Primary Lesson Observations

[Cloudminnow]

Just wondering what kind of feedback form your school uses for lesson observations?

Ours is eight sides of A4 with statements covering Planning, Teaching and Learning, Learning Environment, AfL and Professional Attributes and Subject Knowledge. Each statement is highlighted from Outstanding to Inadequate. There is a bit at the end for Strengths and Areas for Development.
Also, how many times a year are you observed?

Unless you are an NQT, you should be observed three times a year. Unless you're in a catholic school, in which case they will observe RE too.
Learning walks, popping in, informal visits don't count as formal observations, and you can't object to them.

What's your feedback form like?

We get observed by two SLT, the form is 4 sides of A4 and the OFSTED criteria ticklist. It covers the same points you listed.

I get something similar, someone from SMT and once a term. Although my HT happily admits he would never give an outstanding! Er why???

Because there's always room for improvement.

Eight sides just for a lesson observation?

Does it link to the new(ish) Teacher Standards? We are revamping ours and linking it with Performance Management, etc.

I side A4 with a5 size box for actual writing. The rest is class, grading, targets etc. I think the government have abandoned the 3 obs per year. I thought there was no limit now

2 sides of A4 plus another side for writing on (strengths, points for development etc). We are observed once a term. Sometimes just the HT, last term HT plus another colleague (we are all involved in peer observations as part of subject monitoring), next term it looks as if it will be HT plus County Advisor. Deep joy!

The unions say you shouldn't be given an ofsted rating.

My school uses a format to level us, but has never shared the success criteria so we, as learners, struggle to meet the learning objective I have asked for the format form a few times, but nout so far.

Our feedback is fairly informal- a page of a4 notes written in comic sans.

Unions may say that but heads (and OFSTED) need level judgements from observations to ensure the HT's levels match the inspectors. We also need to show that quality of teaching is closely monitored. It does a huge favour in a weaker OFSTED observation if you can say, "Yes, but previous lesson obs have rated this teacher as consistently good (or whatever)". I suppose what it really boils down to is how supportive the SLT are and how observations are handled. I know of some schools where it is all negative and "done to" the staff and others where it is a supportive process where staff almost enjoy showing what they can do knowing and criticisms will be discussed as areas for development in a professional dialogue rather than a list of what they did wrong. Luckily my school falls into the latter.

NewName that sounds helpful. Do you have a dialogue before the lesson too? Also, what sort of proforma do you use?