A presentation on our evaluation methods given at School of Ambition Evaluation Conference, June 2008.

1. Doon Academy Schools of Ambition Elaine Brooksbank Evaluation Co-ordinator

2. Staff involved Head teacher Mental health & emotional well-being nurse Clerical staff Dance specialists Drama specialists Depute head teachers Animation specialists ICT technician Principal teachers Class teachers Librarian College lecturers University colleagues (research team) Primary colleagues Outdoor activity specialists

3. Evaluation activities Key personnel identified. Creation and implementation of quantitative and qualitative methods. Timeline produced. Analysis of evidence. Sharing of good practice. Final report

4. Completed activities Pupil and staff questionnaires. Observation of pupils. Use of questionnaires created by other researchers. Individual pupil and staff interviews. Whole school evidence

6. Timeline of events 2007 January - Support needs identified. - CPD provided by research team. (Focus - evaluation plans). Feb - March - Draft evaluation plans created and submitted. April - Final evaluation plans added to the VRE. May - Attendance at SoA research conference. June - Meeting with research team (Focus - individual interviews, one-to-one support). September - Involvement in SoA evaluation induction event (15 min presentation). - Meeting with research team (focus – questionnaires) October - Questionnaires created and submitted to M Hulme. November - Questionnaires added to SELs.

7. Timeline of events 2008 Jan – March - Further gathering of evidence April - Meeting with S Bogan, M Hulme and S Hall (Focus - format of final report) - SoA wiki site created May - CPD on the use of Wetpaint - Information added to wiki site. June - Research team and HMIe invited to join the wiki site. Next steps August - Provide feedback to M Hulme about wiki site. - Discussion forum to be established. December - Final evaluations added to wiki site.

8. Lessons learned? Need for a calendar – realistic targets and deadlines. Identify staff strengths and development needs. Provide training and support. Gather evidence at appropriate times. Use evidence that you already have. Share good practice – working group and wiki site. Establish close links with the research team.

9. Arts Across the Curriculum Douglas Gooding Biology teacher

15. What did the pupils think? You remember it better, because you’re doing it. It’s easier to learn because it’s fun. You find out how you learn best . We were interested in what we were doing so it made it easier to get on and do it – to understand it. I can put a presentation together now. We can edit it to make a DVD .

16. What difference has it made?

28. http://doonsoa.wetpaint.com/ - a work in progress