Any school governors about this morning?

[puddle]

I am doing a visit to the school to observe a lesson. Am also going to observe lunchtime.

What's your experience of this? Any pointers re: what to look out for/ questions to ask?

say thank you a lot!

(recently stopped being a teacher governor of a secondary school)

remember some teachers (not all, not me!) get a bit scared of observations so try to be reassuring

Thanks Bella. Good point - I think I am most unalarming, but probably am to the teacher (who looks about 16).

oh, and remember to give feedback either at the time or in a thank you letter. It is very much appreciated and good manners having observed a lesson.

I still have a letter form the chair of governors about my class four years ago, saying thank you for having her and the bits she really enjoyed.

And do ask the children questions about what they are doing and what they enjoy in the lessons. Don't just stand there with a clipboard!

oops, complete contradiction! Well, I'm sure it will be obvious once you are there!

I think if you look on governor net there are example of pro forma lesson observations. Obviously you are not making any judgements on the quality of teaching but would comment on the attitude of the students, the content, anything intersting in the classroom such as displays or use of ICt etc.
In terms of lunchtime- talk to the kids- what is the best bit of lunchtime what's the worst- how pro active in encouraging play are the mid days- are children ever unsupervised- how are hurt children dealt with- are there enough play resources- what do the kids think?
Enjoy and say thank you lots and smile a lot!

Ooh lots of useful suggestions

Robin re: governor net - I can see there's interesting info there but I find it really hard to navigate

This is useful Puddle if your Gb don't already have something similar.. which they should!!

I did one a couple of months back - I just tried to keep in mind that I was looking at the content of the lesson, not critiquing the teaching. What you need to be looking for is how the overall subject strategy is being addressed rather than what you think of the teacher's style. Your report needs to relate back to the objectives that have been set by the GB.
Isecond looking on Governor Net - v useful.

I did one a couple of months back - I just tried to keep in mind that I was looking at the content of the lesson, not critiquing the teaching. What you need to be looking for is how the overall subject strategy is being addressed rather than what you think of the teacher's style. Your report needs to relate back to the objectives that have been set by the GB.
Isecond looking on Governor Net - v useful.

OOps sorry.