Evaluating the Impact of the Raising School Standards Initiative in Belfast

Abstract

In 1994, a major (£3m) three year school improvement initiative was launched in Belfast. The project was a collaborative venture involving primary and secondary schools, the Belfast Education and Library Board and the office of the Department for Education Northern Ireland. The aims of the initiative were to provide additional support and resources to help 14 schools address significant disadvantage and under-achievement. Participating schools produced "Action Plans" to help focus their work around the key areas of: (A) the quality of management, teaching and learning within the school (B) improving the standards of literacy and numeracy (C) improving levels of qualifications (D) improving links with local industry (E) increasing parental involvement (F) dealing with problems of discipline, and (G) improving attendance and punctuality. The evaluation included the analysis of documents (eg school development plans, Action Plans, school policy documents), schools' statistics (pupil attainment. progress, attendance and behaviour), interviews and questionnaires. The paper will examine the extent to which participating schools were able to raise standards and the process of change in schools in relation to three key foci: management, teaching & learning and educational standards. The implications or the evaluation for school improvement and development will be discussed.