<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In this paper, we provide an overview of the development of school inspection in Ireland over the past twenty years using the analytic and critical lens developed by Richard Boyle in partnership with the current authors. The paper is fundamentally a reflection on the nature, purpose and operation of evaluation in the Irish public sector through the lens of education. The paper provides a historical overview of developments in the linked areas of school evaluation and inspection, and goes on to explore how the implementation of this mode of quality assurance has influenced, and been influenced by, a wide range of policy actors. The argument made is that education has embedded a culture of evaluation in a unique yet systemically resonant manner and that a reflection on this reality will help illuminate our understanding of the role of evaluation across the public sector as a whole.</p></abstract>

In this paper, we provide an overview of the development of school inspection in Ireland over the past twenty years using the analytic and critical lens developed by Richard Boyle in partnership with the current authors. The paper is fundamentally a reflection on the nature, purpose and operation of evaluation in the Irish public sector through the lens of education. The paper provides a historical overview of developments in the linked areas of school evaluation and inspection, and goes on to explore how the implementation of this mode of quality assurance has influenced, and been influenced by, a wide range of policy actors. The argument made is that education has embedded a culture of evaluation in a unique yet systemically resonant manner and that a reflection on this reality will help illuminate our understanding of the role of evaluation across the public sector as a whole.

Quality assurance in Irish schools: Inspection and school self-evaluation

Administration

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Quality assurance in Irish schools: Inspection and school self-evaluation"}

In this paper, we provide an overview of the development of school inspection in Ireland over the past twenty years using the analytic and critical lens...

Quality assurance in Irish schools: Inspection and school self-evaluation

Published Online: Dec 31, 2020

Page range: 161 - 180

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/admin-2020-0029

Keywords
School evaluation, school inspection, accountability, quality assurance, reform

© 2020 Gerry McNamara et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Quality assurance in Irish schools: Inspection and school self-evaluation

Published Online: Dec 31, 2020

Page range: 161 - 180

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/admin-2020-0029

KeywordsSchool evaluation, school inspection, accountability, quality assurance, reform

© 2020 Gerry McNamara et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
School evaluation, school inspection, accountability, quality assurance, reform