools to annually conduct School Self-Evaluations to ensure comprehensive and credible School Improvement Plans. Every school is required to have an updated School Improvement Plan which enables the school to measure its progress through ongoing self-evaluation.”

School Self-Evaluation (SSE)

• Prior to developing SIPs, it is essential that school communities conduct SSEs
• SSE is a process of reflection by school communities on practices which should be systematic and transparent with the aim of improving learner performance, teaching practice and school functionality must be guided by the nine key areas for evaluation as contained in the national policy on WSE

School Improvement Plan (SIP)

• Schools should utilise the results of the SSE process together with the Provincial Systemic Tests/National Senior Certificate examinations diagnostic reports and teacher development information from the Integrated Quality Management System (IQMS) processes to prioritise improvement activities for inclusion in SIPs.
• SIPs should be signed off by the principal and the circuit manager as well as the Chairperson of the Governing Body.
• They will then be used for integration into the District Improvement Plan

Responsibility of the school

• The authority for the professional management of schools is vested in the principal supported by the governing body.
• Principals must ensure that the following activities are completed:

• Conduct SSEs annually;
• Develop credible SIPs;
• Implement SIPs; and
• Report progress on the implementation of SIPs

Responsibility of the district office

• District offices have a key role to play in supporting schools to achieve educational outcomes (Policy on the Organisation, Roles and Responsibilities of Education Districts ¡V Government Notice 300 of 2013). These responsibilities include:

• Support to schools by the circuit manager to carry out SSEs;
• Acknowledgement of SSE reports by the circuit manager;
• Approval of SIPs;
• Support provided to implement the activities specified in the SIP; and

• Monitor the progress of the implementation of SIPs