CastledockrellNS

Ballycarney,Enniscorthy,Co.Wexford.
17519M

SchoolSelfEvaluationReport
Numeracy
Evaluationperiod:September2012toJune2013
Revisedreportissuedate:April2015

1. Introduction
1.1 The focus of the evaluation
A school self-evaluation of teaching and learning in Castledockrell NS was undertaken during
the period September 2012 to June 2013. During the evaluation, teaching and learning across
the whole school were evaluated, with numeracy and literacy as our main focus.
This is a report on the findings of the evaluation in Numeracy.

1.2 School context

This a mixed rural primary school with a current enrolment of 29 pupils. There are three
teachers, two classroom teachers and a shared resource teacher based in our school. We also
have two part time shared learning support teachers. The school administers standardised tests
(Drumcondra) in English and Maths from 1st-6th class each year. In addition the NNRIT and
NVRT are administered to students in 3 rd and 4th class respectively. The school has a large
cohort of children with resource hours at present

2. The findings (2012-2013):

36% of pupils in the Junior Room report liking problem solving in maths and 36% of pupils
in the Senior Room report liking problem solving in maths

36% of pupils in the Junior Room report finding problem solving easy and 14% of pupils in
the Senior Room report finding problem solving easy

When asked what they do if they find a problem difficult 45% of children in the Junior
Room said they draw out a problem in their rough work and 43% in the Senior Room said
they ask the teacher

Only 27% of children in the Junior Room use the RUDED strategy and only 21% of
children in the Senior Room use the RUDED strategy

None of the children surveyed report using concrete materials to help them in problem
solving

77% of parents report that their child likes maths and 73% report that their child
enjoys problem solving in maths. However 41% report that their child finds it difficult to
solve problems in maths without help. Difficulties mentioned include: reading the problem,
understanding the problem and deciding on correct

Teachers report that they enjoy teaching Maths and that the School of Excellence in
Problem Solving is proving very worthwhile

Tracking of standardised scores.

3. Progress made on previously identified improvement targets

(2014-2015)

50% of pupils in the Senior Room now like problem solving (an increase of 14%).

91% of the Junior Room and 57% of the Senior Room, find problem solving easy some of
the time (an increase of 55% and 40%)

50% of the Senior Room and 27% of the Junior Room would re-read the problem, 21%
with draw a picture.

36% of the Junior Room would use concrete materials to solve problems in maths (an
increase of 36%)

28% of the Senior Room and 27% of the Junior Room would recommend using the RUDED
strategy when trying to problem solve

88% of parents say that their child likes maths (increase of 11%)

76% of parents say that their child enjoys problem solving (increase of 3%)

38% of parents say that their child finds it difficult to solve problems in maths
(decrease of 3%)

69% of parents say that they get good information from the school about how their child
is doing in maths.
Standardised Scores: Drumcondra Maths
Average STEN from 2012 to 2014 show an overall increase of 1.93
Teacher observation and reflection:

Overall improvement in attitude of children towards Maths.

New initiatives e.g. Maths blast, Maths Week, Daily Problem Starter, Maths noticeboard
and Maths table in each room, along with new active teaching and learning methodologies
e.g. Maths trails, open ending problem solving, Maths puzzles, ICT and Maths websites,

have proved to be both enjoyable and beneficial.

Teachers reported an increase in the use of Self-Assessment and Assessment for

Learning in all classes.

4. Summary of school self-evaluation findings (2012-2013)

4.1 Our school has strengths in the following areas:

77% of parents report that their child likes Maths

45% of children in the Junior room draw out a problem in their copy

36% of students reported liking problem solving

Teachers report that they enjoy teaching Maths and that the School of Excellence in
problem Solving and the PDST training in Maths Methodologies was very worthwhile.

4.2 The following areas are prioritised for improvement:

Problem solving
Assessment Methods
Teaching Methodologies
Problem Solving: 41% of parents reported that their child finds it difficult to solve
problems in Maths without help. 0% of children surveyed reported using concrete
materials to help them during problem solving. 73% of children in the Junior Room and
79% of children in the Senior Room do not use a problem solving strategy

Both professional conversation and an Incidental Inspection resulted in the area of

formative assessment methods being highlighted as an area for improvement

Professional conversation resulted in the area of teaching methodologies being

highlighted as an area for improvement

4.3 The following legislative and regulatory requirements need to be addressed:

See checklist attached.

Review of Maths School Plan. (Carried out in Term 2 2015)