Target Setting: Some personal notes from the Guidance Booklet and an INSET course.

Relevant notes from the Guidance Material with the ‘buzz words’ highlighted.

• “Attainment in N.I. has risen consistently …[but] … little room for complacency,

and further improvements will be necessary if our young people are to join  a workforce
that can compare with – or – overtake – the best of our  competitors.”

• “Raising standards yet further will require teachers to be open to review critically, and if
  necessary change, what they do and how they do it.”

• “Schools should set targets which are challenging, but achievable, and meaningful to their circumstances
  .. taking account of performance in other schools in similar circumstances and the current targets for the sector”.

• Targets are “measures, or indicators” regarding improvement in performance.

• Targets should be clear, quantified, time-bound , realistic, challenging, achievable,  informed by accurate evaluation, focused on the school’s key priorities and set in the context of a plan for action.

Some quotes and interpretations from an INSET course on Target Setting: - 

“Targets could be staying where you are”!*

“The expression ‘raise achievement’ too vague.

“Target setting must go beyond quoting the % figure. Need

  strategies

“Look at the trend over at least three years”

“Consider whether results are Spread or bunched.

  Bunching can be a sign of problems.”

“New strategies can be motivational for teachers & pupils.”

“Inspections may be replaced by ‘Self Evaluating Schools”.

“Need to have pupils ‘buy into Target Setting’ ….. need to change

 from a ‘Dependency Culture’ and have them take more

 responsibility ….. we should ‘buy into the pupils’ ambition.”
 

                                  “Should focus on a group who have been underachieving.”

Chemistry Department: Loreto College, Coleraine.