How to evaluate and approve the school improvement plan

Your governing board should approve the school improvement plan (SIP) every year. Understand the process, what to look out for and what questions to ask.

Last reviewed on 22 September 2023
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Contents
  1. How the draft SIP was created
  2. Set an agenda item to approve the SIP
  3. Review the draft before the meeting
  4. Interrogate the SIP
  5. Approve the SIP

How the draft SIP was created

During the summer term, your board should have met with the headteacher and the senior leadership team (SLT) to go over:

  • Pupil performance data
  • Financial data
  • Results of staff, parent and pupil surveys
  • Previous school improvement plans (SIPs) and their outcomes
  • The self-evaluation form (SEF)
  • Your last Ofsted inspection report

Your board should have set the objectives for the SIP at that meeting. Refresh your memory of the SIP process and your board's part in it.

Since that meeting, the headteacher and the senior leadership team (SLT) will have drafted the actual SIP. This should be a detailed plan of:

  • What specific actions to take to meet the objectives
  • When those actions will be carried out
  • Who is responsible for carrying out each action
  • How progress will be monitored
  • How you'll measure success

See examples of SIPs from other schools in our article on your role in school improvement planning.

Though there's no formal requirement that