Judging Success
Effective libraries must be responsive to educational and technological change, and contribute to school improvement and pupils' learning.
Most schools will have their own templates for self evaluation and review. The Library should be included within this process and contribute to the school review. Some of the measures used will be library specific, but others may draw on information gathered by colleagues to illustrate that the library has made a contribution to raising standards. For instance, the quality of project work may have gone up through:-
- the librarian's involvement with the respective group
- a strategic and positive focus on independent learning ...where finding, using and evaluating information sources for real purposes as part of project work has been undertaken.
Key questions which could be asked by Ofsted and therefore useful to include in your self review.
- Who uses the library - and who doesn't?
- What is the library's contribution to raising standards ? How high are standards ?
- How well are pupils personal qualities, attitudes and values developed?
- How effective is library focused teaching and learning in supporting the curriculumn?
- How well does the library meet pupils needs? Is it adequately resourced? How well does it support the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of the pupil?
- How well are pupils guided and supported when reading for enjoyment ?
- How well is the library managed and supported?
Benchmark Checklist
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Benchmark |
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Comments |
Future action required |
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School has library and / or book corners |
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School has current library policy |
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Library included in school development plan |
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Library has at least 10 books per pupil |
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School replaces at least 10% stock each year |
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There is a separate library budget |
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Stock is edited throughout the year |
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School uses Local Schools Library Service |
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Library is accessible all day( ie not closed to individuals because of group work, music lessons etc) |
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Library is open before and after school |
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Library is attractive & welcoming |
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Shelving/ furniture is age appropriate |
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Books displayed attractively to promote reading |
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Clear & simple library guiding |
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Fiction is arranged in alphabetical order |
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Non- fiction is classified by the Dewey System |
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Library has a range of non book resources |
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Internet access for children in the library / adjacent space |
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Is your library system computerised ? |
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Is it networked and available in every teaching area and for use on a white board? |
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Each class visits the library regularly for project work and there is a planned integrated programme of support for developing independent learning skills |
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Where the library has a central fiction collection classes visit regularly to choose books for recreational reading |
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Children can use the library independently |
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Reading for pleasure promoted in school |
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Children can borrow books from the library |
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Any restriction on borrowing ? |
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Every child has a book on loan from the library |
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Book club or library club run on a regular basis |
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Library is staffed by paid adult |
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Library enjoys the support of a professional librarian |
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Library staffed by volunteer (s) |
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Team of Librarians ( Trained) |
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TOTAL indicators |
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