Inspection Skills Training 

Tribal's Inspection Skills Training course provides educational leaders with the skills and competencies of a high quality lead inspector, enabling them to further their careers as leaders and/or effective inspectors of schools.
The distinct phases of inspection and the use of an inspection framework are explored in detail so that participants can apply this knowledge in different contexts. There is also a strong emphasis on how inspectors/ reviewers gather, record and summarise first-hand evidence which leaders can also use to strengthen self-evaluation in their own settings.

Detailed Course Information:

The course runs from 09:00 – 17:00 daily UAE time.

Currently available course dates:

  • 1/2 and 8/9 June
  • 3/4 and 10/11 August
  • Future dates coming soon

There will be four sessions per day and each one will run for approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes over the four days of training. The length of sessions are approximate and may vary, depending on the level of dialogue and the needs and understanding of participants as the training unfolds.

Applicants must commit to four full days of training (in two blocks of two days), a pre—course task and personal study.  Participants benefit from an individual coaching session half-way through the course to assess their progress.  At the conclusion of the training participants will be offered the opportunity to be assessed in order to gain Tribal’s Inspection Skills Competency Certificate.  Important personal skills such as communication and cooperation are continually assessed.

Participants should maintain their own ‘Learning Log’, throughout the training, which commences with the pre-course task.  The Learning Log will not form part of the assessment.  Despite the lack of direct face-to-face training, every opportunity has been built into the online training for discussion and debate, as well as interaction in practical activities. 

DAY ONE: Pre-inspection

Session Approx. time Overview
1 09:00 - 10:45 Introductions, course objectives and introduction to inspection frameworks, methodology and key skills
2 11:00 12:45 Pre-inspection, during the inspection, determining evidence trails and the gathering of first-hand evidence.
3 13:15 - 15:00 Gathering and recording of first-hand evidence of teaching and learning in classrooms.
4 15:15 - 17:00 Lesson observations, writing evaluatively and the key features of effective lesson evidence forms (EFs).

 

DAY TWO: Evaluating the quality of learning

Session Approx. time Overview
5 09:00 - 10:45 Giving feedback to teachers, staff and stakeholder groups and the range of other observations to gather first-hand evidence.
6 11:00 12:45 Learning walks, work scrutiny and discussions with students.
7 13:15 - 15:00 Performance information and data analysis and meetings/interviews with staff.
8 15:15 - 17:00 Lesson observations and inspection planning revisited and preparation for home learning.

 

DAY THREE: During the inspection (leadership and management)

Session Approx. time Overview
9 09:00 - 10:45 Meetings/interviews with key stakeholder groups, leadership and management during the inspection, team meetings and summarising evidence.
10 11:00 12:45 Summarising evidence, what can the school do to improve further and the final team meeting.
11 13:15 - 15:00 The final feedback meeting, leadership and management during the inspection and Inspectors Code of Conduct.
12 15:15 - 17:00 Monitoring the work of the team, what constitutes an effective evidence base and assuring its quality.

 

DAY FOUR: Post-inspection (leadership and management)

Session Approx. time Overview
13 09:00 - 10:45 Gathering and synthesising evidence as part of producing a secure and effective evidence base, the post inspection phase and the writing of a high quality report.
14 11:00 12:45 Leadership and management post inspection, complaints and maintaining international inspector skills.
15 13:15 - 17:00 Assessment tasks.

 

 

The training aims to provide participants with the knowledge, understanding, skills and competencies required to make robust evaluations and inspect effectively in schools.

By the end of the training participants will be able to:
  • evaluate the effectiveness of a school using an inspection framework, in a time-limited way;
  • understand the inspection process and the importance of the team working to produce a secure evidence base that will stand up to scrutiny;
  • gather and record first-hand evidence against a framework;
  • provide evidence-based feedback to different stakeholders;
  • summarise, triangulate and synthesise a wide range of evidence, as part of ‘evidence trails’ that will contribute to the written report;
  • understand the importance of adherence to the Inspectors Code of Conduct.

The distinct phases of inspection and the use of an inspection framework are explored in detail so that participants can apply this knowledge in different contexts.  There is also a strong emphasis on how inspectors/ reviewers gather, record and summarise first-hand evidence which leaders can also use to strengthen self-evaluation in their own settings.

Day 4 will conclude with a small number of assessments to test participants’ inspection knowledge, understanding, skills and competencies. These will be marked and moderated back in the UK.

Those who reach the required standard in the assessments will be awarded with the Tribal ‘International Inspector Endorsement’. This endorsement enables delegates to be added to Tribal’s pool of international inspectors and will receive communications regarding current and future international contracts and international inspector opportunities.

It is important to note that the endorsement does not guarantee inspection work.

The course will be run through Microsoft Teams. The system will allow for the training to as far as possible replicate a face to face event and facilitate:

  • Presenter webcam + content view
  • Video streaming (e.g. Tribal videos)
  • Private and group chat
  • Hand raising
  • Breakout groups
  • Delegate presenting back to the group
  • Interactive whiteboard

The technology will allow the trainer to switch from overall presenter to separate group tasks and then bring the whole group back together, thus replicating a normal training session. A flag system will allow participants to make contributions, share feedback on whiteboards and ask questions. In addition, the system will enable group activity outcomes to be saved and stored.

The training will be delivered using Microsoft Teams – it is strongly advised you download the desktop application in order to participate in all the elements of the course.

Microsoft Teams works on any device and can be downloaded here.

To ensure you will be able to access all elements of the course on the day, we will host a 30minute Technical Run-through the week before the training is due to commence. This will involve a number of checks to make sure you can see and access the relevant documents, and are able to join the various breakout groups that will run throughout the training.

Please note: We can only offer this support if you have attended the Technical Run-through session.

Peter Callow has had a distinguished career. He started out as a teacher, quickly progressed to be a principal in three very different schools and then held a variety of senior management roles to provide school improvement services within Local Authorities in the UK. Peter has worked with Tribal since 2006. He has extensive experience in the Middle East and in the UK, having held responsibility for Tribal’s review and monitoring services.

For clients such as Ofsted in the UK, and ADEK in the Middle East, Peter has designed and developed frameworks and inspection protocols and has trained teams in their use. Peter is experienced in leading monitoring and evaluation services across a variety of settings, including schools, colleges, training providers, and early years providers. An accomplished trainer, Peter designs training materials, facilitates training and associated assessment and quality assures training delivered by others.

The cost of the course is AED 6,500.

Your place on the course will be confirmed upon receipt of payment.

Please note: Each course has a maximum of 15 participants. To register your interest for one of the forthcoming courses, please complete the form opposite. A member of the Inspection Skills Training team will contact you to confirm your place and the next steps.

Successful completion of the course is not a guarantee of future work with Tribal Inspections.