iAbacus – the only online performance management system that meets new union requirements
Precis: Amongst all the computer based, E Performance and On-line Systems for School Improvement and Performance Management The iAbacus is unique in meeting the new requirements of the Professional Associations. Consequently it is benefitting and appealing to an...
read more4 Questions EVERY HoD should ask about their department…
Q1. What's going well - and not so well? Start by self-evaluating your department. Make accurate judgments about the quality of teaching, learning and assessment in your department. Be honest about the effectiveness of your leadership and management. And of course -...
read moreHow does iAbacus create and sustain Transformational Leaders?
Do you think more like a leader than a manager? Do you have a positive idea where your school is heading? Are you and, most importantly, are your colleagues confident about what is being done to maintain and sustain improvement?
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Build your capacity to drive improvement. OFSTED Inspection from September 2015
John Pearce, ex Headteacher, ex Ofsted inspector, now Freelance School Improvement Adviser and creator of iAbacus, reviews the new Ofsted Framework for September 2015 and is delighted to see that a leadership’s “capacity to drive improvement planning” is elevated to...
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Judgement before evidence. How come?
We recently received a tweet asking why the iAbacus encourages users to make a judgement before providing evidence. It's a subject that stirs the emotions of John Pearce, the originator of the iAbacus process - so here’s his response to such an interesting question….....
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Pupil Premium – Self-Evaluation and Action Planning
Educational Consultant Jasbir Mann points up key information about Pupil Premium and offers a Draft Self-evaluation and Action Planning template to help colleague headteachers and governors evaluate the impact of Pupil Premium and improve their plans for 2014-15. What...
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15 NEW curriculum subject templates
As you know, the iAbacus process (see: www.iabacus.co.uk/model) can be used across all areas of school development using a range of templates. This month we've expanded the powerful reach of the iAbacus by launching fifteen NEW templates, designed specifically for...
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What is it about the iAbacus?
Gerald Haigh, freelance journalist, author of a number of educational leadership books and ICT guru, investigated the iAbacus and interviewed headteachers to uncover why it’s unique and innovative. The full article is available here:...
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Students use iAbacus to improve employability
Sonia Czabaniuk, one of our iAbacus Consultants has just started work on a very exciting research project where students use the iAbacus to self-evaluate their current enterprise and employability skills - then plan actions to improve. By combining the...
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The iAbacus goes to Dubai
Last month we highlighted our venture into Wales with the iAbacus mapped to the Estyn framework - this month we celebrate an exciting move further around the globe to Dubai. We now have senior leaders using the iAbacus, pre-populated with criteria from the Dubai...
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Improved PDF reports
Have you created a PDF report in your iAbacus account recently? If you have - you’ll have noticed that the front page now displays a full summary abacus showing all your judgements (just like the interactive abacus in your online account). This full abacus allows the...
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The iAbacus Improvement Model
Those of you who know John’s work will realise the iAbacus improvement model emerged from proven education developments in the late 1900s and early 2000s. Unusually, if not uniquely, it combines the emotional intelligence required in effective self-evaluation, action...
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This month’s focus iAbacus: Literacy
As you may already know, the iAbacus contains a template for the evaluation of literacy provision, designed to support subject leaders planning to improving provision and standards in literacy. The detailed criteria used in this template are from the Literacy...
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Schools in Wales – watch this space!
After John’s work training System Leaders in South Wales and a very successful networking event in Llandudno last month, we are on the cusp of launching an iAbacus customised for school self-evaluation in Wales using the Estyn Common Inspection Framework (CIF). This...
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No more flipping coins – it’s time to trust the iAbacus
At iAbacus we’ve always known that school improvement begins and ends with what teachers think and do. So, we’ve always worked alongside you and your staff. We didn’t stand over you hectoring you about what you could have done, or should be doing. We’ve always put...
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New subject-specific self-evaluation templates available
Have you seen the new subject-specific templates available in your iAbacus account? More importantly - Have you told colleague subject leaders about them? Each of the new templates is pre-loaded with the appropriate subject-specific criteria and guidance published by...
read moreFamous Five go to Ofsted (and the demise of lesson grades)
There is no doubt in my mind that what the Famous Five achieved in “Ofsted Grade-gate” is a real break-through. Well done all! ”No more grading of individual lessons”. I’m not sure it has sunk in yet. Certainly, we must reiterate, promote and further interpret the...
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No more Lesson Observation grades – John Pearce joins the OFSTED debate
Recently the press and social media have been full of news about the failure of OFSTED (or anyone) to accurately grade lessons. You may have seen from our tweets that John, originator of the iAbacus Model, has been busy adding a calm and reflective view to this...
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Bett Awards 2014 – “And the winner is…”
We’re delighted because, less than a year into our story, the iAbacus has been shortlisted for a prestigious Bett Award in the category for ICT Leadership and Management Solutions. So, next week, out come the dinner jackets and black ties as we head down to...
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This month’s focus: iAbacus for Governance
Effective School Governance is now a high profile national issue. Discussions about quality, the need for scrutiny and potential payment clearly relate to specific cases but the new regulations and guidance, compound the pressures on all Governing Bodies....
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Reviewing and improving governance? (including the theory and research behind iAbacus)…
One minute précis.... You know strong governance is critical but do you know your Governing Body is as good as it could be? What are YOUR options? Commission an external consultant to do a review? Good idea - they’ll visit, collect evidence write a report and offer...
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Opportunities to work with us
In less than one year, the iAbacus is proving to be an exciting new tool with enormous potential. We know many of you share this view and we thank you for collaborating with us. We want to expand our network, explore wider thinking and yes, even share the rewards, so...
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A true story about performance management.
There's a low grumbling noise coming from the school hall. It's the sound of cautious chatter as the entire staff: teachers, teaching assistants and senior leadership team assemble for the highly anticipated session on 'setting objectives for appraisal'. With all the...
read moreCome and meet us!
There's nothing better than meeting up in person, so why not come along to one of the following conferences and meet the iAbacus Team... Implementing Performance-Related Pay - London Tuesday 24th September 2013 Blurb from the conference organiser... With your new pay...
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Make appraisal a natural part of what we do…
Learning from theory, research and each other The bolt on inspection, observation or appraisal, undertaken in clip-board mode by an expert, “to improve performance” is usually mistrusted, often resented and even refused. This is because there is nothing more...
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Teacher Appraisal – Reassuring the unconvinced…..
You've invested time and energy in agreeing your school's Appraisal Policy. The document is printed the CPD booked - Job Done! The Summer break looms... and yet, there’s a nagging suspicion about unfinished business. You’ve met statutory requirements but have you won...
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Teacher Appraisal and Performance Management
Introduction: The release, on April 16th, of “Departmental Advice on reviewing and revising your school’s approach to teachers’ pay” is causing head teachers, senior...
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What do we want? Appraisal! When do we want it? Now!
Appraisal is self-evaluation shared. Why is there such little open debate and discussion about the impact of the new appraisal regulations in schools? Teachers tell me there is a lot of confusion amongst colleagues and head teachers, so why aren’t the BLOGerati and...
read moreOfsted & Lesson Grades – Considering judgements and moving to action
Introduction: In last week’s post: Famous Five go to Ofsted (and the demise of lesson grades) John Pearce shared important changes to Ofsted’s grading of teaching and learning. In this week’s follow up John considers the ramifications and argues for the profession to...
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The iAbacus – trains and beads and plans
Written in response to the comment, "Explain the iAbacus to me simply and don't use jargon!" Once upon a time... When I was little, I loved pushing a toy train, making those "chuff-chuff too-toot" noises. I was in that train embarking on some epic journey. Later, I...
read moreProtect us from external inspection and quality control!
Picture the scene….. We're working away on the iAbacus project and my business partner Dan is describing his motivation. I know what he is trying to say and I agree. It’s all about being enablers, facilitating the thinking of others, encouraging internal quality...
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What should we DO about numbers and judgements?
I often ask little people, “How old are you?” and they nearly always get it right, saying “I’m four!” often adding “and three quarters…” Then I add, “Four what?” Most are completely stuck. Cue laughter at the innocence of children, “Tee hee, they know they are four...
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