[C Freeman]

Hi
Would just like to gauge your reactions to Learning Walks. Do you have them in your school? Last year The Teaching and Learning Group carried out some Learning Walks ie. a number of teachers visited a class to observe a particular aspect of teaching and learning -it might have been focused on starters and plenaries. They didn't go into any lesson only those who agreed to allow it or had something special they wanted to try out or showcase. It was voluntary and with a view to sharing good practice. No problem there. However, this term SLT members as line managers to HODs have now stated they want to carry out learning Walks, their original term, within each dept. My HOD agreed to have his line manager carry out a learning Walk but when it happened he felt that it was more of an observation than a LW and when he queried this he was told it wasn't a LW but a "Walk through" which no one has heard of here. Do any of you readers know what these are and what they are supposed to achieve. There is the feeling that this is Observation by the back door. What do you think?

Cath

[neil mcdonald]

This is not observation via the back door - it is a form of observation. We have them at our place looking at particular areas. The aim is to audit the impact of a focus objective subsequent to a cpd session etc.

[Ed Waller]

Let us be clear...

Learning Walks (aka Walks Through) are a form of observation.

It is recognised that observation puts stress on individual teachers. It is therefore an avoidable evil. Formal lesson observation is allowed (with guidelines) and should be adhered to.

Two strategies:

1. Walk into SLT lessons: "I just thought I'd have a bit of a learning walk to see how the best teachers are doing it!"
2. When they walk into yours, say "Ah, hello, Mr/s Smith, how can we help you today?" If it's just a walk, then you can show how disruptive the process is by saying "oh, okay, um.. er.. now where were we before our distraction?" and ask the weakest student for an answer to demonstrate the effect on students as well as staff of such 'walks'.

If they want to observe, they should be polite and professional enough to book an appointment, just as they do at their GP surgery. We are professionals; demand treatment as professionals.

This post has been edited by Ed Waller: 07 October 2009 - 07:32 PM

[C Freeman]

I and my colleagues do not mind being observed as long as the process follows the guidelines for observation that have been in place for the last few years ( by Unions)and of course there are limits to the amount of time that one can be observed. Therefore, if these "walk throughs" and Learning Walks are observations then they, presumably, should count towards that observed time. We have lesson observations as usual but we have had no consultation about this new form of observation just told that it will happen. No specific aspects of learning or teaching have been mentioned.
Cath.

[Ed Waller]

C Freeman, on 07 October 2009 - 11:01 PM, said:

I and my colleagues do not mind being observed as long as the process follows the guidelines for observation that have been in place for the last few years ( by Unions)and of course there are limits to the amount of time that one can be observed. Therefore, if these "walk throughs" and Learning Walks are observations then they, presumably, should count towards that observed time. We have lesson observations as usual but we have had no consultation about this new form of observation just told that it will happen. No specific aspects of learning or teaching have been mentioned.
Cath.

Can thoroughly recommend my 2 above!

[suzygudgeon]

AH - so it is not just my SLT that have decided these are a good idea. In one day last week I have different members of SLT drop in on me - 3 in the same class. One was peering through my window in the door and made a year 7 girl cry because they made her jump when she turned round and saw a person 'leering' (her words, not mine) through the window. It seems that this is about all they are doing at the mo and it is meant to help us become an excellent school. That said it is keeping people in their toes and lessons do seem a lot sharper as you never know when you will get a visit!

[Richard Smart]

I fear that walkthroughs may be an export from this side of the pond... we have had them here for years...


Our principal is great though. He stops in for five minutes, is good at judging whether to contribute to the lesson or not, and then he leaves a brief note with comments on the teacher's desk.

Walkthroughs are not a formal observation in my county, only informal. They can be used as part of an evaluation, but cannot be the main evidence for evaluation.

Richard

[John Perkins]

I have been hammered with these in recent weeks. 6 times to be exact. What I can't find is any information in terms of protocols on this. Does anyone have any idea? Should their be a published number of each time a teacher has been seen to ensure that it is equal? How long before a learning walk becomes an observation?

I don't actually mind people walking in to my lessons, what I mind is evidence gathering and being made to feel that people are looking to find faults and using OFSTED in defence.

[Giles Falconer]

John Perkins, on 23 October 2009 - 12:42 PM, said:

I have been hammered with these in recent weeks. 6 times to be exact. What I can't find is any information in terms of protocols on this. Does anyone have any idea? Should their be a published number of each time a teacher has been seen to ensure that it is equal? How long before a learning walk becomes an observation?

I don't actually mind people walking in to my lessons, what I mind is evidence gathering and being made to feel that people are looking to find faults and using OFSTED in defence.

In these circumstances I think I might be speaking to my Union. I would want to know what is bwing noted down as "evidence" (so that I could reply to it and possibly challenge it) and what is was going to be used for.

[Roy Huggins]

Hi Guys,

I suppose the purpose of these walkthroughs are to prepare folks for the new no notice Ofsted inspections.

We've been told that the school will be given two weeks advanced notice that one is pending, followed up by a 30 minute notice that the inspectors are coming! Its all very childish!

I suppose the long and the short of it is that it will put more schools into special measures. We are still in challenging school status so we live in daily fear of yet another inspection!

My advice to anyone is make sure you do your lesson aims and objectives followed by could, should must on your IWB, before you leave school on Friday. At least if you've got the basics sorted you can always upgrade them if the Valkyries or the spanish inquisition decide to descend.

In some respects your SLT are doing you a favour in these uncertain times of centrally imposed targets and scrutiny. Always plan for and expect the unexpected!

Roy

[Simon Ross]

Roy Huggins, on 24 October 2009 - 02:43 PM, said:

Hi Guys,

I suppose the purpose of these walkthroughs are to prepare folks for the new no notice Ofsted inspections.

From theOfsted website:

Quote

Ofsted will give schools less than two days notice of inspection, the vast majority having between one and two days, ensuring a balance between pressure on schools and ensuring inspectors see a true picture. Having listened to the concerns of parents, who feared losing the ability to give their views to the inspectors, Ofsted will not inspect with no-notice for routine school inspections. However, where there are particular concerns, for example connected to welfare, Ofsted may inspect at no notice.

In addition, Ofsted will be introducing no-notice inspection for monitoring visits to schools in Special Measures and those with a Notice to Improve as well as to about 40 percent of satisfactory schools.

This post has been edited by Simon Ross: 24 October 2009 - 06:32 PM

[Roy Huggins]

Cheers Simon,

From what I understand, if you are in a school graded as 'Good' then you will be given notice.

However, if you are 'satisafctory' or in 'challenging schools status' then you will be given 2 /3 weeks warning of an impending 'no notice inspection.' So, if we can make it to the 27th November, then we will be fine until after Christmas. At least so I have been told by our SLT who have been fully briefed as to what to expect.

Kind Regards

Roy

This post has been edited by Roy Huggins: 24 October 2009 - 06:55 PM

[Derek Bos]

We were told today that 'Learning Walks' are being used by Ofsted so they can visit a large number of lessons in a short space of time and guage the learning of the pupils quickly. As they no longer have time to wade through paperwork they will judge the school on what they see in 20 minute bursts. If they observe you for less than thirty minutes they don't have to give individual teachers feedback, so it cuts their workload down.It means that you have to be on the ball, all singing and all dancing for those twenty minutes, if they don't observe it happening it hasn't occurred in your lesson. One of our colleagues had to protest very strongly when it was commented that there had been no sign of AfL in the lesson - it had occurred before the inspector entered the room. SLt have been doing 'Learning walks'to guage what is going on in classrooms, dipping their toes, to assess the quality of teaching as they assume Oftsed will do the same.

[John Perkins]

There is very little literature on learning walks despite being part of the National Strategy. Looking through the internet there are a few articles that describe how they should be conducted and nothing I have been able to find on the Ofsted website. What is clear is that like any other form of observation there should be objectives, a specific focus and outcomes. Teachers should be notified in advance and there should be some feedback afterwards. If they are being used as an adhoc observation then there should be some discussion to set up a protocol in the school.

This is a response I got from the NUT. I think that there needs to be some clarity on how these learning walks should be used by SLT. It needs to be supportive. I suppose in many ways they are just as new to them as we are. However, I think there needs to be discussion as to protocols and what staff can expect.

[Giles Falconer]

Derek Bos, on 02 November 2009 - 05:43 PM, said:

We were told today that 'Learning Walks' are being used by Ofsted so they can visit a large number of lessons in a short space of time and guage the learning of the pupils quickly. As they no longer have time to wade through paperwork they will judge the school on what they see in 20 minute bursts. If they observe you for less than thirty minutes they don't have to give individual teachers feedback, so it cuts their workload down.It means that you have to be on the ball, all singing and all dancing for those twenty minutes, if they don't observe it happening it hasn't occurred in your lesson. One of our colleagues had to protest very strongly when it was commented that there had been no sign of AfL in the lesson - it had occurred before the inspector entered the room. SLt have been doing 'Learning walks'to guage what is going on in classrooms, dipping their toes, to assess the quality of teaching as they assume Oftsed will do the same.

Reading this is so dispiriting that I seriously wonder whether it is worth trying to 'do' anything extra if faced with one of these 20 minute 'glimpses' (I refuse to call them 'obsevations'). Since those members of OfSTED who have decided to conduct their inspections this way clearly know it is a travesty to pretend to have reached a judgement in this way, they can only doing it from a basis of deep cynicism. I'm not sure this is game I for one want to play - let them come, I feel, and see what they want. But I won't do any more than I would be doing anyway. And if they fail me,then more fool anyone who believes such ill-founded opinions...