The validity and reliability of OFSTED judgements of the quality of secondary mathematics initial teacher education courses
The validity and reliability of OFSTED judgements of the quality of secondary mathematics initial teacher education courses
The inspection by Ofsted of courses of initial teacher education is high-stakes. An unsatisfactory report can lead to course closure. Even a satisfactory report can lead to reductions in quota resulting in a spiral of decline in course viability. The high-stakes nature of the inspection means that there has to be complete confidence in the level of validity and reliability of the inspection process. This paper presents an analysis of the complete cohort of published inspection reports of providers of secondary mathematics initial teacher education Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) courses carried out by Ofsted in the period 1996/8. The analysis demonstrates that there is considerable variation in the reports, in terms of word length, how particular criteria seem to be applied, and how judgements are expressed. With the complexity of the framework for inspection, it is impossible, given the current model of inspection report, to properly distinguish between consistency of application and the loading given to any particular criterion. Attention to the transparency of the inspection process and to matters of validity and reliability is crucial if there is to be confidence in the inspection system.
validity, reliability, methodology, education, research, educational research, Ofsted, inspection, initial teacher education, initial teacher training, ITE, ITT, mathematics
Sinkinson, Anne
9452ffa7-4ff0-4d24-8c74-58268757ee70
Jones, Keith
ea790452-883e-419b-87c1-cffad17f868f
2000
Sinkinson, Anne
9452ffa7-4ff0-4d24-8c74-58268757ee70
Jones, Keith
ea790452-883e-419b-87c1-cffad17f868f
Sinkinson, Anne and Jones, Keith
(2000)
The validity and reliability of OFSTED judgements of the quality of secondary mathematics initial teacher education courses.
British Educational Research Association Annual Conference 2000 (BERA2000), Cardiff, United Kingdom.
07 - 09 Sep 2000.
11 pp
.
Record type:
Conference or Workshop Item
(Paper)
Abstract
The inspection by Ofsted of courses of initial teacher education is high-stakes. An unsatisfactory report can lead to course closure. Even a satisfactory report can lead to reductions in quota resulting in a spiral of decline in course viability. The high-stakes nature of the inspection means that there has to be complete confidence in the level of validity and reliability of the inspection process. This paper presents an analysis of the complete cohort of published inspection reports of providers of secondary mathematics initial teacher education Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) courses carried out by Ofsted in the period 1996/8. The analysis demonstrates that there is considerable variation in the reports, in terms of word length, how particular criteria seem to be applied, and how judgements are expressed. With the complexity of the framework for inspection, it is impossible, given the current model of inspection report, to properly distinguish between consistency of application and the loading given to any particular criterion. Attention to the transparency of the inspection process and to matters of validity and reliability is crucial if there is to be confidence in the inspection system.
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Sinkinson_Jones_BERA_2000.pdf
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More information
Published date: 2000
Additional Information:
A fuller version of this paper is available as:
Sinkinson, A. and Jones, K. (2001), The Validity and Reliability of OFSTED Judgements of the Quality of Secondary Mathematics Initial Teacher Education Courses, Cambridge Journal of Education, 31(2), 221-237.
http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/9808/
Venue - Dates:
British Educational Research Association Annual Conference 2000 (BERA2000), Cardiff, United Kingdom, 2000-09-07 - 2000-09-09
Keywords:
validity, reliability, methodology, education, research, educational research, Ofsted, inspection, initial teacher education, initial teacher training, ITE, ITT, mathematics
Organisations:
Mathematics, Science & Health Education
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 41295
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/41295
PURE UUID: c8f7e821-221c-4d2e-b792-44352ac62ed3
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Date deposited: 16 Aug 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 08:27
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Author:
Anne Sinkinson
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