Classroom observation

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CLASSROOM OBSERVATION 
 
Revised 
January 2010 

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H:\work\policies\staffw\classobs.doc lr 
1
Classroom Observation 
 
Aims 
Classroom observations are used to support teachers and other classroom staff and to 
monitor the quality of teaching and learning at Whitefield. Observation contributes to the 
school’s self-evaluation, to the School Development Plan and to the professional 
development of classroom staff. It enables us to recognise and reinforce good practice, to 
identify ways of improving teaching and learning and to highlight practice which ought to be 
shared more widely. In all these ways it contributes directly to the quality of pupils’ learning 
and experience in school. 
Organisation 
Observations are organised by the Head of each School. Every teacher is observed three 
times, for a maximum of three hours in total, during the academic year (unless they request 
or agree to further observations for a specific purpose or are the subject of capability 
procedures). Two observations are structured and graded according to OFSTED criteria. 
The third scheduled observation is ungraded and may be a peer observation, an advisory 
observation by a line manager or other colleague with particular expertise or an opportunity 
for a less experienced colleague to develop professionally by observing practice. The 
nature of the third observation should reflect the teacher’s development needs. All 
observations link to a teacher’s performance management and at least one of the two 
OFSTED style observations should be carried out by the line manager responsible for that 
teacher’s performance management. 
Some observations each term will be carried out by two observers as a way of moderating 
judgements and promoting a consistent approach. 
Teachers new to Whitefield have additional informal observations to support them in their 
development. They will also have the opportunity to observe colleagues informally. Other 
teachers may request informal observations via their Head of School or the line manager 
responsible for their performance management. 
Nursery Nurses, Higher Level Teaching Assistants and Supervisory Teaching Assistants 
will be observed once each year in their roles as group leader in a class which they 
regularly cover. 
Observations each term focus on a specific theme (e.g. assessment for learning) or subject 
each term, as agreed by the Senior Leadership Team, and the outcomes are used to 
evaluate practice in that area of the school’s work. Grades will relate to the lesson as a 
whole, not to the term’s theme. 
Observations need not be classroom based; indeed, if they are to make an effective 
contribution to the school’s self-evaluation they should cover a range of contexts inside and 
outside the classroom.