School Self Evaluation (SSE)
At St Benildus College we are committed to continuous improvement in teaching and learning. Our School Self-Evaluation (SSE) process is a multi-step, reflective practice that allows us to assess what’s working well and identify areas for growth. Through regular SSE cycles, we reflect on both teaching methodologies and student learning, empowering us to make small but meaningful changes that enhance outcomes for all our learners.
The SSE process encourages collaboration across our school community, involving teachers, management, students, and parents. By engaging with SSE, we can take stock of what has been successful, pinpoint areas for development, and celebrate our achievements.
Since the SSE programme began at St Benildus College, we have focused on key areas for improvement, including:
- Literacy
- Numeracy
- Formative Feedback
- Wellbeing
- Digital Literacy
For the current cycle of SSE, our focus is onDigital Literacy
Digital Literacy improvements in the school to date include
- The streamlining of digital platforms to the Microsoft Office Suite and Microsoft Teams
- Furnishing each student with a school email address
- Ongoing training for staff and students in the use of Microsoft Office tools
- The installation of interactive digital screens in classrooms
- The introduction of a digital study hub in the library
- Regular workshops and talks on AI and digital educational resources for teachers
Through these initiatives, St Benildus College is working on cultivating a more dynamic, inclusive, and future-ready learning environment, preparing our students for the digital age while ensuring their well-being and academic success.
Key achievements due to previous SSE cycles:
Through the SSE process, we have successfully implemented a number of initiatives aimed at improving both educational outcomes and the well-being of our school community. Some of the key achievements include:
Academic and Cross-Curricular Enhancements:
- Emphasis on Key Words: Increased focus on the use of subject-specific key words across all subjects.
- Numeracy Improvement: A whole-school, cross-curricular promotion of understanding and calculating percentages.
- Formative Reports for Parents: We have introduced regular formative reports for parents, providing ongoing feedback on student progress, fostering deeper engagement with student learning.
- Student Reflection Sheet: First and second year students now use a reflection sheet after exams, encouraging them to assess their own performance, identify strengths and areas for improvement, and set goals for future assessments.
Wellbeing Initiatives:
Wellbeing is extensive in the school and is continuously being reflected upon and advanced. Many of the below areas have been introduced, extended or improved due to SSE.
We have a wide variety of themed weeks and events to promote both the mental and physical health of our students and staff, as well as to build a strong sense of community. These include Student Voice Week, Stand Up Week, Healthy Mind Week, Healthy Eating Week, Maths Week, College Awareness Week, History Week, Culture Week, Digital Literacy & Internet Awareness Week, Science Week, Catholic Schools Week, Reading Week, and Seachtain na Gaeilge. These events help foster an inclusive and supportive environment, where students can engage in learning both inside and outside the classroom.
In addition to themed weeks, we have enhanced the well-being experience through activities such as school assemblies, sports day, our Run for Life charity event, parent-teacher meetings, school tours, and a wide variety of extracurricular clubs, sports and activities. Academic tracking and timely intervention when needed, along with study skills workshops, further support our students' educational achievements.
Recognizing that different students have different needs, we offer a variety of tailored well-being initiatives including our first year mentors and tutors, class trips/overnight trips to encourage bonding and friendship development, well-being talks and sixth year academic mentors. Leadership roles such as mentoring and prefect opportunities allow students to develop valuable skills, while initiatives like Gaisce encourage personal development. One-to-one guidance meetings are available for educational, vocational, or personal support and for students who need additional support, we offer psychotherapist appointments, and have a dedicatedstudent support team and a mentoring programme.