Inspection Report - Key Findings

In April 2013 a whole school inspection was held by the Department of Education and Skills. The key findings were:

• The board of management presented as a cohesive, motivated and effective group, all of whom bring a wide range of skills and competencies to their work for the school.
• Arising from the school’s origins, the board of management has a composition that does not accord fully with the Education Act, 1998, in that teacher nominees on the board do not have a vote.
• Strategic planning is a strength of the board and a five-year plan is being systematically progressed with the support of a range of subcommittees.
• The school community has succeeded in establishing a European model of education in an Irish context.
• St Kilian’s is providing a very good education for its students.
• The principal and deputy principal work exceptionally well together, have clearly defined roles and have a shared vision for re-energising the unique German aspects of the school, both cultural and linguistic.
• Fostering the complex links between three different schools and two funding governments is effectively managed by the principal.
• Staff members demonstrate a strong commitment to the school evidenced by their flexibility and willingness to take on a range of responsibilities.
• Students are supported and encouraged by an effective year head system and a range of affirmations and mentoring systems.
• The parents’ association is active and dedicated to the aim of building a sense of community in a context of linguistic and cultural diversity among the parent body.
• The quality of teaching and learning was good, very good or exemplary in almost all lessons but there was some scope for further development of teaching and learning strategies in a very small number of lessons.
• Teachers’ subject expertise was evident and this supported high quality learning.
• School self-evaluation and systematic review is central to the shared vision of the school.