Mechanisms of Change in Dutch Inspected Schools: Comparing Schools in Different Inspection Treatments

Melanie C.M. Ehren*, Nichola Shackleton

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

In many countries the need for education systems and schools to improve and innovate has become central to the education policy of governments. School inspections are expected to play an important role in promoting such continuous improvement and to help schools and education systems more generally to consider the need for change and improvement. This article aims to enhance our understanding of the connections between school inspections and their impact on school improvement, using a longitudinal survey of principals and teachers in primary and secondary education. Random effects models and a longitudinal path model suggest that school inspections in particular have an impact on principals, but less so on teachers. The results indicate that the actual impact on improved school and teaching conditions, and ultimately student achievement, is limited. Schools in different inspection categories report different mechanisms of potential impact; the lack of any correlation between accepting feedback, setting expectations and stakeholder sensitivity and improvement actions in schools suggests that the impact of school inspections is not a linear process, but operates through diffuse and cyclical processes of change.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)185-213
Number of pages29
JournalBritish Journal of Educational Studies
Volume64
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2 Apr 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Accountability
  • School improvement
  • School inspections

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