Career Review Policy
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The purpose of this policy statement in the Staff Handbook is simply to outline the procedures that will apply within Kirkwall Grammar School and Kirkwall College of Further Education and to attempt to clarify the detail of the Council policy. Purpose of Staff Review and Development The stated purposes of Staff Review and Development are:
In Kirkwall Grammar School, Staff Review represents one aspect of our self-evaluation procedures - others include irregular individual and departmental self-evaluation and review, regular sampling of pupil, parent and teacher opinion, the encouraging of open discussion and constructive criticism and the maximum encouragement of staff involvement in all major school issues. Principles a) In line with current Orkney Islands Council policy, participation in Staff Review is voluntary. b) Staff Review does NOT replace existing procedures for Staff Development, for promotion or for dealing with unsatisfactory performance. c) Staff Review in Kirkwall Grammar School operates within the principles of the national guidelines and within the spirit of Orkney Islands Council's policy. d) Staff Review can only operate successfully in an atmosphere of mutual trust. It is therefore essential that all individual records relating to Staff Review are confidential to the reviewer, the reviewee and the Director of Education (this is amplified in the OIC policy document). e) Staff Review procedures in the Grammar School will be subject to regular review and evaluation by the Management Team and School Development Group. In particular, this group will be asked to evaluate the benefits of Staff Review and Development when measured against its stated purposes above. Staff Development Issues In accordance with the provisions of the McCrone Report, 'A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century', teachers will maintain an individual Continuing Professional Development Record for professional purposes. Where Staff Development needs are identified as a result of Staff Review, individual arrangements will be made by the reviewer to meet those needs as efficiently and as effectively as possible. Operation of Staff Review a) At the beginning of each session (starting in August 1995) the Head Teacher will formally invite all staff who have not yet done so to participate in the Career Review process. b) Any member of staff may opt to join the scheme of Staff Review at any time. To opt in to the scheme, individual staff should simply write a brief note to this effect to the Head Teacher. The Head Teacher is also happy to discuss the operation of Staff Review in the school with any individual member of staff at any time. c) Teachers will normally undertake Staff Review process with their Principal Teacher. In the case of Guidance teachers and other colleagues whose duties are divided between two or more departments, the arrangements described in section 5.3 of the OIC policy will apply. Where the Principal Teacher has not opted into the Staff Review scheme, the Staff Review interview will be conducted either by the relevant Faculty Head or by another Principal Teacher or member of the Management Team, by agreement with the reviewee. d) Principal Teachers will normally undertake Staff Review with the relevant Faculty Head. In exceptional circumstances where this is not possible or acceptable for whatever reason, alternative arrangements will be made in discussion with the Head Teacher. e) The procedure for Staff Review will be as follows:
f) Reviewers will be expected to maintain absolute confidentiality with respect to all Staff Review interviews and reports - in line with OIC policy. |