The EBEA awards a ‘Quality Mark’ to business and/or economics teaching teams that satisfactorily complete our supervised ‘self-evaluation’. The self-evaluation is an improvement tool in which team members are encouraged to consider and debate a series of questions fundamental to effective business and economics learning and teaching. Working together, and supported by an EBEA consultant, who in most cases will visit your school, teams seek to identify opportunities for improvement, appropriate actions and a date when actions will be reviewed.
The EBEA’s Quality Mark process is overseen by Adrian Lyons. Adrian was previously Ofsted’s Lead for Business and Economics and has many years of experience leading school improvement.
The EBEA’s Quality Mark process is overseen by Adrian Lyons. Adrian was previously Ofsted’s Lead for Business and Economics and has many years of experience leading school improvement.
How does the process work?
Once you have applied for the Quality Mark (using the button below) you will be linked with a consultant who will discuss with you how to conduct the self-evaluation and make the most of completing it with any team members you may have. The Self Evaluation Guide can be downloaded from the link at the bottom of the page. The EBEA consultant will spend time with you and your colleagues checking processes and evidence for the effective use of the Self Evaluation Guide. Once the consultant has had an opportunity to review the self-evaluation document and any accompanying electronic evidence, they will make one on-site visit to quality assure the submission through a programme that includes:
- Meeting the subject leader for a curriculum discussion
- Meeting any other teachers of the subject(s) to check the consistency of purpose and approach
- Visit some lessons (the number will be planned based on the number of lessons available)
- Discussion with pupils/ students and work scrutiny of books or other kinds of work produced by pupils/ students.
What does the ‘Quality Mark’ signify?
The Quality Mark provides an assurance that a Business and/or Economics Department can self-evaluate effectively (using the EBEA Self Evaluation Guide). It does not try to measure performance but if a department is using the Self Evaluation Guide effectively its performance should be improving.
The criteria used for judging departments are:
The criteria used for judging departments are:
- There is clear evidence of involvement of the whole department in the self-evaluation process
- There is clear evidence of thoughtful reflection about the reasons for planning the curriculum, the sequence of learning and adopting particular practice in teaching
- The department shows clear appreciation of its role within the school as a whole
- The department is identifying appropriate priorities for action in response to its analysis of practice.
How much does the application process cost?
The EBEA’s ‘Quality Mark’ application costs £490+VAT.
In order for a school to undertake the Quality Mark it must either be an institutional or have a personal member in the department. Non-members must join the association on either basis on application.
Schools keep their Quality Mark for three years following the initial award. Schools wishing to renew after three years can do so without a visit, but through the provision of a small additional portfolio. After six years of QM status, a full re-assessment is required. The Quality Mark accreditation period will run through the academic year. Schools can start the process at any time.
You (and your head teacher) will be given a report by the consultant using evidence for the above criteria which will explain the recommendation to make the award. All parties will have an opportunity to express their satisfaction with the process.
If you are successful, you will receive a Certificate and a logo for the Award which can be affixed to your school letterhead.
If the consultant does not feel that the award should be made then you will be given one opportunity to resubmit evidence at a later date at no extra cost.
In order for a school to undertake the Quality Mark it must either be an institutional or have a personal member in the department. Non-members must join the association on either basis on application.
Schools keep their Quality Mark for three years following the initial award. Schools wishing to renew after three years can do so without a visit, but through the provision of a small additional portfolio. After six years of QM status, a full re-assessment is required. The Quality Mark accreditation period will run through the academic year. Schools can start the process at any time.
You (and your head teacher) will be given a report by the consultant using evidence for the above criteria which will explain the recommendation to make the award. All parties will have an opportunity to express their satisfaction with the process.
If you are successful, you will receive a Certificate and a logo for the Award which can be affixed to your school letterhead.
If the consultant does not feel that the award should be made then you will be given one opportunity to resubmit evidence at a later date at no extra cost.
What can the Self Evaluation Guide and Quality Mark do for your Department?
Encouraging reflection
Reassuringly, participants report that the Self Evaluation Guide prompts serious reflection. In the words of one participant “It really made me made me stop and think”.
Developing capacity for self-evaluation and action
Encouraging departments to reflect on their practice will only be of lasting significance if this increases capacity for critical self-evaluation that leads to subsequent constructive actions. Most heads of department report that the self-evaluation process encouraged formal discussion within their departments about alternatives they could adopt in teaching and the curriculum.
One participant in the programme was inspected by OFSTED a week after completing the EBEA self-evaluation. They used the EBEA Self Evaluation Guide to prepare for the inspection and they reported that completing the Self Evaluation Guide had been extremely valuable in preparing for the inspection. In particular, they reported that the Self Evaluation Guide had ‘highlighted for me the sense that business studies is part of the whole curriculum – previously I had used case studies like Cadbury’s and McDonalds and this made me review whether we were using a balance of case studies that promoted healthy living – it made me think about being part of the whole school’.
One participant in the programme was inspected by OFSTED a week after completing the EBEA self-evaluation. They used the EBEA Self Evaluation Guide to prepare for the inspection and they reported that completing the Self Evaluation Guide had been extremely valuable in preparing for the inspection. In particular, they reported that the Self Evaluation Guide had ‘highlighted for me the sense that business studies is part of the whole curriculum – previously I had used case studies like Cadbury’s and McDonalds and this made me review whether we were using a balance of case studies that promoted healthy living – it made me think about being part of the whole school’.
Supporting staff development
Heads of department often use the self-evaluation to support the development of junior members of their staff. There is scope for the self-evaluation to be used more explicitly in this way.
Improving the contribution of the department to whole school objectives
A majority of heads of department speak about the effect of the self-evaluation process on drawing attention to the role of the department in relation to whole school objectives. In some cases this has led directly to an increase in dialogue and co-ordination between departments.
Complementing existing school self-evaluation procedures
The view of both schools and consultants participating in an early pilot study evaluating the process itself, was that the EBEA self-evaluation process complemented rather than repeated ongoing self-evaluation being undertaken in schools. This was particularly evident in the report of the school that had used the EBEA self-evaluation process as part of its preparation for an OFSTED inspection.
Other heads of department referred particularly to (a) the requirement in the EBEA self-evaluation to report why the department followed adopted practices (b) the three level quality categories in Section B of the EBEA self-evaluation and (c) the prompts in the EBEA self-evaluation to consider the contribution of the department to whole school objectives. Each of these characteristics was argued by heads of department to add significantly to their own practice in self-evaluation.
Other heads of department referred particularly to (a) the requirement in the EBEA self-evaluation to report why the department followed adopted practices (b) the three level quality categories in Section B of the EBEA self-evaluation and (c) the prompts in the EBEA self-evaluation to consider the contribution of the department to whole school objectives. Each of these characteristics was argued by heads of department to add significantly to their own practice in self-evaluation.
How does the Quality Mark add value over the Self Evaluation Guide?
The added value of the Quality Mark is that it provides recognition of your department. The external evaluation element is evidence of a rigorous approach and adds validity to the school’s quality assurance process. It celebrates the achievement of yourself and your colleagues and this is not only good for morale but will also raise the profile of the department in the school and the school in the community.
Further information about the process is available in the following documents:
The EBEA QM Self Evaluation Template
The EBEA QM Consultant Handbook
Further information about the process is available in the following documents:
How to Apply
If you are interested in applying for the EBEA Quality Mark but still have one or two questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at:
office@ebea.org.uk.
Once you are ready to apply, simply click on the link below, complete the form and an EBEA Consultant will be in touch with you.